Translate
Parent Advisory Council
About
The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of 24 parents and supporters, two students and one faculty member who collectively provide feedback and support to Parent and Family Programs and give input to university leadership on matters involving student development and success. Sharing their diverse experiences and perspectives, PAC members serve as university ambassadors, fostering engagement, support and communication between and among parents and the university.
The PAC meets quarterly, with fall and spring meetings held during Mustang Family Weekend and Open House, respectively. During winter and summer quarters, the council meets virtually. PAC members are active volunteers at the university’s largest annual events and offer resources throughout the academic year to the Cal Poly parent and supporter community.
Your Parent Support Network
Contact information and biographies for each PAC member are listed below, and we encourage you to connect with those who share common interests or professional and personal experiences. Reach out to a member today who has a student in the same college as yours or who lives near your hometown. Get connected to ask questions, share stories and learn effective strategies on how to support your Mustang.
Get Connected
2024-2025 Parent Advisory Council Member Roster
Marquam Piros, Chair |
Marta Rubenstein-Harmon, Vice Chair
Term: 2023-2026 Hometown: Valley Glen, CA Student: Ethan '26 - College of Science and Mathematics
I am east coast born, New Jersey, but California raised with most of my time being spend in the San Fernando Valley. I earned my BA in English Literature, with a double minor in Musical Theater & Communication Studies from Cal State Northridge, but certainly wish I had made the decision to apply to and attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo! My husband Carl, a freelance graphic artist, and I are thrilled that our son chose to spend his undergraduate years at Cal Poly! I have spent 35 years in the professional beauty industry, holding a myriad of sales roles from Regional Sales Manager to National Sales Manager to my current role of Sr Vice President of Global Sales & Education. I have traveled the world for work, and am versed in international cultures and business, which allows me to understand different communities and the way they live and work. I currently am one of the Board of Trustees at our family Synagogue, have had the privilege of sitting on many volunteer boards; mostly following my son’s schooling career as part of Parent Council’s from grade school to high school, always looking for ways to better the school community for the next generation of students, which is what drew me to being a part of the PAC; giving me a chance to continue to work alongside my son, but also to allow me to be a part of a community for the betterment of all students (present and future) who attend Cal Poly. |
Lisa Anderson
Term: 2022-2025 Hometown: New York City, NY Student: Sophie, General Engineering ’24, College of Engineering
While I grew up in the great state of Missouri, I have lived the majority of my adult life in New York City. In 1984, I received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Finance from University of Missouri, Columbia. Professionally, I have spent the entirety of my career in finance focused on product/business development in both investment banking and most recently, asset management. On the educational front, I enjoy sharing my passion for finance and have had opportunities to teach as a guest lecturer at business schools in both New York and California. When my student became a part of this amazing Mustang community and being 3,000 miles away, I quickly leaned into the rich resources of the Parent Advisory Council. The PAC has been invaluable in helping our family transition. It will be an honor to have the opportunity to be of service to families that may be out of state, would like to learn more about the DRC, or interested in Greek life. |
Anna Baez |
Tim Billups
Term: 2024-2027 Hometown: Santa Fe, CA Student: Shane '27, College of Engineering
I was born in Texas but lived most of my life in California. My wife and I recently moved back to my home town of San Diego after spending the last 20 years in San Jose and Marin County. I am a retired finance executive with more than 30 years of diverse industry experience. I most recently worked at Apple in Finance and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) roles. Before Apple, I served as a finance leader at Disney, MP3.com, Universal Music, Banana Republic,Walmart.com and Gap. I received my CPA while working at Coopers & Lybrand and my MBA from UCLA. My undergraduate degrees in Acct and Bus Mgmt are from the University of Redlands. I currently focus on various charity work, traveling, mentoring students, fixing up the house and walking our four legged children. We have a daughter that will be a senior (4th year) at Pepperdine University during the 24/25 term and our son will be a second year at Cal Poly SLO. |
