IN THIS EDITION

COVER STORY

31 YEARS IN SUPPORT OF LEARN BY DOING

Cal Poly Magazine pays tribute to President Warren Baker as he prepares to retire after more than three decades at the helm of our university, fighting for Cal Poly’s signature “learn by doing” educational model. “I’m often asked what has kept me in this job for 31 years,” Baker said. “It’s simple: the joy that comes from being part of transforming lives. That's what we do at Cal Poly: We transform lives. We help academically motivated students become resourceful professionals and innovative leaders in their professions and in their communities.
“What a privilege it has been to help transform the lives of tens of thousands of students over the decades. If I could, I would do it another 31 years.”

EDITOR'S NOTE

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Construction continues on the renovation of the Cal Poly Recreation Center; the university’s Poly Canyon Village student housing complex earns LEED Gold certification for sustainable building; students Addie Virta and Missy Sparks earn awards for their volunteer work; and more.

FEATURES

AMBASSADOR IN THE CLASSROOM

Sociology Professor Maliha Zulfacar is back in the classroom at Cal Poly, fresh off a three-year stint as the ambassador to Germany for her native country, Afghanistan.

GOING BACK TO GO GLOBAL

The mother of four grown children, Lori Atwater had been successful as a union electrician, an information systems manager and self-employed technical consultant. But she traded it all in for dorm life and a meal plan.

HOT SHOTS: ASTRONAUTS GREG CHAMITOFF AND RICK STURCKOW

Chances are you’ve watched science fiction movies with astronauts flying spaceships from Earth, living on space stations and admiring the view of our planet. That science fiction is now science fact, as Greg Chamitoff (EE ’84) and Rick Sturckow (ME ’84) can both personally attest.

MUSTANG MENTORING MAGIC

Alumni love Cal Poly. They love their experiences as students, the beautiful San Luis Obispo community, the lifelong friendships and the quality of the education. And when Cal Poly asks alumni to give back, they do, particularly when they’re asked to give back to help students. One recent example is Mustang Mentoring Day.

PATENTING REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS

Cal Poly is known for having some of the brightest and most academically motivated students in the state and for its faculty’s commitment and dedication to student success. Not so widely known is that some of those faculty and students have invented tools with the potential to make a real difference in our world.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION

At Cal Poly, an agribusiness professor and one of her students are working with faculty at UC Davis to prevent early childhood malnutrition and address that challenge one village at a time.

ROSE FLOAT AWARD WINNER

“Jungle Cuts,” the float built by students and volunteers from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and the university’s sister campus in Pomona captured two awards at the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade, held Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.

WHERE’S MUSTY?

Can you tell us where on campus our furry mini-mascot Musty is this time?

PHILANTHROPY

MAKING YOUR DOLLARS MAKE SENSE

Advice on how your gift to Cal Poly can benefit you as well as the university.