Adam Jarman has spent his 20+ years in higher education advancement dedicated to the donor experience. Be it an annual signature event, a meaningful visit to campus, or a hand-written note (mailed with an actual stamp), he’s committed to the art of gratitude.
In addition to serving as a project specialist at DRG, he is also currently the Associate Vice President for Development at Sonoma State University, where he leads a team of development professionals who support all donors — from first-time donors to legacy donors.
Prior to Sonoma State, he held a number of leadership roles at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he was on the development team for 17 years. He served as campaign director for Cal Poly's $833-million comprehensive campaign that concluded in 2020, and was fortunate to work side-by-side with the university president and several deans to advance the vision of the university.
As an "extroverted introvert," Adam puts a high value on building relationships and meeting donors' philanthropic needs. He's driven by a belief that higher education is the single best way to uplift communities and families — and that giving back is a joyous experience. He’s hired and mentored scores of ethics-first development professionals and has served on the board, and as president, of the Central Coast Planned Giving Council, and numerous university committees, including the Cal Poly Alumni Association for several years.
Adam holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master of public policy degree from Cal Poly. Although the best education has come from luring Lynne Wester to come speak, analyze and critique. There is nothing like wisdom wrapped in a Southern soul to point you in the right (or, write) direction.
Outside of work, Adam and his husband enjoy travel, Scrabble, and taking advantage of their wine-country home in Sonoma County, Calif.