Cal Poly College of Liberal Arts

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Cal Poly College of Liberal Arts

Arts, humanities, communications and social sciences at the heart of Cal Poly.

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) is home to 17 departments offering programs in the arts, humanities, communications and social sciences rooted in a philosophy of Learn by Doing. The CLA’s leadership in interdisciplinary endeavors and its entrepreneurial spirit encourages students to push boundaries and innovate through multidisciplinary projects and teams. With its deep roots in creative thinkin

g, human understanding and innovative action, the CLA gives all Cal Poly students the tools to thrive in a complex, multicultural world.

05/28/2026

Moon Ja Minn Suhr revolutionized dance education at Cal Poly, transforming the program from a handful of elective courses into a powerful experience. 🩰

Moon Ja was born in China in 1940. As early as 11, her dream was to become a college professor. She studied dance at Ewha Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea, eventually moving to the United States to pursue a graduate degree.

In 1969, Moon Ja moved to San Luis Obispo and began her career as a professor at Cal Poly. When she arrived, dance was part of the physical education program – not its own area of study. Moon Ja, who had just completed advanced studies in dance theory, philosophy, performance and technique, wanted her students to view dance as a serious art form, not just another exercise class.

She started by establishing a performance course and volunteering to teach a handful of new dance sessions, preparing students for Cal Poly’s first dance ensemble. Six months later, with no department budget and $200 of Moon Ja’s own money, a class of dancers took the stage for the first Orchesis performance at the Cal Poly Theater.

In the 1980s, Moon Ja earned a doctorate in Dance at Texas Woman’s University and was promoted from associate to full professor. She established 20 new courses and launched dance as an official minor at Cal Poly.

In 2000, Moon Ja directed her last show, “Dance Legacy.” While she started Orchesis with just $200 out of her own pocket, she passed the reigns to dance professor Maria Junco with a budget of nearly $90,000 in university and community funding. The following year, the dance program’s class and rehearsal space in Crandall Gymnasium was officially renamed the Moon Ja Minn Suhr Dance Studio.

“Moon Ja was really the one who insisted on the scholarship of dance in a polytechnic school. She had the courage and fortitude to set that tone. Those of us that have succeeded her have really tried to keep elevating that level of artistic and academic scholarship,” said Diana Stanton, who previously directed Orchesis and led the dance program.

Read the full feature: https://magazine.calpoly.edu/spring-2026/determined-to-dance/

05/27/2026

A new career-readiness course builds practical skills for entering the workforce ready day one. 💡

COMS 270, taught by communication studies professor Laura Hunkler, assists CLA students with resume building, job applications, finding a suitable career path and other career-focused work.

“I think one of the challenges is that most of the liberal arts majors are what we call 'academic degrees.' It’s like providing you with a broad foundation that you could take in a lot of different directions,” Hunkler said.

The class follows Cal Poly’s approach with a very hands-on structure. Rather than giving specific insight into each individual’s career, Hunkler focuses on showing students how to decipher the careers that fit their skill sets and giving them the tools and resources to explore those potential options.

“Having the skills to do a specific job is one thing. It’s entirely another thing to be able to articulate to others in all of these different contexts — in a professional context, in a job interview — that you have those skills. And that’s really what this class is about,” Hunkler said.

While the career readiness course is listed under a COMS prefix, it is intended for CLA students of all majors and backgrounds. Hunkler hopes that in the future, this class will become a requirement for all liberal arts majors.

“It’s one of Cal Poly’s values. Part of their mission is [that] you’re ready day one for whatever you want to do. And I think liberal arts students have so much to offer. It’s about helping them see that and articulate it well to employers,” Hunkler said.

Read the full Mustang News article at the link in our bio.

Read the full Mustang News article: https://bit.ly/4dCaDE3

05/21/2026

A round of applause for Cal Poly’s Phoenix Challenge team, who recently placed in the Phoenix Challenge Competition! 👏

This year, Cal Poly’s team worked alongside Baby Bear Biscuits, a local cafe specializing in Southern comfort food. Students created three flexographically-printed products for the small business: a biscuit box, a cup label and a container wrap.

Each year, the Phoenix Challenge Foundations hosts an annual competition in which teams of college students research, design and print three flexographical products for a small business or non-profit. The teams then attend Forum Infoflex, the flexographic industry’s premiere annual gathering, where they are judged for their performance in research, concept, design and ex*****on.

Cal Poly’s Phoenix Challenge team received awards in both the concept and ex*****on categories. Students had the opportunity to as they gained hands-on flexographic printing experience. Congrats! 🐻

05/19/2026

Breanna Chambers (Art and Design, ’21) is a rising star in children’s book illustration. 🎨

Her first illustrated book, "The After-School Kindness Crew: Pooch on the Loose," by award-winning actress Goldie Hawn and best-selling author Lin Oliver, was released on May 5, and has already been featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Chambers has also been announced as the illustrator for an upcoming book written by best-selling author Adam Mansbach and stand-up comic W. Kamau Bell

"Having a project this big come out has really been a turning point," Chambers said. "It feels like this is my capital 'C' career now, even though I've been working as an artist for years. Anyone who is in the arts knows that it is a hugely competitive scene, and to be able to turn my passion into a full-time job is a huge privilege."

Chambers credits much of her success to Learn by Doing in the studio arts program, both in refining her artistic voice and learning how to manage her career like a managing a small business in the highly competitive art world.

