Kent State Administrator Named Cal Poly's Vice President for Student Affairs

Cornel Morton, formerly associate vice president for student support services at Kent State University in Ohio, is now Cal Poly’s vice president for student affairs beginning September 3, 2002.

Morton has spent his 30-year career in higher education focusing on student affairs and institutional diversity issues.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Morton joining our executive team,” Cal Poly President Warren J. Baker said. “His in-depth experience and commitment to advancing student development and fostering a diverse campus community will reinforce our commitment to providing the best educational experience for our students. His recognized expertise in building consensus will assist the university in developing student-related partnerships at Cal Poly as well as within the broader community.”

In his new position, Morton will be responsible for the offices of Campus Student Relations and Judicial Affairs, Career Services, the Disability Resource Center, Health and Counseling Services, Housing and Residential Life, Student Academic Services, and Student Life and Leadership. He also will be the university’s liaison to the Associated Students Inc.

A graduate of Kent State, with a Ph.D. in higher education and student personnel administration, Morton returned to the university in 1997 to assume the position of associate vice president for student support services. He has also worked as assistant vice president for institutional diversity for Central Michigan University, as dean of students, executive assistant to the president and director of equal opportunity/affirmative action at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, in affirmative action and students affairs at the University of Toledo, and as director of human relations programs at the University of Maryland.

Commenting on the role of the Student Affairs staff, Morton said that the staff should “support, influence and challenge students to embrace personal and community conduct that fosters a sense of personal accountability, belonging, respect for human diversity, mutual respect and intellectual freedom.”

Morton earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tennessee State University, prior to completion of the Ph.D. at Kent State University. He is a prolific researcher, writer and presenter on student retention, service learning and diversity planning in higher education.