The Viewbook
College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences
Agricultural Business
Dr. Christiane Schroeter Agribusiness Marketing Reason for entering teaching field: I am passionate about helping and communicating with others. To me, teaching is more than just conveying the material. My ultimate goal is to make a difference in my students' lives. Reason for entering the field: Before college, I worked for Kellogg's and Kraft Foods as a merchandising assistant. Consumer demand and marketing fascinated me. Favorite Quote: You learn something every day if you pay attention. -- Ray LeBlond What(Who) inspires you? My husband and children. Last reason to explode in laughter: My colleague lost a bet with me and she decided to invite me to a delicious smoothie at Lucy's on campus. Biggest challenge: Having enough hours in the day to get everything done! Description by students: Challenging and fun. Favorite part of the day: Enjoying a delicious breakfast while reading the Wall Street Journal. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: Opportunity to work in a strong agribusiness program at a beautiful location. Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with my family, especially going on a hike or bike tour. Favorite part of the central coast: I love Avila Beach. Whenever we sit at the beach on a Farmer's Market night and eat our fish tacos, I feel so lucky to LIVE where tourists love to VISIT!
Agricultural & Environmental Plant Sciences
Dr. Wyatt Brown Field: Postharvest technology and vegetable production Reason for entering teaching: Enjoy teaching and transferring knowledge. It is very satisfying to see the "light bulb" turn on one a student finally understands a concept. Reason for entering the field: Postharvest technology is an integral part of food production. It is both a technical and quickly evolving field, which makes it exciting to teach and to practice through research. Vegetables are fascinating and highly varied in appearance, taste and use. I am constantly amazed that I can grow what I eat. Favorite quote: You only get out as much as you put in. Continued inspiration: Cooking Last reason to explode in laughter: Doesn't happen often enough for me to remember! Biggest challenge: Inspiring students to love learning Favorite part of the day: Early morning as the sun is rising Perfect day: Sailing on the ocean in a sailboat Reason for coming to Cal Poly: One of the few institutions in the US the primary mission of which is teaching Favorite weekend activity: Getting 8 hours rest! Favorite part of the central coast: My home.
Animal Science
Dan Peterson Field: Molecular nutrition and genomics - how nutrients and other signals influence gene function and cellular/organismal physiology. Reason for entering teaching: I was realizing how important the next generation of scientists will be to the future of our world. Favorite quote: "Argue for your limitations and sure enough, they're yours." -Richard Bach, ILLUSIONS Continued inspiration: Comes from all of the good people in the world. Last reason to explode in laughter: Involved a good friend and a dolphin... Biggest challenge: Is limiting my appetite for more challenges! Favorite part of the day: Involves a surfboard. Perfect day: Would be spent either surfing or fly fishing, both with my closest friend. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: Was the combination of a great job with great people in an even greater place. Favorite part of the central coast: Is just west of the land
Bioresource & Agricultural Engineering
Mark Zohns Field: BioResource and Agricultural Engineering, Specialty: Mechanical Systems, Fluid Power (Hydraulics) Reason for entering teaching: What other profession is so widely varied, where you get to help younger people succeed? Reason for entering the field: Agriculture and Engineering are in my blood … Favorite quote: "Winners never quit and quitters never win." Continued inspiration: A new bunch of freshmen, eager to learn by doing, and of course, my very supportive wife. Last reason to explode in laughter: Probably a good joke. Biggest challenge: Staying one step ahead of my students. Description by students: Many say I look like Al Borland (old episodes of Home Improvement). Favorite part of the day: Sunrise/sunset Perfect day: Reason for coming to Cal Poly: Because of the integrity exhibited in the program, by the faculty, staff, and students!! Favorite weekend activity: Must be Tractor Pulling… Favorite part of the central coast: The weather, of course!
Earth Science
Chip Appel Field: Earth and soil sciences Reason for entering teaching: To positively interact with students and to share with them the amazing processes that take place on the earth allowing for life to exist as we know it. Reason for entering the field: To continuously have the opportunity to learn about the earth and its incredible properties. Favorite quote: By Charles Swindoll, "Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do." Continued inspiration: My wonderful wife, Beth. Last reason to explode in laughter: Discussing the intricacies of our toilet's operation with my wife. Biggest challenge: To live a life consistent with my beliefs. Description by students: Who's that guy with the funny beard. Favorite part of the day: Reading the Bible in the morning with my wife. Perfect day: Reading the Bible with my wife in the morning, surfing great waves, discussing the purchases my wife made at garages sales, eating lunch, taking a nap, either hiking, biking, or going surfing again with my wife and brothers, and then thinking about doing the same thing the next day. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: C'mon, who wouldn't want to come to the best undergraduate university in the nation and get to learn about the earth. I love this place. Favorite weekend activity: See perfect day. Favorite part of the central coast: My friends, the beaches, and the mountains.
