Russ Kabaker
Assistant Dean, External Relations and Advancement at Cal Poly\'s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences | Strategic Agricultural Executive | Fundraising Leader | Global Agribusiness Expert
- Role
- Assistant Dean, Advancement & External Relations for Cafe\'s at California Polytechnic State University Cal Poly
- Location
- San Luis Obispo, CA, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
Experience
Assistant Dean, Advancement & External Relations for Cafe\'s
California Polytechnic State University Cal Poly
Jun 2014 — Present · San Luis Obispo, CA, US
As Assistant Dean, I lead the advancement and external relations strategy for one of the nation’s most prominent colleges of agriculture. Cal Poly’s CAFES is the largest non-land-grant agricultural college in the U.S, granting nearly half of California’s undergraduate agriculture degrees and spanning acres of working and instructional land. With 9 departments, 200+ faculty, and over 4,200 students, the college is a recognized leader in applied, industry-connected education.I oversee all facets of external engagement—including philanthropy, industry and government relations, alumni engagement, marketing and communications, and research advancement. Working in close collaboration with university leadership, faculty, and external partners, I translate the college’s mission into actionable strategies that drive growth, innovation, and impact. I lead a results-oriented team that is deeply committed to advancing the college’s legacy and future.Key Achievements:Raised Record-Breaking Philanthropic Support: Spearheaded major fundraising campaigns that resulted in multimillion-dollar gifts, supporting new facilities, student scholarships, academic innovation, and experiential learning opportunities.Secured Transformational Industry Partnerships: Cultivated and deepened relationships with leading corporations and organizations, resulting in significant investments in applied research, programmatic development, and state-of-the-art infrastructure.Enhanced Institutional Visibility: Led strategic outreach efforts that significantly elevated the college’s brand among key audiences, including alumni, corporate partners, donors, foundations, and policymakers.Built a Culture of Collaboration and Impact: Served as a bridge between academia and industry, aligning external support with the college’s mission to prepare the next generation of leaders in agriculture, food systems, and environmental stewardship.
Education
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Bachelor’s Degree, Biology (B.S) and Statistics (Minor)
1990 — 1994
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