Perhaps it’s the fact that he’s a second generation rancher whose roots go deep in Stanislaus County, but a conversation with Vito Chiesa has a certain rhythm that evokes the revolving seasons and a sense of balance between the past, the present, and the future.

Speaking about the causes and issues that link him to higher education in general, and CSU Stanislaus in particular, Chiesa returns often to the themes of continuity, sustainability, our ties to the past, and our responsibility to future generations.

Educational Partnerships Provide Solutions

Chiesa is committed to walking the talk when it comes to supporting CSU Stanislaus and higher education in Stanislaus County. “Dr. Shirvani has my promise to do everything in my power to promote education in any way I can. If the University succeeds, the residents of Stanislaus County succeed. If the University struggles or fails, it will be that much more difficult for people of the County to prosper. “

“We face tremendous challenges: the ’09 high school graduating class will be the largest in history, yet, college enrollment is capped or declining because of budget limitations. There will continue to be more competition for fewer spots.” Chiesa firmly believes that business and education can work together to meet real-world needs. “Everyone has to be on the same page; businesses need to collaborate with educators to meet their specific needs.”

In Chiesa’s view, the emerging field of biotechnology offers examples of this education-meets-business needs philosophy, and illustrates how education and business can collaborate to not only prepare the future workforce, but also solve problems facing today’s farmers and ranchers. At Chiesa Ranch, the family farming operation in which Chiesa works with his parents, Mary and Aroldo, and brother, Andrew, Chiesa looks to biotech solutions for both labor-saving efficiencies and increased production. “The solution might come in the form of chemicals that increase crop resistance to disease, new water efficiencies, or eco-friendly practices that preserve and protect farmland and the environment. The point is we’re looking to science, and the scientists of the future to help solve these problems.”

Personal commitment to education

Chiesa recognizes that alumni of California colleges and universities are at a unique time in their lives, having gained a base of experience and, hence, perspective while at the same time having abundant energy and the ability to embrace new ideas. “We can build alliances, and lend our support—emotionally and professionally as well as financially—to the institutions that supported us as students.”

Speaking of the importance of maintaining college connections, Chiesa reminds alumni, “We are providing not just for our children’s future, but for that of our grandchildren as well. Our kids are attending schools our grandparents built. If you believe you received a world class education from your school, you have an obligation to give back to it and help future generations of students.”

Asked about the difficult economic climate, Chiesa is upbeat yet pragmatic: “It’s easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom, but I believe there are always opportunities for government to reinvent itself to better serve its citizens. By necessity, we may need to contract a bit during lean times, but at the same time, it’s a chance for introspection, to “reset,” and be sure we are focusing on the things that people need and care the most about. And the reality is, without education, we don’t have a chance to climb out of the hole we’re in.”

While not a CSU Stanislaus graduate (Chiesa attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, graduating with a B.S. degree in Agriculture), his musical heartstrings are tied to the University’s Jazz Band, in which he played lead trumpet under Dr. Dan Moss. He began playing the trumpet in the fourth grade, and played all through high school (at Hughson High) and MJC. With a smile, he says he would still be playing, but for a faux pas early in his marriage to wife, Jill.  When he cut short their honeymoon to return for a jam session, “Jill put her foot down, and I don’t play as much anymore.”