Office Contact

Andrew Morris, Ph.D. 

Executive Director, Academic Programs and Planning

As the Executive Director of Academic Programs and Planning (APP), Andrew Morris leads the annual process of academic planning, the development and implementation of academic policies, the development and review of academic programs, and the assessment of student learning. He also oversees the General Education and Instructionally Related Activity programs and the approval process for Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathways.

Andrew served as Interim Director of APP from January 2023 through June 2024. Before that, he served as Faculty Fellow, and later Faculty Director of Program Development, in APP from 2019 through 2022. He was faculty director of the WSCUC Thematic Pathway for Reaffirmation self-study for institutional accreditation, completed in 2022. Andrew also has represented APP on the General Education Governance Board, the Academic Senate Curriculum Committee, the Academic Assessment Council, the Academic Senate Ad Hoc Semester Conversion Committee, and the Graduate Education Ad Hoc Curriculum Committee; co-led APP’s Program Review Learning Community; and led Cal Poly’s 2023 cohort in the CSU Certificate Program in Student Success Analytics.

Andrew joined the Cal Poly faculty in 2000 and taught through 2021 in the History Department, where he was Professor, past Department Chair, and past Master's Coordinator. His research specialty is in modern Chinese and Taiwanese history. He has authored three books and edited two more in these fields, the most recent being Defectors from the PRC to Taiwan, 1960-1989: The Anti-Communist Righteous Warriors (Routledge, 2022). He has also published more than 30 journal articles and book chapters. Andrew graduated from Harvey Mudd College with a double major in physics and history, and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in modern Chinese history at UC San Diego.

admorris@calpoly.edu | 805-756-2298

Vacant

FACULTY DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT
 

Angela Standifer 

Program Review and Program Development Analyst
 

As the Program Review and Program Development Analyst, Angela spearheads the academic program review process at Cal Poly. Working closely with the colleges and departments, she guides all degree programs through a comprehensive two‑year review cycle. She co‑developed the Program Review Learning Community to facilitate professional development and launched a Program Improvement and Effectiveness platform containing resources and historical archives for each college. Angela also manages various aspects of program development, including degree modifications, subprograms, and new program initiatives. She plays a key role in preparing the university’s annual Academic Master Plan and oversees Cal Poly’s contributions to the CSU Degree Database. Her portfolio also includes stewarding Cal Poly’s WSCUC program database, designing and administering SharePoint and Smartsheet solutions, and implementing related website updates.

Angela joined Cal Poly in 2019 following a career in law. As a senior paralegal, she specialized in managing the defense of public school districts and governmental entities in both state and federal courts. Recognized for her outstanding contributions to the profession, Angela was twice honored as the Paralegal of the Year by the Indiana Paralegal Association. She holds a paralegal certificate from Ashworth College and is an alumna of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

astandif@calpoly.edu | 805-756-7047

Elizabeth Perhach

Assessment & Curriculum Coordinator

Elizabeth Perhach provides administrative support for Academic Programs and Planning, with responsibilities in assessment, curriculum coordination, and Instructionally Related Activities (IRA). She is a Cal Poly Graphic Communication alumna with a background in education, public service, and design.

eperhach@calpoly.edu | 805-756-3731