Harvey Levenson to Retire from Cal Poly, Kenneth Macro to Succeed
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA—March 20, 2013—Harvey Levenson, longtime professor and head of Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department, will retire at the end of this academic year in June. He will be succeeded by longtime professor Kenneth Macro.
Levenson has served as department head for 30 years, the longest continuous department head tenure in the history of Cal Poly. During that time, Cal Poly’s graphic communication program has become one of the largest and best-known programs of its kind in the nation and includes studies in printing, publishing, packaging, Website development, Internet publishing, digital imaging, and related areas of graphic communication technology and management.
During Levenson’s tenure, the department built an industry support program that includes an advisory board of industry leaders from major companies in the field from throughout the United States; an institute for industry research and testing, product evaluations, and training; and a large endowment program.
“It was an amazing 30 years that seemed to go by in a ‘mouse click,’” Levenson said. “The success we experienced could not have been realized without an ongoing great faculty and staff, super bright students, and support from the Cal Poly administration and from industry. Cal Poly is a fantastic university with a hands-on, Learn by Doing teaching philosophy second to none.”
Macro joined Cal Poly in 2000 after serving in various capacities in industry, including director of printing services at the University of Akron, ad production supervisor at Alltel Publishing, and president of CopyBreak Inc. He teaches product development, marketing and production management.
“Ken is one of the most popular professors in our department,” Levenson noted. “He has the range of industry experience and education needed to lead the department. I plan to assist Ken in any way necessary to ensure a smooth, seamless transition.”
Macro looks forward to his new role. “I am humbled to be selected by my colleagues to assist in transitioning Dr. Levenson’s legacy into a new and futuristic dimension,” he said. “Harvey has been an inspiring and diligent leader who has supported our endeavors with a warm heart and open arms. I aspire to carry on the legacy of greatness that he has brought to our department, our college, our university and our industry.”
Levenson also plans to help Cal Poly with this transition through part-time oversight of its Graphic Communication Institute, a non-state entity, for the immediate future. He also plans to play various roles to support industry projects and initiatives.
To commemorate Levenson’s retirement and service, the Graphic Communication Department advisory board established the Dr. Harvey R. Levenson Excellence in Graphic Communication Endowment. The endowment will provide scholarships to deserving students and support continued department growth.
About Cal Poly and the Graphic Communication Department
Named the West’s best public master’s-level university for two decades by U.S. News and World Report, Cal Poly is a comprehensive polytechnic campus of about 18,000 students on California’s Central Coast. One of the most selective of the California State University’s 23 campuses, Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo provides a renowned Learn by Doing education aimed at producing innovative professionals and future industry leaders in science and technology as well as the liberal arts.
The Graphic Communication Department was founded in 1946 and is one of the largest and best-known programs of its kind in the United States. It includes concentrations in graphic communication management, Web and digital media, design reproduction technology, graphics for packaging, and individualized study. The program is strongly supported by industry with grants and endowments and with equipment, supplies and software for the department’s more than 33,000 square feet of modern laboratories. The department is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications. The Graphic Communication Institute at Cal Poly focuses on services for industry, including research, testing, product evaluations, consulting, training, seminars, workshops, conferences and publishing.
Source: Cal Poly.
