A Gift with Backbone
Cook Family Gallery brings biodiversity to life at Cal Poly's Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center
Inspired by her family’s deep agricultural roots on the Central Coast, John and Cynthia Cook (Liberal Studies, ’82) have pledged $300,000 to the college’s new Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center, making possible a unique skeleton teaching gallery for future students.
The Cook Family Gallery will offer a diverse collection of 20 animal skeletons and 19 additional skulls ranging from large domestic species such as horses and cows to a variety of smaller ones like rats and birds. The collection replaces a much smaller, dated group of skeletons used by students studying anatomy and physiology.
The enclosed glass gallery will be visible from the lobby of the Animal Health Center — allowing visitors to view and interact with it when classes are not in session. A special addition to the new gallery includes a 10-foot reticulated giraffe skeleton that will be central to the display.
“The Cooks' donation increases the biodiversity of our skeleton collection and provides a wider variety of species that students have not had access to in the past,” said George Gallagher, head of the Animal Science Department. “John and Cynthia’s commitment to supporting higher education is instrumental in providing a whole new level of Learn by Doing opportunities to our students.”
The Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center, set to open in 2026, is an interactive, experiential animal facility, supporting the next generation of leaders in veterinary medicine, animal healthcare and animal agriculture. The modern, state-of-the-art facility reinforces teaching, research and clinical training for students to meet the growing demand for animal health and science professionals.
For close to a century, Cynthia Cook's family, the Turri family, owned and managed a cattle ranch as well as a dairy and several agricultural parcels located along Los Osos 
Valley Road in Los Osos. The family continues to operate a ranch there today, instilling in her a love for the land and a commitment to animal care and agricultural stewardship. She credits her time at the university with shaping her values.
“Cal Poly was the only college I ever thought of attending - my parents encouraged me every step of the way,” she said. “I had five other relatives attending Cal Poly at the same time and I was so lucky that they embraced me and to this day I have the fondest memories of spending Sunday dinners with them at the ranch.”
The Cooks recently visited the campus to tour the gallery as it is being constructed and meet with students who have benefited from their philanthropic generosity elsewhere on campus. The couple also contributes to an Earn by Doing fund that allows students to work up to 20 hours a week at the Cal Poly Creamery, gaining paid work experience that complements their classroom learning. “After being away from campus for a number of years, I’m amazed at what it is today,” Cynthia Cook said. “I just love Cal Poly.”
Together, the Cooks intend to help preserve the Turri family legacy and inspire future generations of Cal Poly students through their generous support. “Everything revolves around the next generation having a great education, it benefits everyone,” John Cook said. “It is clear that Cal Poly has outstanding students in these programs.”
It’s not too late to donate to the Animal Health Center project. To learn more about available opportunities, contact Erica Nordby at nordby@calpoly.edu or by calling 805-756-5595.
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