Recent News

Cal Poly Awards Over $60,000 in Grants for Student Research Projects

Mar 9, 2023


SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly has awarded more than $60,000 to support 17 student research projects through the university’s Baker/Koob endowments, which support hands-on, project-based learning opportunities for individual students and groups. Student projects are focused on issues including STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education, agricultural sciences, climate change and its effects on local environments. 
 
Nikki Arm, a master’s student in mechanical engineering from Carlsbad, California, received funding from the endowments over the past two years to support her thesis project designing, building and testing a deep ocean vehicle lander. Arm began her work on the lander during a summer internship with Global Ocean Design. At the end of the internship, Arm was able to bring the lander to Cal Poly to continue her work on the project.

Cal Poly College of Science and Math Launches Astronomy Research Fellowship Through Donor Funding

Mar 6, 2023


Program Will Provide Faculty and Students with Dedicated Time and Resources for Learn by Doing Projects; First-year Research Will Concentrate on Identifying Ages of White Dwarf Stars
Student Kailei Gallup uses the Cal Poly Observatory during her senior project work

SAN LUIS OBISPO — A new Astronomy Faculty Research Fellowship in Cal Poly’s College of Science and Mathematics will expand opportunities for faculty and student collaborations on space science.

The program is supported by a generous donation from the Marrujo Foundation, established by Dan (Electrical Engineering, ’08) and Rosamaria Marrujo, who live in Roseville, Calif., near Sacramento.

Cal Poly Civil Engineering Professor to Hold March 8 Talk on Deadly Quakes in Turkey After Leading Research Expedition

Mar 3, 2023


Robb Moss Will Discuss His Observations and Implications for Turkey and the Broader Seismic Community
 
In photo at top, Cal Poly Civil Engineering Professor Robb Moss investigates crest cracking of an embankment dam that retains a large reservoir in Turkey. Transverse cracking at the crest is a major concern and can represent a potential dam failure if the fracturing extends below the reservoir level. Moss captured the image as part of a research expedition to collect data in the aftermath of the powerful earthquakes that hit southern Turkey and northern Syria on Feb. 6.
SAN LUIS OBISPO — A Cal Poly professor who has studied earthquakes for over 20 years knew he needed to get on the ground in Turkey to collect data — and find answers — in the aftermath of one of the deadliest quakes in a decade.
 
Robb Moss from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is on the steering committee for a volunteer organization of geotechnical researchers that deployed him days after the Feb. 6 earthquakes of 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude. The temblors flattened buildings and killed more than 47,000 people across southern Turkey and northern Syria.

Andrew Thulin, Dean of Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, To Retire After 25 Years of Service to University

Feb 28, 2023


Andrew Thulin

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Andrew J. Thulin, dean of Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES), has announced his plans to retire from the university at the end of the 2023 calendar year.  

Thulin, a Cal Poly alumnus, joined CAFES in 1998 as head of its Animal Science Department and has led the college for the last 10 years. Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Cal Poly’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, shared the news of Thulin’s impending retirement with the campus community Tuesday.  

“Dean Thulin’s legacy is built on his vision for the future and passion for collaboration with faculty, staff and students, as well as his strong connections to industry and government organizations,” said Jackson-Elmoore. “He has been instrumental in improving both the college’s programs and its facilities. 

“He has worked to ensure the college is continuously poised to prepare future generations of students in sustainable agriculture practices that will build long-term food safety and security, environmental sustainability, and climate-smart agricultural systems.”  

Jackson-Elmoore will work with Thulin to ensure a smooth transition of the many critical projects currently underway in the college. A national search for the next dean will be conducted in partnership with an external search firm. 

Cal Poly Named a Top Producer of 2022-23 U.S. Fulbright Scholars

Feb 27, 2023


Faculty Awardees are Teaching and Researching in Poland and South Africa

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly has again been named a top producer of U.S. Fulbright scholars by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The distinction was in the Master’s Colleges and Universities category for the 2022-23 academic year.