Renee Fogelberg
Term: 2022-2025 Hometown: Marin County, CA Student: Caitlin, Agricultural Business '25, College of Ag, Food and Environmental Sciences
Dr. Renee Fogelberg is a board-certified Ob/Gyn physician who has practiced at Kaiser Permanente Northern California for the last 20 years. She started her career at the KP Richmond Medical Center in 1999. She received her medical training at Columbia University in New Your City and did her residency training at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco. She has been involved in patient education for over 10 years and became the Northern California Clinical Lead for tobacco cessation in 2011. In partnership with the health education teams and quality leads as well as primary and sub-specialty physicians, she has been successful in designing and implementing a variety of tobacco cessation workflows which has led to over 250,000 quitters driving to an all-time low prevalence of 6.4%. |
Jean Follmer |
Nancy Frusetta
Term: 2024-2026 Hometown: Hollister, CA Student: Jono, Chemistry ’26 - Bailey College of Science and Mathematics
I grew up in the small agricultural town of Tres Pinos, California. Seeking a change of pace, I pursued my education at the University of Southern California, earning a degree in Computer Science and Statistics. After spending several years as a technical consultant in Southern California, I eventually returned to my roots in the Bay Area. Once I had 3 kids, I decided to shift my focus to family and transition into nonprofit work. I currently am at Code For Fun, a nonprofit dedicated to providing computer science education for all students ages 5-15, working to bridge gender, racial, and financial disparities. As the proud parent of a Cal Poly Sophomore, I deeply value the Learn By Doing mission and the warm welcome I received from the community. It is an honor to contribute to the PAC and extend the positive experiences I gained to the broader Cal Poly community. |
Margaret Michel
Term: 2024-2027 Hometown: San Jose, CA Student: Abigail'27 - College of Liberal Arts
A native Californian based in San Jose with my husband and two kids, I met my husband at culinary school in San Francisco, extending to pastries in Paris, France. Now focused on the management side, I serve as a controller for a small accounting firm, holding certifications as a Management Accountant and pursuing an MBA. Our family values volunteering, actively engaging in school, church, and community events. I've taken leadership roles, with a special commitment to causes like Save Our Shores through beach cleanups. We cherish family time—hiking, enjoying the beach, or grilling in the backyard. The San Luis Obispo area holds a special place for us, with summer memories in Cayucos since my childhood. With a passion for community involvement, my excitement to be part of PAC stems from a desire to contribute to the vibrant Cal Poly community. I look forward to offering my time and talents, inspired by the "Learn by Doing" philosophy. Go Mustangs! |
Dawn Mullin |
Kyle Rascon
Term: 2024-2027 Hometown: San Diego, CA Student: Javier '27, College of Engineering
Moved to San Diego, CA in 1975. Graduated from SDSU with a BS in Criminal Justice Administration with a pre-law concentration. I have worked at the San Diego Unified School District Transportation Department from 1991-present. Many hats have been worn in my career. I have been a California State Certified School Bus Instructor for several years. Served my fellow workers for two years as their elected Union Vice President. In my capacity as Vice President, I successfully helped to negotiate two union contracts that lasted nine years with the San Diego Unified School District which is the fifth largest district in the nation and the second largest district in California next to LA Unified. When not at work I spend my time with my family, friends, and my church family. With my son, I was able to spend eight years with him at FIRST Robotics Competitions, helped him form a middle school First FTC team and save a high school First FRC team from ending. I am looking forward to my appointment to the Cal Poly SLO PAC. |
Alyx Rivera-MacTernan
Term: 2024-2027 Hometown: Oxnard, CA Student: Angelina '27 - Orfalea College of Business
I was born and raised in Northern California and have lived all across the U.S. gaining invaluable knowledge and understanding of diversity and inclusion. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with over 30 years in the mental health field. My passion is to help others find their own path and reach their highest potential. My wife and I love spending time exploring our beautiful state of CA and spending time with friends and family. |
