Impact Magazine 2020

Message from Dean Williams:

The spring quarter was marked by the global pandemic and the national wave of protests in response to the killing of George Floyd. I’m extremely proud of the resilience, creativity and activism demonstrated by our faculty, staff and students. I’m happy to report that Learn by Doing is alive and well in the college, even in a virtual environment.

Despite the challenges prompted by the pandemic, the College of Liberal Arts remains committed to providing a liberal arts education without borders, boundaries or barriers: opening doors, preparing students and ensuring opportunity. We introduced a new Virtual Exchange initiative that will incorporate international experiences in the classroom, connecting our students and faculty to peers around the world. CLA faculty and students launched the Full STEAM Ahead initiative, a community-outreach project aimed at K-12 students, their teachers and their families in Santa Maria, California. We also marked an important milestone for the college, celebrating 50 years of ethnic studies at Cal Poly. The Ethnic Studies Department has a unique history and place within the university, where students find a safe, welcoming and supportive community, as well as a curriculum that values and reaffirms their diverse identities.

As we look forward to another quarter marked by the pandemic and a looming budget crisis, I remain hopeful about the future of CLA. Our faculty and staff’s singular focus on student success, combined with the generous support of our alumni and friends, will ensure that the college emerges from the crisis stronger than before. 

Best regards,
Philip Williams
Dean, College of Liberal Arts