Cultivate Fall 2023

FROM THE DEAN

As I prepare to retire as dean in December after more than 25 years at Cal Poly, I find myself reflecting not only on all of the firsts that I experienced along the way, but on the lasting lessons that will remain long beyond my time here.

From rolling up my sleeves and working side by side with faculty and students cleaning out old labs to building multimillion-dollar facilities that ensure our students have access to the latest technology, every experience was done with one goal in mind: student success.

Together, we can do hard things. And because of that, we can accomplish great things. Any organization is only as successful as the people who are a part of it. I retire knowing that the college is being led by some of the most talented, driven and compassionate educators out there. They will continue to prepare the next generation to be Ready Day One to address the fundamental issues that affect all of humankind – food security, environmental sustainability and the impacts of a changing climate. This global focus is at the forefront of everything we do in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences – and will continue to be long into the future.

In this issue, you’ll read stories about students who are doing critical research in climate science and agronomy. You’ll see the students taking their first classes in the new Boswell Ag Tech Center, where agriculture, food and technology come together. And you’ll read about the latest efforts underway by the Cal Poly Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Institute. These efforts all reflect the first steps into the future that will create the lasting impacts future generations will benefit from.

Thank you for your continued support of Cal Poly and our future. I will forever be grateful for the privilege of leading this college for the last decade, and for the relationships formed along the way.

In gratitude,

ANDREW J. THULIN, DEAN

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences