News & Notes 2025
Updates and highlights from the CLA.
English Lecturer Caleb Nichols Named SLO County's Poet Laureate
Caleb Nichols (M.A., English, ’20) has been named San Luis Obispo County’s 2025-27 poet laureate — a role that perfectly reflects his lifelong dedication to the arts. From touring internationally with the indie rock band Port O’Brien to earning a doctorate in creative and critical writing from Bangor University in North Wales, Nichols’ life has always orbited creative spaces. Now, he’s focused on cultivating a thriving local network where writers and readers can connect and grow.
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Alum and Rose Float President Helps Bring Home Leishman Public Spirit Award
Cal Poly universities’ “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs” float, led by President Collin Marfia (Anthropology and Geography and History, ’24, and second-year Master Higher Education Council and Student Affairs student) received the Leishman Public Spirit Award for most outstanding floral presentation from a non-commercial entry at the 136th Rose Parade® held New Year’s Day in Pasadena. The float featured the beginnings of a special friendship uniting the once-shy Loch Ness monster with some recognizable Scottish counterparts.
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Mustang Media Group Inducted into Hall of Fame, Earns 45 Awards
Mustang News was recently inducted into the Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame, a prestigious honor that celebrates excellence in student media. In addition, Mustang Media Group earned the title of College Media Company of the Year for the third consecutive year and brought home an additional 44 national awards from the College Media Business and Advertising Managers, Associated Collegiate Press, and College Media Association.
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Dual-major Patrick Henry Serves as 2024 Panetta Congressional Intern
Political science and history double-major Patrick Henry served as Cal Poly’s 2024 representative for the prestigious Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program. After completing two weeks of training at CSU Monterey Bay, Henry spent 11 weeks conducting legislative research, drafting constituent correspondence, and attending congressional hearings and briefings in the Washington, D.C., office of CA Representative Jim Costa (CA-21).
Students Host Spanish-Speaking Voter Info Sessions
Last September, a group of students — guided by Communication Studies Department faculty Victoria Zamora and Marion Hart — hosted community workshops for Spanish-speaking voters in San Luis Obispo County. As part of the Latino Voter Engagement Project (LVEP) a collaboration with the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office, the students explored barriers to voter participation and developed strategies to boost civic awareness and turnout.
Ethnic Studies Dept Awarded Mellon Foundation Grant
The Ethnic Studies Department is among 11 programs selected by the California State University (CSU) system to receive a 2024–25 Advancing and Expanding Ethnic Studies grant. This funding supports the development and expansion of credit-bearing programs that integrate ethnic studies with gender and sexuality studies. The award underscores the essential contributions of ethnic studies faculty in high-quality instruction and intersectional education throughout the CSU.
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Psychology Student Receives CSU Trustees’ Award and $7,000 Scholarship
Maileen Mamaradlo (Psychology, ’25), a first-generation student and mother, was named Cal Poly’s 2024 California State University Trustees’ Scholar for Outstanding Achievement. Selected for her academic excellence, personal accomplishments, community service and financial need, Mamaradlo, who attends university alongside her children, was one of four William Randolph Hearst Scholars to receive a $7,000 scholarship.
James Tejani wins 2025 Bancroft Prize
Cal Poly history Professor James Tejani has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Bancroft Prize—and a $10,000 award—for his groundbreaking new book, “A Machine to Move Ocean and Earth: The Making of the Port of Los Angeles—and America.” Presented by Columbia University, the Bancroft Prize is one of the most distinguished honors for scholars of American history, recognizing exceptional works for their “scope, significance, depth of research and insightful interpretation.”
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PolyPhonics Choir Hits a High Note at Carnegie Hall
On April 6, Cal Poly's PolyPhonics choir stepped into the spotlight at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall, performing alongside the choirs of St. John’s and St. Mary’s Colleges of Minnesota with accompaniment by the New England Symphonic Ensemble. The unforgettable weekend was filled with rehearsals, a once-in-a-lifetime performance and plenty of time to explore the Big Apple.
Nailah DuBose Named Inaugural Student Winner of Dolores Huerta Award
Nailah DuBose (Psychology, ’25 and current M.S. in Psychology student) is the first-ever student winner of the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion’s (OUDI) Dolores Huerta "Si Se Puede" Award for Transformational Leadership. DuBose was honored for her exceptional leadership, integrity and compassion. During her time at Cal Poly, she served as an OUDI intern, BEACoN researcher, CLA Student Diversity Committee member, president of the Black Student Union and president of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
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History Lecturer Co-Leading Efforts to Uncover the Legacy of African Californios
History lecturer Cameron Jones is co-leading a groundbreaking effort to uncover the nearly forgotten legacy of California’s African-descended population between 1769 and 1850. In collaboration with computer science Professor Foaad Khosmood and students, Jones is using digital tools and census records to map detailed family trees, digitize census records, and produce interactive visualizations. The project, presented at the annual conference of the Alliance of Digital Humanities Organization, is now accessible to the public at AfricanCalifornios.org, offering new insights into the state’s diverse and complex past.
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From Excavation to Exhibit, Students Tell Family’s Forgotten History
Cal Poly anthropology and geography students brought local history to life with “A Dream Interrupted,” a student-curated exhibit exploring the story of the Yoshida family, a Japanese American family displaced during World War II. The display featured artifacts unearthed during a 2024 excavation on the Pecho Coast, paired with oral histories and family photos. “Being able to connect with the Yoshidas and bring attention to their family story has been such an honor — and truly the best part of my college experience,” said Lacey May (Anthropology and Geography, 2025).
Read more about the May 2024 excavation in Cal Poly Magazine
Read more about the students' exhibit in Cal Poly News
Sociology Professor Explores Family Support in Brazil
Sociology Associate Professor Sara Lopus spent the summer in Brazil as a Fulbright Scholar, joined by her husband and their children. The family lived in Belo Horizonte, where Lopus collaborated with Maria Carolina Tomás at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais to research how families use intergenerational support to assist first-time mothers and single parents.
Student Team Wins Design Competition for Fifth Consecutive Year
A team of graphic communication students achieved a remarkable milestone at the 2024 Xplor Summit, securing their fifth consecutive victory in the Xplor Communication Design Competition. In addition to taking home the Victory Cup, each participant attended educational panels and sessions and networked with industry professionals and exhibitors.
Students Explore Spain Through Inaugural Global Opportunities Program
Last spring, the Cal Poly International Center launched the First Year Global Opportunities (GO) Program — an immersive international experience in Seville, Spain, created specifically for first-year students. The CLA represented 30% of the 30-student inaugural cohort, sending students from seven majors. Participants connected with local Spanish students through interviews, took part in traditional cooking workshops and explored the country through a variety of cultural excursions.
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Winter Musical Brings Classic Board Game to Life
The Theatre and Dance Department’s production of “Clue: The Musical” transformed the classic whodunit board game into a comedic, interactive experience — with student actors, designers and builders behind every twist and turn. From constructing the set to sewing the costumes and running the tech, students earned academic credit while gaining hands-on experience in all facets of live theatre.