Fall 2025 | Issue 25
From the Dean
Each day I spend at Cal Poly, I’m reminded why this university is so special. The energy on campus this fall is electric — our students are back, and their curiosity and passion for learning fuels everything we do.
Cover Story
Fighting Fire with Fire
Cal Poly Students Learn Land Stewardship Through Campus' First Prescribed Burn
The crackle of burning grass and the shimmer of rising heat turned a quiet campus hillside into an open-air classroom.
Features
Change continues as the college makes strides at enhancing the student experience.
Q&A with Dean Brian Horgan
Dean Brian Horgan joined Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences in July, bringing with him a passion for innovation, collaboration and student success.
A Gift with Backbone
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.
Growing the Next Generation
Driscoll’s has pledged $5 million to the college in support of its new farm store, anchoring the new Plant Sciences Complex and advancing Cal Poly’s commitment to developing future leaders in food and agriculture.
Learn by Doing, From Land to Sea
From fire lines and fire recovery, to summer terms at sea, student hands-on opportunities continue to expand.
From Ashes to Opportunity
From a quiet vantage point at Swanton Pacific Ranch, overlooking the valley below, the sweeping landscape tells a story of survival. Trees gnarled into charred remnants stand tall, next to sprouting vegetation that is quickly growing in soil that was once shaded by closed canopies.
Summer Break on the Fire Line
Listening to the crackle of brush and feeling the weight of smoke in the air wasn’t how most Cal Poly students spent their summer break, but for a handful of them, the classroom was replaced by the fire line.
All Hands On Deck
The integration of Cal Poly and the Cal Poly Maritime Academy brings together two institutions that are built on a hands-on, immersive approach to learning. The Department of Marine Transportation is being incorporated into CAFES — creating opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration.
Photo Essay - First Day of School Vibes
Day One
First day of school vibes: the Mustang spirit that fuels CAFES students on day one.
News & Notes
A new chapter for Experience Industry Management, a quarter to semesters update, new faculty and staff and upcoming events.
Tiny Brains, Big Stakes
Iron deficiency, one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies worldwide, is particularly concerning in infants. The mineral is needed to support growth, brain development and the immune system, among other things.
Preparing Students to make headlines
Cultivate is the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences quarterly magazine, sharing student Learn by Doing stories and exploring how our faculty, staff and alumni continue to positively impact the world.