Ryan ChartrandFollowing a nationwide search, Cal Poly President Warren Baker announced the permanent appointment of Sandra Ogren as vice president for University Advancement earlier this month.
Ogren, 59, came to Cal Poly in 2004 as the interim vice president for Advancement, hoping to fill the position permanently, but with the expectation that a national search would follow, she said.
The search committee backed Ogren’s permanent appointment to the position leading up to President Baker’s June 7 announcement.
As the interim vice president, Ogren headed the creation of a philanthropic foundation to raise private money for Cal Poly that can be directed toward scholarships, professorships, buildings and program and technical support.
“The most exciting part (of the permanent appointment) is knowing I’ll have a chance to follow through with the things I’ve started, particularly this new foundation,” Ogren said.
She said a major goal of the philanthropic foundation is to “work with donors to find something they’re passionate about.”
As the vice president for Advancement, Ogren works directly under President Baker and is responsible for the “externally directed relations of Cal Poly,” she said. Government, media and alumni relations all fall under Ogren’s job tasks, as well as the raising of private money for the university.
Ogren said she is most looking forward to connecting with Cal Poly alumni.
“We have such a wonderful group of alumni all over California, and they are very loyal,” she said.
Ogren came to Cal Poly and the Central Coast from Minnesota, where she worked as vice president for the University of Minnesota for six years. Prior to that, Ogren spent eight years as a judge on the Minnesota Supreme Court and another two years on the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
President Baker supported Ogren’s appointment in a press release, saying “Sandra Ogren in an inspiring leader who has brought a clear vision and strong management skills to the challenge of moving Cal Poly’s advancement program forward.”