Janie Sustaita De Raadt
Term: 2023-2026 Hometown: Lemoore, CA Student: Anissa, Aricultural Business '26, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
My husband and I recently shut down our small family dairy. I just started working at Habitat for Humanity as a Program Manager. I am excited for this new career change, after working in Agriculture for over 20 years. I have been an active member of California Women for Agriculture and American Agri Women for 30 years along with begin a member of the Fresno State AG One Boosters committee for about 10 years. Yes, I know they are Cal Poly rivals, I am always a big supporter of local Ag groups. I was involved in PTA, served on every sports board for my 4 children in elementary to high school. So excited to become part of the Cal Poly family! |
Emeritus Members |
Brian Barrett
Emeritus Parent Advisory Council Member Term: 2019-2022 Hometown: Valencia, CA Students: Andrew, Mechanical Engineering '23 - College of Engineering Daniel, Computer Engineering '20 - College of Engineering
I recently retired after a very enjoyable 40-year career in the Aerospace Industry, although I remain active in a consulting role. I attended a large mid-western University where learn by doing was also a strong part of the culture. I personally benefited in my career from the jump start that a learn by doing approach to higher education provided and it was a major draw for my two Mustang sons as they began their university journey. I am excited about the opportunity that I have, as the PAC Career Services Liaison, to work with the university administration in getting the message out to industry about the benefits of hiring a Mustang who has relevant hands-on skills from day one. Even in retirement, I continue to practice “learn by doing” as I recently finished building an experimental aircraft that my wife and I will use to visit our 3 sons….wherever they may end up. |
Mily Dahlke
Emeritus Parent Advisory Council Member Term: 2021-2024 College of Engineering Liaison Hometown: San Diego, CA Student: Justin, Industrial Engineering '24, College of Engineering
Born in England, raised in India, and living in San Diego, CA since 1995, I am a software engineer by trade, but a teacher at heart. I have been in the industry since 1992 and have worked for big companies like HP, Yahoo, and Apple, as well as startups like MusicMatch and Shazam. I would love to share my experiences with the engineers of tomorrow and serve in any way I can. I love participating in sports like badminton and ultimate (though a sports injury put a damper on UF). But above all, I love tutoring struggling students in math, AP Calc, AP Physics and am addicted to the highs of the "that makes sense!" moments. I have two biological children, one a LMU CS major, batch of 2021, and the other a Cal Poly IE major, batch of 2024, and two adopted canine children. I am excited to grow in this role and be part of the Cal poly community, alongside my son. |
Kimaili "Ken" Davis
Emeritus Parent Advisory Council Member Term: 2020-2024 Hometown: Oak Park, CA Student: Kate '23 - College of Science and Mathematics
I was born and raised in New York state, earned my BA in Political Science from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and moved to Southern California after graduation. I have worked in the Insurance field for 30 years helping businesses navigate the Risk Management process. My goal while on the Parent Advisory Council is to support Cal Poly SLO's vision of Diversity and Inclusion. I strongly believe that Cal Poly SLO has so much to offer a student while attending and after graduation. During my tenure on the PAC, I will be of service to students, parents and supporters. My wife and I are so proud of Kate's attendance at Cal Poly SLO and excited to be part of the Mustang family! I am a Lambda Chi Alpha Alumnus. I am a Mason with Conejo Valley Lodge 807. I enjoy riding my motorcycle and practicing Tang Soo Do. I look forward to meeting and assisting you in the years to come! |
Joss Maas
Emeritus Parent Advisory Council Member Term: 2019-2024 Colleges of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Liaison Hometown: San Diego, CA Student: Matthew '22 - College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
I am very excited to be a part of the Mustang Nation. I am here to promote health and wellness throughout the Cal Poly Community. I am a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner with years of experience working with youth and young adults. I am a Red Cross First Aid and CPR instructor. I am also an adult scouter in the Boy Scouts of America where I have been a merit badge counselor, camp nurse, committee member of my troop for special events as well as being on the Eagle Board of Review Committee in my district. My board experience includes 3 years as the Clinic Vice President of my nurses union UNAC/UHCP. I am also an active member in the Junior League of San Diego where I was on the Executive Management Team for two years. I am looking forward to working with CAFES and supporting them through all the wonderful projects that are in process. I also look forward to meeting new and existing families and staff in the Mustang Nation. |
