Alumni

Alumni Spotlight

The Poetry of Community

For English Department lecturer Caleb Nichols (M.A., English, '20), the arts are more than a passion — they’re a purpose. Now, as San Luis Obispo County’s 2025-27 poet laureate, he’s working to foster a local network of literary artists to find community.

Alumnus Pedro Armendáriz Took Learn by Doing to Cinematic Heights

Over the decades, many notable people have come to Cal Poly to benefit from the Learn by Doing philosophy: among them, John Madden (Physical Education '59; M.A. Education '61), "Weird Al" Yankovic (Architecture, '80) and astronaut Victor Glover (General Engineering, '99). But decades before, a trailblazing Mexican actor and international movie star found his artistic passion during his time as a Mustang.

Q&A with Alum Umika Kuroda

In celebration of this year’s National Transfer Student Week theme, “Unlocking Potential: Keys to the Transfer Journey,” we got to know recent graduate and 2024 Graphic Communication Department ‘Outstanding Senior’ Umika Kuroda (Graphic Communication, ’24).

How Learn by Doing Inspired a Career in Hollywood

Damon Claussen (Graphic Communication, ‘96) has worked as an editor in Hollywood for more than 20 years, cutting unscripted shows, promos, trailers, and behind-the-scenes special features for tv, films, and agencies, and just wrapped cutting a feature-length documentary.

Remembering a Mustang's Legacy of Education and Love

To honor Carol Ann McEntee's (History, ‘72) memory and her legacy of education and child development, her husband Bill Badgley recently established a charitable gift annuity at Cal Poly that will benefit the Child Development Department.

On Top of the World

In 2012, Bob Berger (Journalism, ‘81) summited Mt. Everest, something only a handful of people can say. He insisted that accomplishing something like this is a mindset he credits his time at Cal Poly with helping him forge.

Alumna and Local Attorney Wins Distinguished 'Rising Star Award'

Local immigration attorney and alumna Nicole Mullikin (Modern Languages and Literatures, ’15) is the 2023 recipient of the Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo County’s “Rising Star” award, honoring her work as a lawyer with fewer than seven years of experience.

Alumnus Honored for Dedication to Supporting Hispanic Success in Higher Education

On Dec. 4, Eyole M. Mbongo (Political Science, '07), senior legislative assistant to Congressman Joaquin Castro of Texas's 20th congressional district, received the Outstanding Congressional Staffer Award from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) in recognition of his exceptional dedication to advancing equity in education.

Removing the Mask: Former Undocumented Student Hopes Sharing Her Background Will Help as Coordinator of the Multicultural Business Program

As an undocumented child in Guadalupe, Calif, Yesenia Beas was afraid to tell friends or school staffers about her status, unsure whom she could trust. While she kept her secret until she was in college, Beas, now a resident seeking citizenship, is happy to share her experiences with students as a new academic advisor and coordinator of Cal Poly’s Multicultural Business Program.

Journalism Alumna Accepted into Prestigious Fellowship Program

Last fall, Grace Curtis (Journalism, ’22) joined the prestigious Capital Fellows Program offered through California State University, Sacramento, making her one of only 18 fellows accepted into the 11-month program.

Character Study

As a student concentrating in graphic design at Cal Poly, Kristen Sanzari (Art and Design ’11) dreamed of working in animation for a company like Disney or Pixar, bringing characters and stories to life. Now, more than 10 years later, she’s doing just that — through her work as a toy designer at Mattel.

Q&A with Transfer Student Advocate, Alumna Jackie Duerr

In celebration of National Transfer Student Week, we got to know alumna Jackie Duerr (Psychology, ’09; Master of Education, ’11), program manager for the University of San Diego’s Transfer Student Success Program. Duerr gave us advice for current students and insight into how her experience as a transfer student inspired her to become a leader for the next generation of transfers.

Read Duerr's story.

Communication Studies Alumna Presents Her Senior Project at an International Conference

In May, Matia Mathes (Communication Studies, ’21) presented her senior project at the International Communication Association Conference in Paris, France. Mathes initially came up with the idea for the project in Dr. Lauren Kolodziejski’s class, COMS 422: Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Medicine, where she created an informational poster of original illustrations, “How to Apply a Tourniquet.”

Read about Mathes' project.

CLA Honored Alumnus Mike Griffith Officially Completes His Degree After Nearly 40 years

After a whirlwind career that took him around the world, CLA honored alumnus Mike Griffith retired in 2015. Since then, he has spent his retirement doing what he calls “wrapping up loose ends,” including completing his final quarter of college and graduating from Cal Poly after nearly 40 years.

Read about Griffith's journey.

Q&A with the California Cybersecurity Institute’s Danielle Borrelli 

Danielle Borrelli (Political Science ’11, Master of Public Policy ’17) is helping lead the charge to address our nation’s national cybersecurity crisis as the Operations Coordinator for the California Cybersecurity Institute (CCI). She recently sat down with us to discuss the paths that led her to the CCI and her thoughts on some of her greatest career achievements.

