Office Contact

Andrew Morris, Ph.D. 

INTERIM Director of Academic Programs and Planning
Accreditation Liaison Officer

As the Interim 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. As the Accreditation Liaison Officer, he manages the university’s regional accreditation and serves as the primary point of contact with the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Andrew served as Faculty Fellow, and later Faculty Director of Program Development, in APP from 2019 to 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 Assessment Council, and the Academic Senate Ad Hoc Semester Conversion Committee, co-led APP’s Program Review Learning Community, and is currently team lead for Cal Poly’s cohort in the CSU Certificate Program in Student Success Analytics.

Andrew, who has been on the Cal Poly faculty since 2000, is a Professor of History and past Department Chair of the History Department. His 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 authored more than 25 journal articles and book chapters. Andrew graduated from Harvey Mudd College with a double major in physics and history, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in modern Chinese history are from UC San Diego.

admorris@calpoly.edu | 805-756-2298

Jessica Carson, M.B.A.

Administrative Analyst
Academic Policies, Budget, and Instructionally Related Activities
 

Jessica joined our office in February 2008. She manages the budget, supports Instructionally Related Activities (IRAs), and is the contact for academic policy questions and student academic appeals.  

carson@calpoly.edu | 805-756-2326

Kellie Green Hall, Ph.D.

Faculty Fellow, Assessment and Program Review

Kellie is an Associate Dean in the College of Science and Mathematics and a Professor of Kinesiology and Public Health at California Polytechnic State University. Her expertise area is in Motor Learning and Control with research activities focused on facilitating the acquisition of skilled movement. She earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology at Louisiana State University, M.S. at Eastern Washington University and a B.S. in Mathematics from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT. She is also serving as a Faculty Fellow in Academic Programs and Planning.

kghall@calpoly.edu

Maureen O'Connor

Executive Assistant to the INTERIM Associate Vice Provost and Personnel Analyst
 

Maureen joined our office in January 2018. As Executive Assistant, Maureen is the first point of contact for the Interim Associate Vice Provost. In this capacity, she also assists with human resources and personnel issues in the departments reporting to Academic Innovations and Programs. Maureen also provides the lead support for the process to reaffirm Cal Poly's accreditation by WSCUC.

moconn04@calpoly.edu | 805-756-2228

Angela Standifer 

Program Review and Program Development coordinator
 

Angela joined our team in September 2019 and comes to us following an extensive career in law. She worked as a senior paralegal handling the management of the defense of public school districts and governmental entities in state and federal court. 

Angela coordinates academic program review, providing oversight and project management for all Cal Poly degree programs as they undergo periodic review (a 2-year process). She also coordinates the process as the colleges pursue such things as degree modifications, subprograms, and new degree programs. Further, she handles the preparation of our annual Academic Master Plan for submission to the Office of the Chancellor and administers Cal Poly's portion of the CSU Degree Database. She assists with our annual audit and report to WSCUC and manages the WSCUC database. Angela also provides SharePoint site design and website updates for the unit. In addition, she supports the Associate Deans Council.

astandif@calpoly.edu | 805-756-7047

Shannon Sullivan-Danser, M.A. 

General Education, PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT, & Communications coordinator
 

Shannon is the academic assessment and General Education coordinator at California Polytechnic State University. Since joining the office of Academic Programs and Planning in 2018, she has focused on student learning and success, policy research, and curriculum development. She works closely with campus partners, particularly the General Education Governance Board and Academic Assessment Council, as well as the college associate deans, the Academic Senate, and the Registrar, as well as the CSU Chancellor’s Office on matters of shared governance. Shannon also provides website and SharePoint design for the office. Additionally, she supports strategic planning, communication, and accreditation initiatives within the office. She is a double alumna from Cal Poly, earning honors in her MA and BA degrees in English.

ssulliva@calpoly.edu | (805) 756-2247