Cal Poly Announces 35-Year Higher Education Veteran as New Executive Director of University Housing

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly announces the appointment of Jo Campbell — a 35-year veteran of higher education leadership, inclusive practices and administration — as the university’s new assistant vice president for student affairs and executive director of university housing. 

Campbell — formerly a director of residential life at the University of Toledo, Ohio and senior associate director of housing at the University of Illinois at Chicago — will begin at Cal Poly in July. 

In her new role, Campbell will assume responsibility and management of university housing, which includes residential education, facilities maintenance and custodial, housing assignments and marketing. As a division leader, Campbell will also develop new residential facilities, including the programming of the Student Housing South project (1,475 first-year student beds) scheduled to open in fall 2018, as well as additional residential opportunities. Cal Poly currently houses approximately 40 percent of its student body and seeks to house up to 65 percent in the future. 

“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Campbell to Student Affairs, and to the Cal Poly community,” said Keith B. Humphrey, vice president for student affairs. “Her decades of experience in residence life and university housing and her life-long commitment to issues of diversity and inclusion make her the perfect fit to lead our growing residential community.

“I have known Dr. Campbell for most of my career through our mutual leadership in ACPA-College Student Educators International, and I am excited that our team is being enhanced by a nationally respected leader and someone who leads with integrity.”

Campbell has served on dozens of committees and advisory boards to improve the campus climate related to academics, crisis and conduct, student enrollment, equity and inclusion, and drug and alcohol abuse prevention. Notably, she served on ACPA’s Executive Council as chair of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender awareness committee, and she chaired the committee on gay, lesbian and bisexual issues for the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International. 

Campbell earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in psychology and a master’s of education degree in student personnel services from the University of South Carolina, in Columbia, and a certificate of business administration with a strategic planning focus from University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2015, she earned a doctorate in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University. Her doctoral research was on the behaviors, attitudes, skills and knowledge of senior student affairs professionals and their perceptions of leadership success. 

“I am thrilled to join the Cal Poly community and look forward to working with the dedicated and engaged faculty, staff, and students at this time of growth for the residential population,” said Campbell. “I am excited to work with Dr. Humphrey and his great team, the wonderful staff in University Housing, and the students of this great institution.”  

Campbell will be joined by her wife, Ellen Broido, and their two cats, Sam and G.

About Student Affairs

Cal Poly’s Student Affairs supports student success through the Cal Poly experience by promoting Learn by Doing opportunities, delivering student-centered programs, encouraging personal growth, and empowering our students to live within a safe, healthy, inclusive and supportive environment. 

###