College Leadership
Mary Anne Alabanza Akers, Dean
Andrew O. Wilcox, Associate Dean
About the College
Building 7 Room 1007 | (909) 869-2667 | College Website | College Student Success Center | Accreditation
The College of Environmental Design at Cal Poly Pomona delivers an immersive polytechnic education grounded in sustainability, public impact, and design excellence. ENV’s approach blends studio-based pedagogy with community engagement and applied research, preparing students to address urgent environmental, social, and spatial challenges.
Students gain hands-on experience through long-standing partnerships with local municipalities and nonprofit organizations. Design-build studios and community planning labs connect students with underserved communities across Southern California, producing work that has both immediate use and long-term impact.
Architecture students participate in immersive design studios that integrate technical rigor with critical inquiry. Signature experiences include the Neutra VDL Studio and Residences, a National Historic Landmark operated by ENV that serves as both a teaching tool and an international venue for experimental design, exhibitions, and residency programs. Projects often extend beyond campus: students have developed housing concepts for transitional communities, post-wildfire redevelopment proposals, and adaptive reuse strategies for heritage sites.
The John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies-located on a 16-acre site within the campus-serves as a hub for applied research in sustainable systems, energy conservation, and environmental justice. It supports interdisciplinary projects that address climate resilience and community wellness, while offering students residential and research opportunities in regenerative living practices. The college is also an early partner in the campus-wide PolyX initiative, which promotes high-impact learning experiences across disciplines.
Graduating students emerge with a strong foundation in visual and spatial literacy, systems analysis, and collaborative problem-solving. They are trained to navigate complex environmental, regulatory, and community dynamics, and to translate user needs into ethical, context-sensitive design solutions. Emphasis is placed on civic responsibility, professional integrity, and adaptive leadership. Whether entering practice, public service, or graduate study, ENV graduates are equipped to create meaningful change through design.