Contact the CAFES Advising Center
The CAFES Advising Center supports undergraduate 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.
Ann De Lay
Associate Dean, Student Success and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
adelay@calpoly.edu.
805-756-2161
Building 11-211
Ann De Lay is the college’s associate dean of student success and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). She joined Cal Poly in 2008, working previously in the college’s Agricultural Education and Communication Department as a professor and graduate coordinator, supervising, evaluating and mentoring teacher candidates during their clinical practice. She also served as the advisor for the Latinos in Agriculture Club and has held several appointments as a CAFES faculty fellow in the areas of DEI, assessment and the quarter to semester transition.
De Lay earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Cal State Fresno, a master’s degree in agriculture at Cal Poly and a doctorate degree in agricultural education at the University of Florida.
Kiku Severson
Administrative Support COORDINATOR
CAFESAdvising@calpoly.edu
805-756-7574 for administrative needs only; no phone advising available
Building 74M-A100
Kiku is from the Central Valley of California where her family grows almonds and walnuts. She earned her bachelor's degree in plant sciences from Cal Poly in 2017. Within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Kiku provides administrative support to all the advisors and students to ensure academic success.
Meagan Groom
LEAD academic advisor
groom@calpoly.edu
805-756-5071
Building 74M-A100
Majors Advised: Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration; Animal Science; Dairy Science
Meagan has worked in higher education as an academic affairs professional for more than 12 years, working with both traditional and non-traditional students. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Multnomah University and a master’s degree in higher education from Portland State University. On the weekends, she enjoys getting out in nature, hanging out with her family, and drinking locally roasted coffee.
Cathy Bartholomew
academic advisor
bartholo@calpoly.edu
805-756-5082
Building 74M-A100
Majors Advised: Food Science; Nutrition; BioResource and Agricultural Engineering; Agricultural Systems Management
Cathy previously worked as an academic advisor at Azusa Pacific University. She also worked as an adjunct professor teaching English, managerial communication and conflict management and negotiation.
Austin Joseph Ferguson
Academic Advisor
805-756-7574
Building 74M-A100
Majors advised: Forest and Fire Sciences; Environmental Earth and Soil Science; Environmental Management and Protection
Austin is a first-generation college graduate from Bakersfield, California, representing California's Central Valley with pride. He started his academic advising journey at Cal Poly in 2020 by interning at the Mustang Success Center. He worked there full-time beginning in 2022 and transitioned to the CAFES Advising Center at the end of 2024. He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, Fullerton, and later earned his master's degree in higher education counseling and student affairs (HECSA) from Cal Poly. For fun, you’ll catch him hiking around the county, playing video and board games with his friends, making latte “art” at home, and telling life stories to get a few laughs (be sure to ask him about his twin).
Maria Grando
Academic Advisor
mgrando@calpoly.edu
805-756-7574
Building 74M-A100
Majors advised: Plant Sciences; Agricultural Communications; Agricultural Science
Maria Grando is a first-generation student from Ukraine but has spent most of her life in California. With over a decade of experience working in education, she first attended Santiago Canyon College before transferring to California State University, Fullerton, where she earned a bachelor's degree in liberal studies in 2015. In 2017, she obtained a paralegal certificate from the University of California, Irvine. Maria's educational and career journey continued at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where she earned her master's degree in higher education counseling and student affairs in 2020. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening and exploring the beautiful landscapes of the Central Coast.
Craig Hooper
academic advisor
crhooper@calpoly.edu
805-756-5019
Building 74M-A100
Majors Advised: Agricultural Business; Wine and Viticulture
Craig has worked as an academic advisor at Cal Poly since 2008. He received a degree in kinesiology from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and a master’s degree in theology from Biola University in La Mirada, Calif.