Dean's Office
Interim Dean
Jeremy James, Ph.D.
805-756-2161, jjames20@calpoly.edu
Dr. Jeremy James was named interim dean for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences on December 21, 2024. James most recently served as head of the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences Department.
James earned a bachelor's degree in ecology from Cal Poly and a doctorate degree in Plant Sciences from UC Davis. His teaching interests largely in the areas of natural resource management, ecology and environmental leadership. His research interests are at the intersection of ecological restoration, climate change and invasive plant ecology.
Senior Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Programs
Jim Prince, Ph.D.
805-756-2161, jpprince@calpoly.edu
Dr. Prince oversees research coordination and funding, and grant and research support. Previously, he served as vice provost for academic affairs for CSU Sacramento, as well as a faculty member in their department of biological sciences. Prior to that, he was an associate dean at CSU Chico, and also held several positions at CSU Fresno. He has more than 30 years of agricultural research experience, including at Cornell University, with USDA-ARS, and at Fresno State.
Dr. Prince earned his bachelor's degree in botany from UC Davis and his doctorate degree in botany and plant molecular biology from Cornell University.
Associate Dean, Student Success and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Ann De Lay, Ph.D.
805-756-2161, adelay@calpoly.edu
Ann De Lay is the college’s associate dean of student success and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). She joined Cal Poly in 2008, working previously in the college’s Agricultural Education and Communication Department as a professor and graduate coordinator, supervising, evaluating and mentoring teacher candidates during their clinical practice. She also served as the advisor for the Latinos in Agriculture Club and has held several appointments as a CAFES faculty fellow in the areas of DEI, assessment and the quarter to semester transition.
De Lay earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Cal State Fresno, a master’s degree in agriculture at Cal Poly and a doctorate degree in agricultural education at the University of Florida.
Associate Dean, Operations and Infrastructure
Will Marchese, J.D.
marchese@calpoly.edu
Will Marchese joined the college in June 2023 as the associate dean of operations and infrastructure, overseeing strategic planning and operations of the college’s infrastructure and 18 production operations, which generate more than $5M in annual revenue. Previously, he held roles at CSU San Marcos, Cal Poly Corporation and UC Santa Barbara. He earned a bachelor's degree from UC Davis and a juris doctor from Lincoln Law School.
Assistant Dean, Advancement and External Relations
Russ Kabaker
805-756-6235, rkabaker@calpoly.edu
Russ Kabaker serves as the assistant dean of advancement and external relations for Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES), a role he has held since June 2014. In this position, he leads the college’s development, alumni engagement, and industry partnership strategies, working to strengthen relationships that support CAFES’ mission and its diverse academic and research programs.
A proud Cal Poly alumnus with degrees in plant sciences and statistics, Kabaker began his career at Grimmway Farms in Bakersfield, California, where he worked directly with founders Rod and Bob Grimm in agricultural operations and special projects. He then spent 15 years at Bayer CropScience Vegetable Seeds (formerly Nunhems), where he held executive leadership roles overseeing sales, marketing and product development across the Americas, Australia and New Zealand, managing profit and loss for multiple product lines. During this time, he traveled to more than 30 countries.
Kabaker's lifelong connection to food and agriculture, combined with his global business experience and commitment to student success, continues to shape his work in advancing Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing mission.
Assistant Dean, Strategic Initiatives, Communications and Student Leadership
Haley Marconett
805-756-2933, hmarcone@calpoly.edu
Haley Marconett is responsible for the strategic planning, articulation and implementation of college-wide strategic operations and initiatives, communications and stakeholder engagement, and student leadership and recruitment. She serves as a key strategist with the college dean in initiating new programs and working across internal and external stakeholders to achieve objectives.
Marconett has nearly 30 years of experience as an executive-level advisor overseeing strategic communications, planning and operations. Before joining Cal Poly in 2013, she spent her career in industry, leading strategic communications, reputation management and executive positioning for Fortune 100 companies in the food and retail space including SUPERVALU/Albertson’s, Target, General Mills, Calphalon and Cargill. Marconett graduated from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, with degrees in English and economics.