Dean's Office
Dean
DeanAndrew J. Thulin, Ph.D.
Kansas State University
11-211, 805-756-2161, athulin@calpoly.edu
Andrew J. Thulin began his role as dean of Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) in June 2014, after serving as interim dean for the prior year.
Prior to his current role, Thulin concurrently directed strategic initiatives for the university and served as head of CAFES’ Animal Science Department. Under his 15-year leadership, the Animal Science Department implemented a new strategic vision that led to a significant expansion of facilities, faculty and staff. Graduation rates increased to nearly 90 percent, and more than $16 million was raised for new laboratories and the construction of a new Beef Center, Animal Nutrition Center and Meat Processing Center, among others.
Before joining Cal Poly in 1998, Thulin managed technology deployment at Cargill, Inc., the nation’s largest private company. His responsibilities included spearheading new international business ventures and deploying new technologies to bring greater efficiencies and increased profitability to the company. Prior to joining Cargill, Inc., Thulin was a professor at Michigan State University, where he held a three-way appointment in extension, teaching and research.
Thulin graduated from Cal Poly with a bachelor’s degree in animal science, and completed his master’s and doctorate degrees at Kansas State University.
His board service includes: founding member of the Cal Poly Foundation Board of Directors; Secretary-Treasurer of the Cal Poly Corporation; International Food Protection Training Institute Board of Directors; Food Systems Leadership Institute Site Director; and California Ag Leadership Institute Site Dean.
Executive Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs
Executive Associate Dean, Undergraduate ProgramsRichard A. Cavaletto, Ph.D., P.E.
University of California, Davis
11-211, 805-756-2161, rcavalet@calpoly.edu
Dr. Cavaletto has served as Executive Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences since January 2012. He oversees undergraduate programs including curriculum development, student enrollment and progress, the college’s recruiting efforts, and student leadership programs.
Dr. Cavaletto served as department head for Cal Poly's BioResource and Agricultural Engineering [BRAE] Department from 2004 to 2012. He is a registered professional engineer and alumnus of the BRAE undergraduate program. Dr. Cavaletto’s expertise is in the area agricultural safety with a special emphasis on machinery operation and design. He has directed the Agricultural Safety Institute at Cal Poly since 1992.
Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs
Associate Dean, Faculty AffairsNanine VanDraanen, Ph.D.
University of California, Berkeley
11-211, 805-756-5658, nvandraa@calpoly.edu
Dr. VanDraanen oversees our retention, promotion and tenure process; the onboarding of new faculty and staff; faculty recruitment and mentoring; workload management; and our student advising center. VanDraanen was previously chair of the Chemistry Department in the College of Science and Math.
Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Programs
Jim Prince, Ph.D.
Cornell University
11-211; 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.
Assistant Dean, Advancement and External Relations
Russ Kabaker
11-211, 805-756-6235, rkabaker@calpoly.edu
Russ Kabaker joined the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences as the assistant dean of advancement and external relations in June 2014. His focus is to provide a seamless and coordinated program of outreach that fosters strong relationships with internal and external partners, enhancing support for the college and its many disciplines.
Prior to joining Cal Poly, Kabaker had an extensive agribusiness management career at Bayer CropScience Vegetable Seeds, where he was responsible for sales and marketing for the Americas, Australia and New Zealand for various segments within the produce industry. Prior to that, Kabaker worked for the ag operations division of Bakersfield, Calif.,-based Grimmway Farms.
Kabaker is an alumnus of Cal Poly. While a Cal Poly student, he spent his summers working as a wild land firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service for six seasons.