March 29, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: David Wehner
Dean, College of Agriculture
(805) 756-2161

Cal Poly College of Agriculture Announces New Assistant Dean

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Cal Poly's College of Agriculture has appointed its first assistant dean of advancement and external relations. Dean David Wehner announced the appointment of Tanya Kiani to the position March 23; she will join the College of Agriculture May 15.

Kiani is currently the director of advancement, alumni and external relations for Cal Poly's College of Architecture and Environmental Design. She earned her bachelor's degree from CSU Long Beach and her M.B.A from Cal Poly.

"Tanya has demonstrated great success in connecting alumni and major donors with the goals of her college. She has extensive fund-raising experience and is a creative thinker," Wehner said in announcing the appointment. "I am sure that she will be a tremendous asset as we partner with alumni and supporters to realize our goals for the future of the College of Agriculture."

Cal Poly's College of Agriculture is the fourth-largest undergraduate agriculture program in the nation, with more than 3,600 students currently enrolled. The college raised more than $47 million during the Centennial Campaign -- topping its goal by over $7 million. The multi-year fund-raising campaign ended in December 2004, but the university is continuing its efforts to increase private support.

In her new position, Kiani will be working on developing private support for improving and expanding facilities in the College of Agriculture, as well as planning for a new Agriculture Technology Center. The center will provide additional laboratory space and state-of-the art equipment for applied agriculture research.

As director of advancement for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design for the past six years, Kiani developed and implemented a communications plan resulting in greatly increased visibility for the college and its top national ranking and reputation. She also shepherded the college's Centennial Campaign fund-raising activities, which brought $9.8 million in private support.

Prior to joining the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Kiani served as the director of college development for the Cuesta College Foundation, and earlier as Cal Poly's director of development, capital projects for the Performing Arts Center. She has been active in the local American Red Cross and the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, as well as the Cal Poly Alumni Association.

About the Cal Poly College of Agriculture:
The College of Agriculture at Cal Poly is the fourth-largest undergraduate agriculture program in the nation, with more than 3,600 students. It offers 18 undergraduate majors and three graduate degree programs, and awards an average of 650 baccalaureate degrees each year, nearly half of all baccalaureate agriculture degrees granted in California. The college has more than 23,000 alumni, and operates programs on 6,000 acres of land in San Luis Obispo County, and another 2,300 acres at the Swanton Pacific Ranch and Valencia property in Santa Cruz County. For more information visit the college's Web site at: http://cagr.calpoly.edu/.

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