Cal Poly’s Master of Science in Transportation and Engineering Management (MSTEM) program is entering its next chapter under new leadership. The fully online degree was designed for professionals in transportation, engineering and related fields.
Alessandro Hill, an assistant professor in Cal Poly’s Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department, and Shaina Pearl, a maritime lecturer and MSTEM alumna, have been named co-directors. Administered through Extended, Professional and Continuing Education, the program prepares mid-career professionals for leadership roles in transportation, engineering and humanitarian disaster management.
Launched in 2011 as Cal Maritime’s first graduate degree, the program was built for students already established in the field, including mariners looking to move shoreside or professionals seeking to advance into management. Its cohort-based structure allows them to deepen their industry and management knowledge without stepping away from their work.
Over its first 14 cohorts, the program has averaged about 22 students per cohort. Its asynchronous format gives students the flexibility to complete coursework from wherever their careers take them, whether that is a shipyard, a port or a vessel at sea.
“The MSTEM program helps professionals build leadership skills while staying closely connected to the industries they work in,” said Bob Crockett, interim dean of Cal Poly’s College of Engineering. “Alessandro and Shaina bring complementary strengths, and their partnership will help the program continue serving students well.”
Their appointment offers continuity for current and prospective students as Kathy Arnold prepares to retire after leading the program since its inception in 2011. Together, Hill and Pearl bring perspectives from both the San Luis Obispo and Solano campuses as they step into the role.
Hill’s background is in operations research, analytics and decision-making in complex systems. His work in industrial and manufacturing engineering adds an analytical lens to a program centered on transportation, management and applied problem-solving.
Pearl adds an industry-grounded perspective shaped by her work as a mariner and her own experience in the program. As an MSTEM graduate, she understands firsthand how the degree can help students expand their skills while continuing to work.
The transition also comes as Cal Poly continues integrating its San Luis Obispo and Solano campuses under one university, with the program drawing from expertise on both. Its focus remains on helping students build knowledge they can apply directly in their careers.
For more information about the MSTEM program, contact Pearl at spearl@csum.edu or Hill at ahill29@calpoly.edu.
