Q&A with Honorary Homecoming Chair, Cody Barbo
Published on October 19, 2026
Congratulations to San Diego State University alumnus Cody Barbo on being named this year’s Honorary Homecoming Chair!
On Saturday, October 17, Barbo was honored on the field of Snapdragon Stadium during the game against Fresno State. Barbo was joined by SDSU Alumni Board members Mark Emch and Brianna Peters, along with SDSU Alumni Executive Director Stephanie Dathe and SDSU Athletics Director John David Wicker.
From serving as a past SDSU Associated Students president to cofounding and leading his company Trust & Will, Barbo has continued to carry the lessons and connections he built as an Aztec throughout his career. A dedicated supporter of his alma mater, he remains committed to giving back to the university and helping shape the next generation of innovators.
Read more below as Barbo reflects on his time at SDSU, his journey as an entrepreneur, and what it means to be an Aztec for Life.
Q: What is your favorite SDSU Homecoming memory?
Homecoming 2009 (10/18/09) will always hold a special place in my heart. It was my first year getting involved with Associated Students and Greek Life Interfraternity Council (IFC), and many of my closest friends were part of the Homecoming Court that year.
I vividly remember Rob O’Keefe (who would go on to succeed me as AS President in 2012) competing in the Greek Life chariot race. There were crashes, plenty of laughs, and, of course, an eventual winner!
It was my first Homecoming as an involved student leader, and I didn’t realize it at the time, but those experiences would leave a lasting impression on me for years to come.
Q: What does it mean to you to be this year’s Honorary Homecoming Chair?
I was genuinely caught by surprise when I was asked to serve as this year’s Honorary Homecoming Chair. SDSU has played such an important role in my life, both personally and professionally, and I care deeply about the university and its future.
To have the opportunity to come full circle, from a student participating in Homecoming to now serving as its Honorary Chair, is incredibly special.
My hope is that this year’s Homecoming creates the same kind of lasting memories and sense of belonging for today’s students and alumni that it did for me nearly two decades ago.
I’m truly humbled and grateful for the opportunity. Go Aztecs!
Q: How has SDSU shaped the person you are today, both personally and professionally?
I couldn’t have asked for a better experience as both an undergraduate and an alumnus.
I arrived at SDSU in 2007, single, unsure of what I wanted to study, let alone who I wanted to become. Little did I know just how much this university would shape the rest of my life.
I joined a fraternity and eventually became chapter president (2009–10). I got involved with the Interfraternity Council and went on to serve as IFC president (2010–11). I also found my way into Associated Students, ultimately having the honor of serving as AS President (2011–12).
But most importantly, I met my wife, Mystique, at SDSU. Nearly nine years of marriage and two beautiful children later, it’s safe to say SDSU gave me far more than an education!
As an alumnus, I’ve tried to stay just as involved. I spent six years serving on the SDSU Alumni Board of Advisors and have remained closely connected to Associated Students, athletics, and the university’s entrepreneurship community.
A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to make a $1 million gift to support SDSU’s entrepreneurship program, something I’m incredibly proud of. And I have an even bigger aspiration: to become one of the university’s most impactful supporters and donors in the years ahead.
I’ll also be rejoining The Campanile Foundation later this year, and I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to continue giving back.
Whether it’s how I show up as a husband and father, how I lead my company, or how I approach giving back, so much of who I am today can be traced back to my time at SDSU.
I came to SDSU not knowing who I wanted to become. I left with the foundation, relationships, and confidence to build a life I never could have imagined.
Q: What advice would you give students or recent grads about staying connected to their alma mater?
Connect with as many Aztecs as you can, as often as you can!
Proudly wear the gear. Show some love when you see someone else rocking it. Never hesitate to yell “Go Aztecs!” at the mall, the grocery store, the airport, or wherever life takes you.
We have a community of more than 500,000 alumni and growing, and that shared connection is something special.
You never know who might open a door for you at just the right moment in your life or career. And sometimes, that person is a fellow Aztec.
Even better, you might be the one opening that door for someone else.
That’s what being part of the Aztec family is all about.
Q: What does being an Aztec for Life mean to you?
I take immense pride in being an Aztec.
I don’t know what they put in the water on Montezuma Mesa, but there’s something special about the people who come out of SDSU.
We have this incredible balance of a great education, ambitious people who want to make an impact, and a community that knows how to have a damn good time along the way!
To me, being an Aztec for Life means that your relationship with SDSU doesn’t end when you graduate. In many ways, it’s just getting started.
It’s about showing up, staying connected, giving back, and making sure the next generation of Aztecs has an even better experience than we did.
Once an Aztec, always an Aztec!