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Executive Leadership
Terrance Harris
Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
Terrance Harris serves as the Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. With over 20 years of experience working in higher education, Harris has spent the majority of his professional career in the enrollment space, holding roles in recruitment, admissions advising and operations, data management, communications, and enrollment development.
Harris exemplifies Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy. He began as a student, serving as a Poly Rep, and later returned to serve the university in the admissions and enrollment space. He started his career at Cal Poly in 2004 and has since held several key leadership roles including Associate Director of Admissions, Director of Admissions and Operations, Assistant Vice Provost, and most recently, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management. In that role, Harris led efforts to align academic, fiscal, enrollment, and co-curricular strategies using data-informed decision-making.
Now, as Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, he continues to guide university-wide enrollment initiatives while also focusing on student success from the moment students are admitted through the time they graduate.
Beyond his professional work, Harris has coached high school basketball for 20 years and mentored hundreds of students during this pivotal stage in their lives. His spouse and three young daughters are the inspiration for all that he does. Harris earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Cal Poly.
Jo Campbell
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Campus Life
Dr. Jo Campbell is the university’s Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Campus Life. In her role, she has responsibility for and leadership of University Housing, which includes the residential student experience, facilities maintenance, custodial and housing administration; and Equity and Transition departments which include: Cal Poly Scholars, Career Services, EOP, TRIO Achievers, the Center for Military-Connected Students and the Disability Resource Center. As a division leader, Dr. Campbell will also develop new residential facilities, such as the yakʔitʸutʸu Residential Community, which opened in fall 2018, and additional residential opportunities including a 10-year housing program to add 3,000-4,000 beds and renovate the existing red brick residence halls. Cal Poly currently houses approximately 40% of its student body and seeks to house up to 65% in the future.
Dr. Campbell brings over 35 years of higher education leadership, inclusive practices and administration to Cal Poly. She was formerly a director of residential life at the University of Toledo, Ohio and Senior Associate Director of Housing at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has served on dozens of committees and advisory boards to improve the campus climate related to academics, crisis and conduct, student enrollment, equity and inclusion, and drug and alcohol abuse prevention. Notably, she served on ACPA-College Student Educators International’s Executive Council as chair of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender awareness committee, and she chaired the committee on gay, lesbian and bisexual issues for the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International.
Dr. Campbell earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in student personnel services from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and a certificate of business administration with a strategic planning focus from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2015, she earned a doctorate in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University. Her doctoral research was on the behaviors, attitudes, skills and knowledge of senior student affairs professionals and their perceptions of leadership success. She lives in San Luis Obispo with her wife Ellen Broido.
Joy Pedersen
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Dr. Joy Pedersen has worked at Cal Poly since 2003 and currently serves as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. In this role, she serves as the point of contact for student crisis intervention and is responsible for directly supporting the success and well-being of Cal Poly students. She also oversees the Leadership and Service department which is made up of five units: AmeriCorps Programs, Clubs and Organizations, the Center for Leadership, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Center for Service in Action. She is passionate about social justice and helping all students achieve their full potential.
Originally from the Central Coast, Dr. Pedersen returned to San Luis Obispo to work in the non-profit sector before transitioning to higher education. At Cal Poly, she has overseen the Center for Service in Action, Multicultural Center, and Center for Military-Connected Students. For the past five years, she has served as Associate Dean of Students for Student Success, Support, and Retention. In each of her roles, Dr. Pedersen has worked collaboratively with campus and community partners to create equity, access and opportunities for students.
In addition to her leadership experience in student affairs, Dr. Pedersen has held positions in academic affairs and in the community. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Cal Poly and Brandman University. She has served as a Board Member of United Way. And currently, she serves as a Board Member of Transition-Mental Health Association and SLO Chamber of Commerce Ambassador.
Throughout her tenure, Dr. Pedersen has been intimately involved in campus climate concerns and student safety. She is a founding member of the Asian Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association (APIFSA), the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT), and the Peace Ambassador program at Cal Poly. She also oversees the Students of Concern Team and the Basic Needs Task Force.
Dr. Pedersen earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Claremont McKenna College, master’s in higher education counseling and guidance from Cal Poly, and doctorate in educational leadership from UCSB. She lives in Morro Bay with her daughter, Jade, and two Great Pyrenees. Dr. Pedersen enjoys paddle boarding and spending time with her family. She enjoys hearing from students about their experiences at Cal Poly; students can meet with her virtually by appointment by emailing deanofstudents@calpoly.edu.
Jamie S. Patton
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Diversity and Belonging
Dr. Jamie S. Patton joined Cal Poly in July 2017 and serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. He is responsible for developing, implementing and managing new programs and initiatives that advance diversity and inclusion at Cal Poly. As a divisionwide leader and diversity officer, he provides direction and consultation for services and policies to ensure inclusive practices across all Student Affairs departments. In addition, he helps provide campuswide support for diversity and inclusion efforts in partnership with the Office of University Diversity and Inclusivity.
A native of north Philadelphia, Dr. Patton is a first-generation college graduate with more than 15 years of experience as a higher education administrator. Prior to Cal Poly, he served as the assistant dean of students for Ohio University, where he directed the Parent and Family Program, co-initiated programming to increase graduation and retention rates among African-American male students, and implemented social justice development workshops for Student Affairs staff. Dr. Patton found his passion for a career in Student Affairs at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, where he held student leadership roles as vice president of the Student Cooperative Council, president of the Black Student Union and founder of the Distinguished Gentlemen. He later served in several positions during a nine-year period at Northern Arizona University, including director of the Student Learning Centers and director of Inclusion and Multicultural Services.
