By Walter Ryce

The division of Academic Affairs has been re-energized with a leadership team of people who are new to campus but who bring substantial experience and passion for the mission of Cal State Monterey Bay. Among them is Michelle Mayo, Associate Provost for Student Success and Dean of Undergraduate Studies. 

Born and raised in St. Louis, Mayo says, “I’m a Midwest girl.” 

Her parents did not have the opportunity to attend college but were committed to making sure she and her sister received the best education possible. 

Mayo attended Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in education. She said she had a great experience there.  

“People poured resources and opportunities into me,” she said. “I literally had people at every [step] who pointed me in the right directions and showed me what I could do. Mentors and administrators there are my closest friends and confidants.” 

It is also at Truman where she was exposed to graduate school opportunities as a McNair Scholar and she participated in high-impact undergraduate research opportunities. Originally she was on track to become a lawyer, but realized that her passion was education and addressing issues of access and equity for underserved students. 

“Imagine what I could do in terms of serving students if I pay it forward and share my experiences and serve those students who come after me,” she said. “That’s what I have committed my life's work to doing.” 

She went on to earn a PhD in education policy and leadership studies from Indiana University Bloomington, where she was taught by the people who were writing the textbooks on student retention and success. 

She came to CSUMB this summer with 25 years of higher-education experience behind her. Most recently, she was associate provost for Academic Programs and Undergraduate Research at North Carolina Central University, where she led the approval and implementation of nine innovative degree programs and oversaw a $3 million budget supporting experiential opportunities for students. 

She said she is excited to be at a relatively young institution not bound by older bureaucracies and entrenched thinking. 

“It’s nice to be at an institution that’s carving out a special niche in the CSU under President Vanya Quiñones’ leadership, and being part of a dynamic team that’s committed to student success.”

She’s been getting the lay of the land, learning about the culture and the needs of undergraduate students. She recognizes that first-year students are thriving but that challenges kick in during the second and third years. She intends to home in on getting students through to graduation faster and constructing pathways for that to happen. 

“I’m not from California, but I understand the challenges first-generation students deal with, the implicit biases underserved students deal with,” she said. “College is not about surviving but thriving.” 

She sees leadership as a responsibility and believes in collaboration and teamwork. She has no problem rolling up her sleeves to ensure that "the work" gets done. At one of her previous institutions, where she oversaw the Registrar's Office, she helped the registrar get students cleared for graduation. 

“I thoroughly understood the nuances of our curriculum and meeting graduation requirements,” she said. “You can only accomplish that by working side-by-side with your team to fully understand what they do. It is only through teamwork that the dream can work!"