Longtime Leader Joseph J. Jen Retiring from Cal Poly

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Joseph J. Jen, senior assistant to the President for Special Agricultural and Federal Initiatives since April 2006, is retiring from Cal Poly effective Sept. 1.

Jen returned to Cal Poly in 2006 after a five-year assignment as undersecretary of research, education and economics at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Prior to his USDA appointment, he had served as Cal Poly's dean of agriculture from 1992 to 2001.

Since 2006 he has spearheaded a number of special initiatives on behalf of Cal Poly and the CSU.

President Warren J. Baker commented on Jen's service to Cal Poly over nearly two decades: "Joe Jen has been a true champion of Cal Poly agriculture and our learn-by-doing educational tradition. He played a key role in development of Cal Poly's agriculture programs and in raising Cal Poly's profile as a leader in the field. Understanding the increasingly global character of agriculture, he has also helped introduce Cal Poly faculty and students to new opportunities for international study, research and scientific exchange. We are grateful to have had the benefit of his leadership, insight and dedication to Cal Poly."

As senior advisor for the CSU System's Agriculture Advisory Committee, Jen was responsible for recruiting members from the agriculture industry and providing broad support for the committee's work. In this capacity, he helped launch a multi-campus wine marketing pilot program.

At Cal Poly, he helped the campus forge bilateral relationships with several leading Chinese universities with agriculture programs. His work resulted in establishment with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) of an innovative joint dual degree program that provides students with a Cal Poly MS in Agriculture (with specialization in Dairy Processing Technology) and an SJTU MS in Food Science.

Plans for collaboration with other Chinese universities include work in viticulture and enology with China Agricultural University (CAU) and Northwest Sci-Tech Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU), which has the oldest enology program in China.

Over the past several years, Jen has also served as a resource person for Cal Poly's College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, assisting faculty with their research and professional development plans, guest lecturing in courses and seminars, mentoring students and facilitating visits to Cal Poly by distinguished U.S. and international agriculture leaders. He also served on the Agricultural Advisory Committee of the Lt. Governor's California Economic Development Council and as an advisor to the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, a highly regarded agriculture leadership program with strong ties to Cal Poly.

As he completed his tenure at Cal Poly, Jen observed, "It has been a privilege to be associated with this fine university and, in particular, its outstanding faculty and students. I am proud to have been able to contribute to the further development of Cal Poly agriculture's learn-by-doing approach to education and to promote wider awareness of the university's outstanding agriculture programs."

While Jen is retiring from active service at Cal Poly, he will retain a connection to the campus as dean emeritus and will continue to reside in San Luis Obispo with his wife, Salina.

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