"There was definitely an emphasis on persistence and tenacity in the department as a whole. If we wanted to make art as a job, that would only happen if we pursued it doggedly. There were specific class assignments that forced us to apply for showcases, awards or fellowships, which was great practice for both the emotional and logistical side of the application process," Chambers said.

Two years after graduating, Chambers placed in a competition held by the Society of Children's Book Authors and Illustrators. That acclaim led to her signing with Chad Beckerman at the CAT Agency in 2024, who has helped her make important connections.

05/14/2026

Cal Poly Soundings presents “Music of the Spheres,” an immersive evening of new music and dance. 🎶

Soundings is an interdisciplinary program that showcases original compositions by music technology and composition students, as well as original choreography by theatre and dance students. Guided by music faculty director Julie Herndon and dance professor Diana Stanton, the program highlights collaborative works that merge sound and movement into a unified performance experience.

“Music of the Spheres” will feature visiting artists T.J. Borden and Mari Kawamura of the Switch Ensemble, a group dedicated to the creation and performance of new acoustic, electroacoustic and multimedia works.

Performances will be held on May 28 and 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center Pavilion.

Buy tickets at the following link: https://www.pacslo.org/events/detail/cpsoundings24

05/12/2026

Congratulations to Izzy Martinez, who recently broke the Cal Poly Beach Volleyball program’s record for most career wins as a pair, alongside her partner, kinesiology major Logan Walter! 🏐 💚

Martinez, a fourth-year English major, has translated skills from her academic journey at Cal Poly into her career as a student-athlete. Namely, she is able to use her pattern recognition both on and off the sand court.

“While English is normally associated with arts and creativity, I take on my papers with a critical and almost strategic eye, looking for patterns in the diction, syntax and imagery. The way I’ve learned to analyze passages and poems translates into my game as I try to predict what the other team is going to do and plan my defense around it,” Martinez said.

Martinez has also learned that as an English student and Division 1 beach volleyball player, accepting constructive criticism is essential.

“In a match, you have to constantly adapt to the other team and accept feedback from coaches, all under pressure. It has taught me that feedback is not something that should be met with resistance; criticism is meant to make me a better player,” she said.

After graduation, Martinez plans to move home to Los Angeles, find a remote marketing or writing job and pursue a professional beach volleyball career internationally.

“It isn’t going to be easy, but I’m not ready to give up playing just yet!” Martinez said.

05/07/2026

The Cal Poly Dance Program proudly presents their 2026 Spring Dance Concert: AfterEcho! 💃

Featuring a diverse array of dance styles, the concert is choreographed, performed and directed by over 120 Cal Poly students from a variety of majors and backgrounds. AfterEcho aims to remind audiences of the power that experiences and memories hold throughout their lives.

Performances will be held on May 20, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Spanos Theatre (No. 44). Buy tickets at the following link: https://www.pacslo.org/events/detail/springdance26

05/06/2026

Congratulations are in order for Tanner Schinderle, Cal Poly's next ASI President! 🎉

Schinderle, a third-year political science student, currently serves as ASI Chief of Staff, and previously served as the ASI Secretary of Executive Staff. Serving in student government has allowed him to apply his Cal Poly education to real world situations.

"In a lot of my coursework, we talk about who is represented and who is not. Serving in ASI, I have taken this to heart [in] making sure [that] we represent all 23,000 students, across all colleges and all backgrounds," Schinderle said.

Schinderle's first steps as ASI President elect will be appointing a Chief of Staff and Executive Cabinet to support him in accomplishing the goals of his campaign platform, which include adding more affordable on-campus dining venues and increasing access to public transportation. He will also meet with campus leaders to discuss these initiatives and start preparing for the 2026-27 academic year.

"CLA will always be where my heart is. If any CLA students are looking for ways to get involved on campus and apply what [they] are learning, ASI is a great option, and I encourage everyone to look into it. I am grateful for this opportunity ahead of me, and if students ever have any questions or concerns, I will be here to answer them!" said Schinderle.

05/05/2026

As an intern at Central Coast Evaluation Services (CCES), Katelyn Estrin applied theories and concepts from her Cal Poly coursework to real world situations. 🧠

Last quarter, the second-year sociology major interned for CCES, a private practice that specializes in psychological and forensic assessments for adolescents and adults. Estrin worked alongside Roxanne Rassti, a Cal Poly professor, licensed forensic psychologist and part-owner of CCES.

Estrin’s responsibilities included preparing forensic reports, organizing case files and building detailed chronological timelines based on legal and medical documents.

"By examining competency evaluations and legal records, I got to understand how social stratification affects people’s access to legal representation and outcomes within the justice system. Looking at crime through a social-construct lens helped me reflect on power structures and institutional responses to them,” Estrin said.

💭 Did you land your dream internship? Tell us about it!

Share your experience for the chance to be featured in the CLA’s Impact Magazine or on our social media. Showcase how you to potential employers, alumni and incoming students. Fill out the form at the following link: https://bit.ly/4k7KzBO

05/01/2026

Join guest speaker Corinne Sugino to discuss Asian American rhetoric, racial allegory and how it shapes our understanding of what it means to be human.

On May 6 at 4:10 p.m., head to the Bonderson Center (No. 197, Room 104) to hear from Sugino, an assistant professor at The Ohio State University and author of Making the Human: Race, Allegory and Asian Americans.

Sugino's talk is supported by the Communication Studies and English Departments.

Address

1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA
93407

Telephone

+18057562359

Website

https://www.cla.calpoly.edu/

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