Stacey Napolitano
Emeritus Parent Advisory Council Member Term: 2020-2023 Hometown: San Jose, CA Student: Mia - Kinesiology '23, College of Science and Mathematics
I grew up in San Jose, California, received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from California Polytechnic State University, SLO Class of 1988 and a Master’s Degree in Education and Administration at San Jose State University. I was a high school educator for 20 years and currently fill my time as an Interior Decorator. I have served in several leadership positions and on educational boards. As a parent, alumni, and educator I am excited to be a part of PAC and to share my time and talents with the Cal Poly Community. My love of Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” philosophy has led my desire to give back to Cal Poly! |
Hatha Parrish
Emeritus Parent Advisory Council Member Term: 2021-2024 College of Architecture and Environmental Design Liaison Hometown: Hawthorne, CA Student: Kayla - Landscape Architecture '25, College of Architecture and Environmental Design
I was born in Miami, Florida, but spent most of my school years in Las Vegas, Nevada where I participated in an International Baccalaureate program. After graduating high school, I moved to Southern California to attend Loyola Marymount and earned a BS in Biology with a minor in Biochemistry in 1994. I have always enjoyed school and decided to try teaching at Hawthorne High School in 1995. I taught biology and AP biology there until I made the difficult decision to pursue roles that took me out of the classroom. I missed the students, but was motivated by the ability to impact a greater number of students, first at the high school and then for the students at all of the high schools within my school district. In this time, I earned three masters degrees in the following areas: 1) Secondary Education, 2) Educational Technology, and 3) Educational Administration. With these degrees, I held the following leadership roles at Centinela Valley Union High School District: Project Facilitator, Program Manager for CTE and Federal Programs, Vice Principal, and have been the Director of Federal and State Programs since 2008. In this capacity, I have supported the following programs: Family Engagement, English Learners and Immigrants, Career and Technical Education, Arts Integration, and Post-Secondary partnerships and student transition services. I believe parent involvement continues to be important as our students grow into adults and I am excited to support the Cal Poly community - and each of our children - as a member of the Parent Advisory Council. |
Jim Pirkle
Emeritus Parent Advisory Council Member Term: 2018-2022 Hometown: Monterey, CA Students: Geri, Experience Industry Management '20 - College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences Scott, Aerospace Engineering MS '20/BS '19 - College of Engineering
Fort Ord brought me to Monterey in 1982 and after serving 2 terms there I didn’t want to leave so I opened a small insurance brokerage in 1990 and in 1993 married a local nurse, Beth (Fresno State). We loved having our two kids just 2 hours away, making it possible to see them both play lacrosse at Cal Poly and visit the beautiful SLO area. I was very impressed with the support the Cal Poly community gave my kids. They have both had some ‘bumps’ in their roads to maturity/graduation. Geri changed majors (and colleges, Math and Sciences to Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences) after her 2nd quarter and studied abroad in Australia during the Fall 2018 quarter. She worked multiple years with the WOW program and in other activities/jobs around campus. Her plan to graduate in June 2021 changed after COVID hit with the resulting virtual classes. She accelerated her courses and graduated in December 2020 with her BS in Experience Industry Management with a minor in Psychology. Scott took 5 years to get his undergrad degree, plus 3 minors (Math, Physics, Astronomy). He then took advantage of the Blended Plus 1 program to get his Master's in Aerospace in just one more year. Both kids worked at Cal Poly and in the SLO area. They are currently working and we are an ‘All-In’ Mustang Family and want to help any future/current families feel as confident about this school as we do. |
Jennifer Roberts
Emeritus Parent Advisory Council Member Term: 2020-2023 Hometown: Napa, CA Students: Celeste '21 - College of Liberal Arts Maddy '17 - College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