Greg Domber with family members at the Kościuszko Mound in Krakow

Three Cal Poly faculty were awarded grants for the 2022-23 academic year: Greg Domber, lecturer in the History Department, and Mira Rosenthal, associate professor of English, are teaching and conducting research at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. Nishanta ‘Nishi’ Rajakaruna, professor of biology, is teaching and conducting research at North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

Domber and Rosenthal are a married couple who met in Poland while pursuing Student Fulbright Scholarships as graduate students. Domber’s research focus is a digital history project to better understand the influences of American exchange programs on Poland’s negotiated transformation away from communism in 1989.

Two Cal Poly Choirs to Present Concert Titled ‘Contemporary’ on March 19

Feb 21, 2023


Featuring a Preview of Cantabile’s Lincoln Center Performance
Cantabile and University Singers of Cal Poly in front of the PACSAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s Cantabile and University Singers will present a concert titled “Contemporary” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 19, in the San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church.

The concert will be a preview of Cantabile’s March 25 performance in New York City’s Lincoln Center and will feature music of contemporary female composers, including two world premieres.

Cantabile will give the premiere performance of “While I Breathe, I Hope” by Jocelyn Hagen, which was commissioned by Cantabile. It has beautiful soaring melodies and strong block chords which generate an overwhelming feeling of optimism and hope for the future. The composer will be in attendance and will present a pre-concert Q&A.

Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble Concert to Feature Greek, Syrian and Egyptian Music on March 18

Feb 21, 2023


Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble will feature Greek, Syrian and Egyptian music for its Winter Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, in Spanos Theatre on campus.

Fathi Aljarrah, a critically acclaimed composer, singer and violinist who hails from Syria will be a guest artist; as well as Ishmael, an Assyrian American qanun (trapezoidal zither) virtuoso.

The program will feature several selections of classic Greek songs by composers including Markos Vamvakaris, Thanasis Papakonstantinou and Yiannis Stamoulis. Original compositions by Aljarrah and a famous instrumental piece by the iconic Egyptian composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab will also be on the program.

Cal Poly Symphony to Feature Student Soloists at March 17 Concert

Feb 21, 2023


Show to Include Music from Four Studio Ghibli Films

Soloists  Reenu Kutty, Davis Lerner, Ari Maman, Jayden Perez, Yumin Park and Sarah Jane Scott

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Symphony’s Winter Concert will showcase the talents of student soloists, composers and conductors at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 17, in Miossi Hall in the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center.

In addition, the symphony will perform music by Joe Hisaishi from four Studio Ghibli films: “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Spirited Away,” “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and “My Neighbor Totoro.”

Student winners of the symphony’s Solo Competition in November will be featured: three instrumentalists, one vocalist and one composer.

Cal Poly Earns Sixth 'Most Promising Place to Work in Student Affairs' Recognition

Feb 20, 2023


University is One of Just 27 Nationally and Three in California to Receive Honor
 
SAN LUIS OBISPO — ACPA-College Student Educators International and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education recently named Cal Poly one of the Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs for the sixth time.
 
The university is among 27 institutions of higher learning to receive the honor in 2023. Of those, Cal Poly is also one of three California universities recognized, alongside UC Riverside and California State University, ­Channel Islands.

This year’s honorees were recognized for their focus on workplace diversity, staffing practices and work environment, which includes key attributes like family friendliness, salary and benefits, and professional development opportunities.
 

Cal Poly Business Professor Says Employees Maintain Leverage at the Workplace Despite Recession Fears

Feb 20, 2023


NOTE: Allison Ellis is available for media interviews. Contact Pat Pemberton to schedule.

Hybrid Work Models are ‘Here to Stay,’ Adds Management Professor Allison Ellis

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — While fears of an economic downturn have prompted some workers to prioritize job security over quality-of-life preferences, a Cal Poly professor said employees will continue to have leverage gained during the pandemic — and hybrid work models are here to stay.

“I think that we still are in an employee market,” said Allison Ellis, an associate professor of management and human resources at Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business. “When you zoom out a little bit, there are long-term trends in the labor market that suggest more broadly that it’s still really difficult to find people with qualifications that companies need today.”

Ellis, who has researched workplace stress and well-being, said employers were seeking ways to improve worker well-being even before the COVID-19 outbreak. And with the pandemic, numerous workplace trends emerged that made employee well-being a central concern for companies and suggested workers had gained the upper hand.

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