Read Borrelli's story.

San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Features Showing of "La Perla," Starring Famous Cal Poly Alumnus

As part of a collaboration years in the making, the Latino Outreach Council of San Luis Obispo County and Cal Poly’s Office of University Diversity and Inclusion are co-sponsoring the showing of “La Perla,” an iconic Mexican-American film, starring Pedro Armendáriz.

Learn more about Armendáriz.

Journalism Alumna Kirsten Grind Publishes New Investigative Book

A new book released in March 2022 uncovers aspects of the personal life of noted entrepreneur Tony Hsieh and the truth behind his mysterious death in November 2020. The book is written by Kirsten Grind (Journalism ’02) and her Wall Street Journal coworker Katherine Sayre and published by Simon and Schuster.

Journalism Alumna Publishes Book, Is Shortlisted for International Award

Since graduating from Cal Poly in 1978 with a degree in journalism, Marcia Meier has led a successful life as a journalist, author and writing coach. Her latest book, Face, A Memoir, was published in January this year by Saddle Road Press, and quickly gained positive recognition.

Read More Alumni Stories

Two Cal Poly Journalism Alumni Wrote a Book Together

Cal Poly journalism alumni and Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalists Rick DeBruhl and Kevin Riggs provide insight to interviewing with various media in their new book The Insider’s Guide to Media Training: 99 Tips to Survive Your Interview in the Digital Age.

Cal Poly Alumnus Selected for CSU Program to Support Doctoral Studies and Prepare for Faculty Opportunities

Gabriel Medina-Kim (Computer Science, '20), was selected to the Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP) through the California State University (CSU) earlier this year.

Anthropology and Geography Professor and Alumnus Travel to Easter Island to Record Famous Historical Sites

In 2010, professor Terry Jones took a group of students to northeastern Nevada, where they worked as archeologists for the first time. Ten years later, one of those students took him to Easter Island to help record some of the island’s famous statues.

Join Cal Poly Career Connections!

Career Connections is Cal Poly’s exclusive online networking and mentoring platform. Now you can expand your professional network and provide support to our amazing students.

Read about Career Connections

CLA Honors Alumnus and "This is Us" Co-Executive Producer Kevin Falls

This year's Honored Alumni Award from the College of Liberal Arts recognizes Kevin Falls (Journalism, '78).

Read about Falls

Recent Sociology Graduate Learned Lessons Traveling to Vietnam

Jennifer Mizuki (Sociology, ’19) is pursuing a master’s degree in social welfare at UCLA. After she graduated from Cal Poly in June, she went on an Alternative Breaks Global Service trip to Vietnam.

Read Mizuki's reflection

How Cal Poly Alumnus Lance Lunker Merged His Background as a Veteran with his Political Science Major (Q+A)

Get to know Lance Iunker, a veteran and political science alumnus as he talks about his service, senior project and life after Cal Poly.

Shark Tank Features Art and Design Alumna's Toy-Making Company

Cal Poly alumna Jenn Chin was featured on Shark Tank as the co-founder of Toybox Labs, a 3-D printer that allows children to design and print toys from home.

LAES Alumna Brings Robots to Local Elementary School to Introduce STEM Education

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies alumna Emily Anderson created a senior project that introduces young students to STEM education and will continue to make an impact on the local community.

Project-Based Learning Drives Action in the Classroom

The Learn by Doing philosophy has extended far beyond Jim Bentley’s Cal Poly classes. Now a teacher at Elk Grove Elementary, he implements project-based learning in his fifth-and-sixth grade classrooms and advocates for project-based learning through a National Geographic fellowship.

Cal Poly Alumni Recognized for the Tribune's Top 20 Under 40 Award

Twenty San Luis Obispo County residents were selected from a field of nearly 100 nominees as winners of The Tribune’s 14th annual Top 20 Under 40 Award and many of them are Cal Poly graduates.

History Alumna Teaching English in Vietnam

Sophie Rosales went from student to teacher just one year after graduating from Cal Poly. As an English Teaching Assistant in Vietnam, Rosales has taken her education and career worldwide and hopes to continue with a career path in diplomacy.

Read more about Rosales and her work

Cal Poly Radio Station KCPR Celebrates 50 Years

A weekend of events to mark the 50th anniversary of campus radio station KCPR-FM kicked off on Friday, Oct. 12, with a concert at SLO Brew Rock. The 400-plus attendees included Cal Poly alumni, students, and local music lovers.

Recent Journalism Grad is Finalist for CSU Media Arts Festival Award

Recent Cal Poly grad Nikki Petkopoulos (Journalism, ’18) is a finalist for the prestigious CSU Media Arts Award for her film Young American which tells the story of a biracial college student.

Read about Petkopoulos and the Media Arts Festival

Psychology Alumna Earns Top Presentation at CSU Research Competition

Leah Thomas (Psychology, ’17) earned the top presentation in the Behavioral and Social Sciences category at the CSU Research Competition.