Environmental Management & Protection
Dr. Chris Dicus Field: Wildland Fire & Fuels Management Reason for entering teaching field: Poly offered me a job in a place I would be willing to raise my family (was always more interested in research and NEVER thought I'd go into teaching). Reason for entering the field: In 1988, I had just graduated high school and was working with the National Park Service. All my friends were going off to the big Yellowstone fires and came back with some killer stories, which is what first intrigued me. Favorite Quote: "We're on a mission from God" Jake & Elwood Blues 1980 (from the Blues Brothers movie) What(Who) inspires you?: Jesus then my wife Last reason to explode in laughter: I might get in trouble if I told… Biggest challenge: Managing professional aspirations with being a good husband to my wife and father to my kids Description by students: Busy, crazy, hard Favorite part of the day: When I finally finish the 75 emails that I average in a given day. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: It was meant to be… Favorite weekend activity: Hiking Favorite part of the central coast: Big Sur coast
Forestry & Natural Resources
Scott Sink Field: Forestry & Natural Resources Reason for entering teaching field: To share in the discovery of the natural world with future generations Reason for entering the field: To make a career in the forest environment that I love Favorite Quote: "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research" -Albert Einstein What(Who) inspires you? Anyone who follows their dreams Last reason to explode in laughter: Watching the easily agitated elephant seals at San Simeon beach Biggest challenge: Work-life balance Description by students: Approachable and always willing to take time to answer questions Favorite part of the day: When it gets dark enough to see the Milky Way from my backyard Reason for coming to Cal Poly: Wide open spaces Favorite weekend activity: Camping and hiking with my awesome wife Favorite part of the central coast: The variety of wildlife
Nutrition
Aydin Nazmi Field: Nutrition epidemiology Reason for entering teaching: The academic environment Reason for entering the field: Chance to impact the public's health Favorite quote: "A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it." (Albert Einstein) Continued inspiration: Students' "a-ha" moments Last reason to explode in laughter: Fizzy drink went down the wrong way Biggest challenge: Maintaining balance Description by students: Intimidating Favorite part of the day: Yoga class Perfect day: Exercise, eat, play outside, cook, eat some more, relax Reason for coming to Cal Poly: West coast lifestyle and environment Favorite weekend activity: Road trips Favorite part of the central coast: Beach
Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Administration
Marni Goldenberg Field: Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration, specifically outdoor and adventure leadership and education. Reason for entering teaching field: To make a difference. Reason for entering the field: Love the outdoors and adventure and want to share that passion with others. Favorite Quote: "You can learn more about an individual during an hour of play, than a year of conversation." Plato What(Who) inspires you?: When the "light bulb goes on" either for myself or others! Especially for students! Last reason to explode in laughter: Hanging out with a very good friend! Biggest challenge: Balance of work and life. Description by students: Favorite part of the day: Morning! I am a morning person and love to hike or do yoga in the morning! Reason for coming to Cal Poly: I was born and raised in San Luis Obispo and I knew this was an incredible place to live and work. Favorite weekend activity: Anything outdoors. Favorite part of the central coast: Love it all… we have great trails, beaches, mountains, and people. It is an incredible location.
Soil Science
Scott Johnston Field: Geology Reason for entering teaching: I enjoy learning and helping other people learn. Reason for entering the field: I spent a lot of time in the mountains when I was growing up, and geology seemed like a good way to spend more time in the outdoors as well as learn how mountains form and evolve. Favorite quote: continued inspiration: understand how things work Last reason to explode in laughter: it is always good to laugh Biggest challenge: Description by students: Favorite part of the day: morning; getting up and drinking coffee Perfect day: too many options! Reason for coming to Cal Poly: Cal Poly has a good balance of teaching and research with excellent students. Favorite weekend activity: anything active: surfing, biking, climbing, skiing Favorite part of the central coast: marine terraces north of Cayucos.
Wine & Viticulture
Michael Costello
Field: entomology, acarology and viticultural pest management
Reason for entering teaching: When one becomes an expert in a field, you want to share what you know.
Not to mention that I get to ham it up in the classroom
Reason for entering the field: I was wowed by a professor from UC Berkeley who gave great, inspirational talks
Favorite quote: "We can't go on too much longer, maybe, without considering the likelihood that we humans
are not intelligent enough to work on the scale to which we have been tempted by our technological abilities."-- Wendell Berry
Continued inspiration: Thom Hartmann
Last reason to explode in laughter: The last time I listened to the Stephanie Miller radio show (this morning)
Biggest challenge: Publishing scientific papers when I have a full time teaching position
Description by students: (from recent student evaluations)
"Excellent, enthusiastic, and extremely intelligent in his subject"
"Very good, entertaining, knowledgeable"
"Very knowledgeable, cares about students learning the material"
"Very enthusiastic, makes class interesting and fun! I learned a lot!"
Favorite part of the day: At home after an afternoon of energy-expending laboratories, having a glass of wine
Perfect day: I go for a morning run, then clean out the garage, chicken pen and duck house, move the sheep
up the hill with ease, plant new seeds for the garden, my students show up on time for class and hang on every word,
and get my latest manuscript submitted for publication
Reason for coming to Cal Poly: To have a job in academia, and in one of the most liveable towns in my home
state of California. What more could I ask for?
Favorite weekend activity: Hang out at home and work on my hobby farm
Favorite part of the central coast: The Santa Lucia Range and the Big Sur Coast.