The Ganpat & Manju Distinguished Lecture Series

The Ganpat & Manju Patel Distinguished Lecture Series will return in November 2026 at Cal Poly Pomona.

Date, time, location, and guest speaker will be announced soon.

This annual lecture series brings distinguished leaders from engineering, technology, business, and innovation to campus to share their professional experiences, leadership insights, and perspectives with students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community.

More information, including event details and registration (if applicable), will be posted as it becomes available.

Established through the generosity of Ganpat "Pat" and Manju Patel, this distinguished lecture series provides the Cal Poly Pomona community with opportunities to learn from accomplished leaders whose careers have advanced engineering, technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Ganpat "Pat" Patel is a businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He founded the power supply company Cherokee International and served as its president and CEO before retiring in 2004. He currently serves as President and Patron-in-Chief of Ganpat University in the Mehsana district of Gujarat, India.

In 2015, Patel was inducted into the Cal Poly Pomona College of Engineering Hall of Fame in recognition of his professional achievements and contributions to engineering. In 2019, he received the Padma Shri, one of the Republic of India's highest civilian honors, for his distinguished service and accomplishments.