Director

Russ Kabaker is the Assistant Dean for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. In this role, he is responsible for the external relations and advancement for the college. Prior to returning to his Alma Mater, Kabaker spent 20 years working domestically and globally in production agriculture and the plant genetics industry. This included 15 years with Bayer Crop Science Vegetable Seeds as an executive responsible for the sales and product development teams and profit and loss in the Americas and Oceania for several product lines. His first career stop after graduating from Cal Poly with degrees in plant sciences and statistics was with Grimmway Farms in Bakersfield, California, where he worked directly with founders Rod and Bob Grimm.

“I have always been drawn and centered by the ocean. I enjoy being a part of it through surfing, stand up paddle boarding, SCUBA diving, swimming, and more. I am thrilled to be part of this organization after the amazing experiences I have had through volunteering at the local events.”