Alumni Advisory Board Member: Jason Colombini

I am a fifth-generation farmer in California, born in Stockton and raised in the small community of Linden. For the past seven years I’ve managed my family’s walnut and olive farm located in San Joaquin, Calaveras, and Stanislaus Counties. While managing the farm I’ve worked to implement several modern farming strategies that have led to record production.

While at Cal Poly, I was involved in numerous clubs and organizations. At the beginning of my 2nd year, I joined the Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) Fraternity and served two years as the Brotherhood Development Director. I also served as President of the Inter Housing Council, Interfraternity Council, and Student Philanthropy Council. During my 4th year, I was fortunate to serve as the 2013-2014 ASI President. I then graduated magna cum laude in 2014 with a degree in Agribusiness and a minor in Fruit Science. After working for ZBT for a year, I returned to Cal Poly where in 2017 I received a Master of Public Policy (MPP) focusing primarily on water policy in California. In addition, I was President of the Graduate Student Association. My involvement with Cal Poly today includes being on the POLS Advisory Board and having served as the Chapter Advisor for ZBT since 2015.

Soon after moving home, I put my MPP to good use when I was elected to the Linden Unified School District Board of Trustees in 2018. I served on the Board until 2022 including two years as Board President. In January 2023, my public service continued when I was appointed to an open board seat on the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District and elected Vice President. I was re-elected in November 2024. I’m also the District’s representative on the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority and a member of its Steering Committee as well as one of 26 representatives on the California Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners (DRIP) Collaborative.

In my free time, I enjoy road trips and have a goal to drive every mile of every numbered highway in California, of which I’ve completed 98.5%. I particularly enjoy time in the Eastern Sierra and Mono Basin. Besides this I also enjoy spending time with friends, watching classic films and anything Star Wars, and working out.