While raising my three children, I often found myself engaged and participating in all of their activities. We kept busy with extracurriculars like: 4-H, Boy Scouts and every sport imaginable! I found myself coaching, leading 4-H groups and being a summer camp counselor for 14 years. I loved every minute of it, so much so that I wanted to keep up my involvement and support in their lives. Through supporting my girls at Cal Poly and my son at U.C. Davis, I have been fortunate enough to find a welcoming community in both places. It seemed only natural to be a part of the Parent Councils at my kids schools where I could continue on with being a part of their new communities. Professionally, I am a residential realtor. I love helping my clients find their new home and enjoy utilizing my design background to help them visualize changes. In my spare time you can find me with a camera in hand, training my donkeys, baking cookies, gardening, sewing dog-dana’s, or my latest adventure of canning my garden goods. Engaging in face-to-face activities with parents and students is my favorite, so I am really looking forward to the time when we can all be together in person. Let’s Go Mustangs! |
Ellen Solum
Emeritus Parent Advisory Council Member Term: 2012-2018 Hometown: Cayucos, CA Students: James – Forestry and Natural Resources Management '16 and Forestry Sciences '20, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Erica – Software Engineering, '17, College of Engineering
Topics I’m familiar with include: student housing; Greek life; student special needs; support; graduating in 5 years vs. 4 years; and, women in Computer Science. |
Asif Subedar
Emeritus Parent Advisory Council Member Orfalea College of Business Liaison Term: 2021-2024 Hometown: Los Gatos, CA Student: Siraj, Agricultural Business '24, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
I was born in India, raised in the California Central Valley and graduated with a B.S. from Cal Poly in 1990. Following graduation, I worked and interned for several Fortune 500 companies. In 1994, I started my own company doing sales and marketing/engineering design for electrical and optical systems. I was always interested in real estate (started when I was at Cal Poly) and recently ventured into California real estate. I currently run my tech company in addition to doing real estate. My general philosophy relates to education - the single largest contributing factor to a student’s success is parent involvement and interest to a degree that supports the dynamics of the parent/child relationship… oh, and.. start early! I am currently involved in my son’s high school as a Foundation board member where we raise funds to facilitate and support technology in the classroom. |
Susan Wise |
Parent Advisory Council Meeting Minutes and Documents
Meeting Minutes
2024-2025
- Fall Meeting Minutes: Nov. 3, 2024
2023-2024
- Spring Meeting Minutes: April 12, 2024
- Fall Meeting Minutes: Oct. 21, 2023
2022-2023
- Spring Meeting Minutes: April 14, 2023
2021-2022
- Fall Meeting Minutes: Oct. 21, 2021
2020-2021
- Winter Meeting Minutes: March 18, 2021
2019-2020
- Spring Meeting Minutes: May 7, 2020
- Fall Meeting Minutes: October 27, 2019
2018-2019
- Spring Meeting Minutes: April 14, 2019
- Fall Meeting Minutes: October 21, 2018
2017-2018
- Winter Meeting Minutes: February 3, 2018
- Fall Meeting Minutes: October 22, 2017
2016-2017
- Spring Meeting Minutes: May 6, 2017
- Winter Meeting Minutes: February 26, 2017
- Fall Meeting Minutes: October 23, 2016
2015-2016
- Spring Meeting Minutes: May 7, 2016
- Winter Meeting Minutes: February 21, 2016
- Fall Meeting Minutes: October 25, 2015
Bylaws:
Join the Parent Advisory Council
Interested in becoming a PAC member? COMPLETE OUR INTEREST FORM and a staff member from Parent and Family Programs will contact you with more details, including a copy of the council application. Prospective members are invited to attend an upcoming PAC meeting as a guest, either virtually or in person, however, this is not a requirement.
When you are ready, submit your application and our staff will follow up to arrange an interview with the program director, PAC chair and co-chair. Members are appointed by the vice president for Student Affairs and serve three-year terms.
Champions for change
The PAC actively supports students in need through fundraising efforts. The Cal Poly Cares Professional Development Fund aims to support students who demonstrate financial need in attending and participating in professional development conferences, scholarly seminars, research initiatives and other extracurricular opportunities related to their academic discipline. To learn more, connect with a PAC member today.
If you have any questions, please email calpolyparent@calpoly.edu
