Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro announced the appointment of alumnus Tejpal “Jay” Mahil of Madera to the University Advisory Board, a panel of community members who provide advice on improvement and development of the University.

Mahil is a partner in a family farming operation, Creekside Land Company, LLC. He was the first in his family to attend college and earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from Fresno State in 1999.

“Jay is an outstanding example of a Fresno State alumnus who is active in his community and the agricultural industry,” Castro said. “His Central Valley experience and unique professional insights will be of great value to the advisory board as we work together to serve the University.”

Mahil is a fourth-generation farmer and the first generation of his family to be born in the United States. His great grandfather emigrated from Punjab, India, in 1906.

Mahil is president of the Madera County Farm Bureau, a board member of the San Joaquin Valley Winegrower Association and a member of the Madera Sunrise Rotary. He and his wife have two children.

Creekside Land farms 6,000 acres of almonds, pistachios and wine grapes throughout the Central Valley. The company is vertically integrated from farming to land development, planting, harvesting, trucking and drilling of wells.

The University Advisory Board, chaired by Sandy Brown, includes members Juan Arambula, Nancy Ayala, Armen Bacon, Barry Bedwell, Noemi Donoso, Dr, Katherine Flores, Karri Hammerstrom, Jessica Lawrence, Will Lyles, J. Michael McGowan, James Shekoyan, Julie Tone and Zoua Vang.