Meet the Staff
The Mustang Success Center provides an inclusive environment that proactively supports first time freshmen with their successful transition and integration into Cal Poly. The center’s staff provides accessible academic advising that guides students to clear pathways of success and builds a foundation for timely graduation.
Director for the Mustang Success Center
Shannon Stephens
Director for the Mustang Success Center
sgstephe@calpoly.edu
805-756-2762
Favorite Quote: "The sea was angry that day my friends, like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli." - George Louis Constanza, Seinfeld
Advisors for the Mustang Success Center
Christina Wolfe-Chandler
Assistant Director for the Mustang Success Center
crwolfe@calpoly.edu
805-756-5735
Favorite Quote: "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." - Maya Angelou
Lindsay Lacey
lilacey@calpoly.edu
805-756-7037
Favorite Quote: "We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down." - Kurt Vonnegut
Rebecca Richards
rricha15@calpoly.edu
805-756-7037
Favorite Quote: "I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence." - Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Kara Hitchcock
khitch01@calpoly.edu
805-756-5735
Favorite Quote: "Work hard at work worth doing." - Leslie Knope
Katie Escalera
kaescale@calpoly.edu
805-756-5735
Favorite Quote: "Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever." - Walt Disney
Carly Head
Assistant Director for the Mustang Success Center
cehead@calpoly.edu
805-756-7036
Favorite Quote: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better” Maya Agelou
Dawin Whiten
dwhiten@calpoly.edu
805-756-5979
Favorite Quote: “To me there are three things everyone should do every day. Number one is laugh. Number two is think -- spend some time in thought. Number three, you should have your emotions move you to tears." - Jim Valvano
Alicia Cruz
acruzavi@calpoly.edu
805-756-6211
Favorite Quote: "Do not fear going forward; fear only to stand still." - Chinese Proverb
Austin Joseph Ferguson
aufergus@calpoly.edu
805-756-5779
Favorite Quote: “Take your work seriously, but never yourself” - Margot Fonteyn
Alondra Catalan Vargas
catalanv@calpoly.edu
805-756-5779
Favorite Quote: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” - Mahatma Gandhi
Jaclyn Banaga
jbanaga@calpoly.edu
805-756-7012
Favorite Quote: “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never made a mistake has never tried anything new" - Albert Einstein
Annie Amos
anamos@calpoly.edu
805-756-5979
Favorite Quote:"“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” ― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
Carly Head
Assistant Director for the Mustang Success Center
cehead@calpoly.edu
805-756-7036
Teams: M Basketball & Wrestling
Favorite Quote: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better” Maya Agelou
Zach Reed
zreed01@calpoly.edu
805-756-6495
Teams: M/W Track & Field, M/W Cross Country, W Soccer, M/W Swimming and Diving
Favorite Quote: "You can only see the stars when it is dark." - Dr. Eric Thomas
Kyle Ross
kyross@calpoly.edu
805-756-7043
Teams: Football, Baseball, M/W Tennis, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball
Favorite Quote: "There may be people who have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do and I believe that." - Derek Jeter
Louise Torgerson
ltorgers@calpoly.edu
805-756-7041
42-205
Teams: W Basketball, Football, M Soccer, Softball, M/W Golf
Favorite Quote: "Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud." - Maya Angelou
Mustang Success Center Graduate Students
Lisa Rizzo
athleticadvising@calpoly.edu
42-205
Favorite Quote: “The best way to predict the future is to create it” – Abraham Lincoln
Catherine Castro
athleticadvising@calpoly.edu
42-205
Mustang Success Center Peer Advisors
Amrit
success@calpoly.edu
805-756-6211
52-D37
Favorite Quote:“Never tell me the odds.” – Han Solo.
Lilla
success@calpoly.edu
805-756-6211
52-D37
Favorite Quote: “A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.” — Eeyore (Winnie the Pooh)
Estefania
success@calpoly.edu
805-756-6211
52-D37
Favorite Quote: “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” -James Keller
Sydney
success@calpoly.edu
805-756-6211
52-D37
Favorite Quote: "I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." - Andy Bernard, The Office
Cassy
success@calpoly.edu
805-756-6211
52-D37
Favorite Quote: “If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door" - Milton Berle
First Year Advising Center Mission
The Mustang Success Center provides an inclusive environment that supports first time freshmen students with their transition and integration into Cal Poly. The center’s staff provides accessible academic advising that guides students to clear pathways of success and timely graduation. Through individual appointments, group advising sessions, and workshops, the advisors help students:
- Understand University policies and procedures
- Offer a full range of proactive academic services
- Refer students to appropriate campus resources
- Provide leadership in coordinating College and University programs that support student success.