Dr. Patton earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Lock Haven University, as well as his Master of Education and Doctor of Education degrees at Northern Arizona University. He resides with his wife Elisa and their two daughters in San Luis Obispo.
Tina Hadaway-Mellis
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Health and Wellbeing
Tina Hadaway-Mellis serves as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Health and Wellbeing. She joined Cal Poly in June of 2018 and is responsible for leading all aspects of student health and wellbeing, including medical services, counseling services, health education and campus wellbeing. Additionally, Hadaway-Mellis is responsible for developing funding and entrepreneurial partnerships with on- and off-campus entities, including private providers, to enhance health and wellbeing at Cal Poly.
Hadaway-Mellis has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare, including more than a decade as a healthcare professional for a variety of hospitals, medical centers and surgery centers in northern California. In 2006, she transitioned into a health administration role for Sequoia Surgical Pavilion in Walnut Creek. Prior to her arrival at Cal Poly, she spent four years serving as the clinical services director for the UC Berkeley, where she was responsible for managing the department’s strategic development, fiscal performance, operational oversight and organizational planning, among other duties. In addition, Hadaway-Mellis has served as a surveyor for the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care since 2009.
Hadaway-Mellis earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Saint Mary’s College. She also earned a Master of Business Administration, with an emphasis in health care administration, from the University of Phoenix. She also holds licenses and credentials as a registered nurse and surveyor for the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare. In her spare time, Hadaway-Mellis enjoys hiking, photography, travel and spending time with her husband, Foti, and beagle, Beauregard.
Michelle Crawford
Executive Director, Associated Students, Inc.
Michelle Crawford began her employment with ASI as a student in 2002 and served as Interim Executive Director beginning in spring 2021. In May 2022, she was formally approved as ASI's Executive Director.
Throughout her career with ASI, Crawford has held numerous positions, including student manager, temporary assistant coordinator, coordinator, assistant director, associate director, and most recently director – University Union. In each of her roles, Michelle combined her passion for student development and commitment to being a strong steward of student fees with the responsibility to provide outstanding programs and services to Cal Poly students. She received the ASI Outstanding Service Award in 2009 and the Student Affairs Chandler Award in 2014.
In her role as executive director, Crawford is accountable for the financial, legal, and administrative management of ASI. In addition, she is responsible for the general management of all ASI resources, programs, and managed facilities, ensuring that ASI effectively supports and complements the educational mission of Cal Poly.
Crawford has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in recreation, parks, and tourism administration, both from Cal Poly.
Yukie Murphy
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Administration and Divisional Operations
Yukie Murphy joined Student Affairs in 2014 as the director of marketing and communications. In 2017, she advanced to Director of Educational Research and Communications before being promoted to her current position in 2020.
As the Assistant Vice President for Administration and Divisional Operations, Murphy plays a strategic role in leading the divisional administrative and support operations: assessment and research, budget and human resources, commencement, parent and family programs, educational communications and new student and transition programs. She works closely with the many departments and programs within Student Affairs to help create new ways to advance the organization as a data-informed culture focused on supporting students through graduation and beyond.
Murphy brings over a decade of comprehensive experience in marketing, brand management, nonprofit management and community development programs. She has built multi-million dollar marketing departments for industry leading companies and has opened several new markets across the country. She has outstanding experience in building and managing teams, fostering collaborations, creating strategic initiatives and communications campaigns.
Murphy has a bachelor’s of science degree from Cal Poly and lives in San Luis Obispo with her husband, Chris. She is passionate about supporting Cal Poly students and is actively involved in several local community efforts.
Christine Mott Hutchinson
Executive Director of Finance
Christine Mott Hutchinson serves as the Executive Director of Finance for Student Affairs. She brings over 30 years of expertise, most recently serving as Senior Director of Development for Strategic Initiatives at Cal Poly within University Development and Alumni Engagement.
In Student Affairs, Mott Hutchinson leads financial strategy to support student-focused initiatives and enhance the student experience. She also oversees human resources, helping to foster a strong organizational culture. Additionally, she manages the Business Services team within Administration and Divisional Operations. This team supports staff by providing tools, resources, and expertise to navigate the complexities of university operations in finance, human resources, and administrative support.
Mott Hutchinson joined Cal Poly in 2023 and has already made an impact on our students through her work securing major gifts, endowments and programmatic support to advance university priorities, such as Cal Poly Scholars, Black Student Success and Basic Needs initiatives.
Ryan Weisenberg
Senior Director of Development
Ryan Weisenberg leads strategic fundraising efforts for Student Affairs. His work is key in advancing student success by building relationships with donors and supporters of Student Affairs to develop transformative programs; ensure student equity, social justice, belonging and well-being; and support and empower all students throughout their Cal Poly experience.
Prior to joining Cal Poly in June 2024, Weisenberg served as director of development and enrollment at Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School. During his tenure, he played a key role in enhancing the school’s endowment and increasing student enrollment.
Weisenberg also had a distinguished coaching career across various levels of basketball, including serving as head women’s basketball coach for Pepperdine University as well as coaching stints for the Manawatu Jets in New Zealand, the Houston Comets, Mater Dei High School and South Pasadena High School. He contributed to the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002; and was instrumental in leading the Los Angeles Sparks to three consecutive WNBA Finals, winning titles in 2001 and 2002 — making him one of the few individuals to have won NBA and WNBA championships in the same year.
A Cal Poly alumnus, Weisenberg earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Cal Poly and a master’s degree in education from Azusa Pacific University. He is married to Lyndsey Weisenberg (née Hache'), a former standout player for the Pepperdine women's volleyball team who serves as middle school director and science teacher at Old Mission School in San Luis Obispo. The couple has three children: Daly, Reese and Jack.