Read about Thomas and the CSU Research Competition

Alumna Awarded Albert Nelsen Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award

Gretchen M. Bataille (M.A., Education, ’67; English, ’66) was awarded the Albert Nelsen Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who for her leadership in higher education.

Read about Bataille and her award

Alumna's Video Production Company Produces Viral Video with Important Message

“Every Opportunity” was created to show teachers and parents how systematically ignoring children and not hearing their voices can have disastrous effects.

Read about Brownieland Pictures and watch the viral video

Become a CLA Social Media Alumni Ambassador

Share your love for your alma mater! CLA Social Media Alumni Ambassadors help promote the College of Liberal Arts by liking posts and sharing content from and to CLA accounts.

Become an Alumni Social Media Ambassador

History Alumnus Recognized on The Ellen Show for Work as Teacher

Wyatt Oroke (History, ’13) was recognized on The Ellen Show for his dedication as an eighth grade humanities teacher at City Springs Elementary and Middle School in Baltimore, Maryland.

Read about Wyatt Oroke

CLA Honored Alumnus 2017

The College of Liberal Arts recognizes Chris Trapani (Political Science, '90) as its 2017 Honored Alumnus.

Read about the 2017 Honored Alumnus

Donation Funds HD Upgrade to Student-Run TV Studio

Thanks to a $100,000 donation from Bill and Cheryl Swanson, the university’s student-run television studio was outfitted with the latest cameras, switchers and other equipment.

Read about the Swanson's HD upgrade donation

Alumni Update Spring 2017

From new jobs to writing awards, read about what several CLA alumni have been up to recently.

Read the latest news from CLA alumni

Nwaba, Cal Poly CLA alumn signs with Lakers

Sociology Alumnus is First Mustang to Sign With NBA

David Nwaba, 24, is the newest member of the Los Angeles Lakers and the first Cal Poly alumnus to sign with the NBA.

Read more about Nwaba

Alumna Working for Rights of Homeless

Alexa Arndt is putting her political science education to work on behalf of the homeless and those living in poverty. Arndt has already worked with a number of reputable organizations including the New York Legal Assistance Group and Homeless Advocacy Project, among others.

Read about Arndt

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies Alumna Transforms the Way Runners Train

Runners are always attempting to break their personal records. Alexandra Kline (Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies, ’15) came up with TrackPacer – an idea that could transform the way runners train.

Read about TrackPacer

Journalism Department Celebrates 100 Years of Mustang News

The Cal Poly Journalism Department celebrated the 100th anniversary of its student press Oct. 14-15 with "100 Years of Delivering the News," two days of events that included a Spotlight Gala and a department open house.

Read about the centennial celebration

The (SK8)Maker Movement: Cal Poly Alumnus Launches Book and Class on How to Build a Skateboard

Berger turned his passion for making things into a part-time gig with his DIY brand, SK8Makers, launching woodworking classes that lead students through the process of building a handmade skateboard.

Read about Nwaba

Learn by Playing

When children in the Cal Poly Preschool Learning Lab climb to the top of their new playground equipment, they can see all the way across the campus. Through the eyes of a 4-year-old, it’s a little bit like climbing a mountain

Read about the preschool lab transformation

Opportunity of a Lifetime

Last December, Mehra Gharibian spent his winter break in Nicosia, Cyprus, at the Hope for Children refugee shelter. He was motivated to do so by the recent Iraqi and Syrian refugee crises, which had touched him on a personal level.

Read about the difference Gharibian made

Cal Poly Alumnus Paul Cousineau Received Prestigious TAGA Michael H. Bruno Award

Paul Cousineau won the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA)'s highest honor, the Michael H. Bruno Award, one of the most prestigious in the graphic communication industry.

Read about Paul Cousineau's TAGA Award

Alumna Rediscovers San Luis Obispo Through a Culinary Palette

Cal Poly graduate Kendra Aronson believes that the food you eat connects you to a long line of individuals who grow, produce and cook that food. Her new cookbook, celebrates the farms, farmers and chefs who grow and prepare food on the Central Coast.

Lasting Legacy

With a glance at the past and a look forward, you can begin to wonder what mark you’ll leave on this world. Three families chose to leave their legacies at Cal Poly — and invest in the future of our students — by making planned gifts to areas they are passionate about.

Making Headlines

David Kerley III (Journalism, ’79) was named the 2015 College of Liberal Arts’ Honored Alumnus. Kerley is a correspondent for ABC News based in Washington, D.C., and contributes regularly to all ABC News broadcasts, including “World News Tonight,” “Good Morning America” and “Nightline.”

Cal Poly Alumna Bridges Cultural Differences With Middle East Photo Series

For nearly 15 years, the United States has been embroiled in conflict in the Middle East. Media portrayals and stereotypes have accentuated cultural differences and heightened prejudices.

Cal Poly Alumna's Undergraduate Research Awarded Top Honor at Social Sciences Conference

Cal Poly 2014 social sciences graduate Mikaela Vournas recently received the Charles McCall Best Undergraduate Paper Award at the 40th annual California State University (CSU) Social Science Student Symposium.

CLA News