Meet the alumni who represent the best of Cal Poly and Learn by Doing, whether that’s by making a difference through volunteer work, their professions or in their communities. Do you have a story to tell? Let us know!
Honored Alumni Honoree Fred Brown Reflects on His Legacy at Cal Poly
Fred Brown (Physical Education and Biological Sciences, ‘63) has ties to Cal Poly that go back more than six decades. Over the years, Brown has kept Cal Poly close to his heart, through his lifelong bond with fellow survivors of the tragic 1960 Cal Poly football team plane crash, his career of coaching generations of student-athletes and his decades of fundraising efforts to support Cal Poly students.
Young Alumni Continue Their Cal Poly Journey
Jane Karney (Agricultural Communication, ‘20) and Lane Karney (Agricultural Communication, ‘15) have both returned to campus to teach in the Agricultural Education and Communications Department in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences years after meeting in San Luis Obispo. Read more about their time at Cal Poly and how they're proving that your Cal Poly journey doesn't end at graduation!
From Architecture to the Entertainment Industry
Cal Poly alumnus, Rich Toyon (Landscape Architecture, '82), talks about his journey going from a DJ at KCPR to working as a landscape architect at Steven Spielberg's house, and how Learn by Doing has impacted his life and career.
More Cal Poly Proud Stories
Harvesting a Successful Career
Taryn Mohler (Agricultural Business, '10) is the current Marketing Manager for Harvestly, a nonprofit farmer's market delivery service created by Cal Poly students in 2020. Today, Harvestly has grown to now offer over 1200 items from over 80 local vendors to the San Luis Obispo community. Mohler hopes that Harvestly can "continue serving our local farmers, ranchers, food producers and amazing community." Congratulations, Taryn!
Alumna Launches Podcast
Toni Toledo (Nutritional Science, ‘91) is a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist who has been working in the field of nutrition and health promotion for over 30 years. Toledo couldn't be prouder of getting her bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly. This Learn by Doing motto has showed up in every job and project along her post-graduation journey.
Her most recent endeavor is her new podcast PATH (Positive Approaches To Health), which explores inspiring, interesting and practical examples of what is going on around our nation and the world that helps people achieve their best health. The nearly 150 episodes and close to five years of podcasting has integrated all the amazing tenets that she learned while at Cal Poly so many years ago. When Toni is not working, you can usually find her traveling, goofing off with her friends and family (and pets) or jogging along her favorite trail in her hometown in California.
A Multi-Generation Cal Poly Family
For Orange County native Lisa Carrasco (Business Administration, '93), Cal Poly is a family affair. The Senior Tax Associate at Capin Crouse LLP is married to Jeremy Carrasco (Political Science, '92) whom she met while they both were working at Kennedy Library 28 years ago. Their two adult children followed in their footsteps and are also Mustang grads: daughter Lauren (Political Science, '20) and son Ryan (Political Science, '23).
Her family gathered back in town for Ryan's graduation in the spring of 2023 and all wore commemorative shirts on graduation day. "Our entire family is so proud to be Cal Poly Mustangs and it was fun to show off our Poly pride," says Lisa.