POMONA, Calif.—The Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of its fourth building.
“As California’s pipeline into the professional world of hospitality, The Collins College is meeting the growing employment needs of the multi-billion dollar hospitality and tourism industry by expanding its facilities to help shape tomorrow’s leaders,” says Dean Lea Dopson.
The $10 million new addition, funded entirely by private donations, will serve as a center of excellence that houses the college’s master’s program, which is ranked as one of the top 10 hospitality and tourism graduate programs in the country.
The 12,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility is equipped with the latest technology to foster academic success and collaboration. Students will have a space to thrive while dedicating countless hours to graduate thesis projects and professional papers.
The new state-of-the-art building features graduate studies classrooms, faculty offices, group study rooms, a grab ‘n’ go café, three courtyards, a huge flex classroom, and plenty of lounge space. Namesakes and longtime supporters of the college Carol and Jim Collins, Panda Restaurant Group founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, and prominent Inland Empire businessman and alumnus Eugene Park privately funded the $10 million project.
More than 300 people attended the grand opening celebration at the college, including state legislatures and representatives who presented Cal Poly Pomona President Soraya M. Coley with certificates of recognition congratulating the college on its latest milestone. The mayor of Pomona, Elliott Rothman; the mayor of Walnut, Bob Pacheco; representatives from senators Lui, Leyva, and Rodriguez’s offices; and representatives from Congresswoman Torres and Assembly member Chang’s offices were in attendance.
