June 8 , 2006
Former Cal Poly Ag Dean Returns to Campus as Senior Advisor
 SAN LUIS OBISPO – Former Cal Poly dean of agriculture Joe
Jen, who has been serving as under secretary of research, education
and economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture since 2001,
has returned to Cal Poly as a senior advisor to President Warren
J. Baker and California State University Chancellor Charles Reed.
In his new position as senior advisor to the president for special
agricultural and federal initiatives, Jen will assist President
Baker and the chancellor on systemwide strategies and provide support
for Cal Poly and the CSU in areas related to federal policies and
programs.
“Cal Poly, and in particular the College of Agriculture,
are indeed fortunate to have Joe Jen return to campus to advise
on federal policy and programs,” President Baker said. “Joe
will draw on his combined academic, government and industry experience
to help Cal Poly identify opportunities to expand its collaboration
with the federal government in the areas of undergraduate and graduate
education and applied research.”
Working with the dean of research and graduate programs, Jen will
support faculty in developing initiatives across the full spectrum
of agriculture disciplines, from crop and soil science, to irrigation
technology, to agricultural business and marketing, and domestic
and international policy.
He will also recommend government experts to conduct seminars on
campus and work with students to identify internships and other
opportunities with the federal government and help develop international
program opportunities.
Jen was appointed by U.S. President George Bush in 2001 as under
secretary of research, education and economics at the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, overseeing matters related to agricultural research,
education and economic and statistical analyses in the United States
and abroad. He was responsible for four agencies, with nearly 13,000
employees at 160 locations across the country.
As dean Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture from 1992 to 2001,
Jen was responsible for personnel, budget and program administration
for the College of Agriculture’s 10 departments, 17 degree
programs and 3,500 students.
Jen’s academic experience includes posts at the University
of Georgia, Michigan State University, Clemson University, and the
National Taiwan University.
From 1980 to 1986, he served as the director of research for the
Campbell Institute of Science and Technology, a division of Campbell
Soup Co.
Jen has authored numerous book chapters, dozens of scientific articles,
and has given more than 1,000 presentations to professional, civic,
government and international organizations.
Born in China, Jen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural
chemistry from the National Taiwan University in Taipei. He earned
a master’s degree in food science from Washington State University
in Pullman, a Ph.D. in biochemistry from UC Berkeley, and an MBA
from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.
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