Recent News
Dia De Muertos at WLC
Nov 10, 2026
At WLC, we help celebrate Dia de Muertos with our own Ofrenda. Created by both Dr. Galván-Mandujano and Professor Luzano. Students are welcome to bring their own photos and help celebrate!
Dia de Muertos is a traditionally mexican holiday celebrated on November 2nd. Going back almost 3000 years, it honors deceased loved ones and ancestors in a joyous, colorful remembrance instead of mourning. Commonly ofrendas are adorned with marigolds, calaveras (sugar skulls), food, and deserts. These offerings are meant to help guide the spirits of those who have past back home.
Some ofrendas made by students in SPAN 3380!
From First French Class to Teaching in France: Catrina’s TAPIF Experience
Nov 2, 2026
Before arriving at Cal Poly, Catrina had never spoken or studied French. Because her major required a language course, she saw it as an opportunity to challenge herself and learn something new. In one of her first French classes, Catrina learned about the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). After completing the application process, Catrina was accepted as an English language assistant at Lycée Ferdinand Buisson in Voiron, France.
Catrina committed herself to developing her language skills through French Club, a Duolingo streak that has now surpassed 1,590 days, and conversations with former TAPIF assistants connected through Cal Poly’s French Department.
She worked with students ages 13 to 19, leading lessons about American culture, history, holidays, and her own interests, including crocheting and drama. She also facilitated lunch and after-school clubs, including a theater club in which students wrote, directed, and performed a play entirely in English for their peers. Although many students were initially shy about speaking English, they gradually became more comfortable participating in activities and asking questions about Catrina’s life and culture in the United States.
Catrina had the opportunity to travel throughout France and Europe, visiting London, Malta, Brussels, Luxembourg, Rome, Venice, Pompeii, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Paris, Bordeaux, Lille, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, and Lyon.
Today, Catrina is pursuing a single-subject teaching credential in History at San Diego State University. She is also exploring the possibility of adding a bilingual authorization. Her time in France continues to shape her goals as an educator. Catrina remains in contact with the teachers and fellow assistants she met through TAPIF and hopes to return to France in the future. For now, she is committed to continuing her French studies and applying the cross-cultural and instructional skills she gained abroad in her own classroom.
Dr. Martha Galván-Mandujano Highlights Women's Experiences and Historical Memory in Guatemala
Oct 19, 2026
Dr. Martha Galván-Mandujano, Associate Professor of Spanish in Cal Poly's World Languages and Cultures Department, recently co-authored Women and Genocide in Guatemala: Justice and the Politics of Memorialization (2026). Her research examines the experiences of survivors of Guatemala's internal armed conflict, emphasizing the importance of preserving historical memory, pursuing justice and amplifying the voices of Indigenous women. Through her scholarship, Dr. Galván-Mandujano brings attention to underrepresented histories while enriching her teaching in Spanish language, culture and Latin American studies.
Cal Poly Fall Semester 2026!
Oct 15, 2026
Cal Poly welcomes the new Semester!
Recent WLC Student Achievements
May 22, 2025
French
The World Languages and Cultures Department at Cal Poly is proud to celebrate the achievements of four outstanding French students who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their studies and are embarking on exciting new academic and professional journeys.
Anaïs Lohier, a French Minor student, has been awarded a prestigious scholarship to attend Yale University, where she will pursue a Master’s degree in Bioinformatics. Anaïs has shown remarkable commitment not only to her scientific studies but also to the French language and culture. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Anaïs as she begins this new chapter at Yale.
In addition, three other French students—Cole Cleminshaw, Melodie Esnaashari, and Catrina Calkins—have been selected to participate in the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) for the 2025–2026 academic year. TAPIF is a highly regarded program that offers individuals in the U.S. the opportunity to work in French public schools as English language assistants. Through this program, Cole, Melodie, and Catrina will not only gain valuable international teaching experience but also deepen their cultural understanding and language proficiency by living and working in France.
These accomplishments reflect the dedication and passion of students in WLC’s French minor program. We applaud Anaïs, Cole, Melodie, and Catrina for their hard work and achievements, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make both abroad and in their future careers.
Félicitations à tous et bon voyage!
Japanese
The World Language and Cultures Department at Cal Poly is proud to celebrate the achievements of eight outstanding Japanese students who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their studies and are embarking on exciting new academic and professional journeys.
Mitchell Vincent Cronin, Alex Munter, Jack Harrison Mount, Abigail Barton, Ashley Fagan, Alejandro Gonzalez-Smith will all be assistant English teachers in Japan through the JET program. The JET Program (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) is a prestigious, government-sponsored initiative that brings native speakers of English and other languages to Japan to work in public schools, boards of education, and local government offices. Established in 1987, the program aims to promote international exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and other nations.
Additionally, Nicolai Borst will also be working through the JET Program as Coordinator of International Relations. A coordinator is someone who has strong Japanese language skills, and works in local government offices and help with international exchange programs, translation, and community engagement.
Lastly we have Destin Estrela who will be working for a German Company in Japan. All of these accomplishment reflect the dedication and passion of the WLC students in the Japanese minor program. We applaud these students and look forward to the positive impact they make in the future.
Russian
Zoya will be spending two months in Daugavpils, Latvia, studying through Learn Russian in the European Union — an intensive Russian language program designed to teach the equivalent of one year of Russian in just two months. The program includes 15 hours of weekly language instruction, cultural activities integrating Russian and Latvian traditions, a bi-weekly language exchange partner program, and group workshops.
Upon completing the program and receiving "alumni" status, Zoya will also be eligible for 12 months of non-competitive job placement with the U.S. State Department.
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program (https://clscholarship.org) provides immersive summer programs for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to study languages deemed critical to U.S. national security, economic prosperity, and global engagement. The program is fully funded by the U.S. State Department and covers room, tuition, international travel, visas, language placement tests, limited healthcare, and includes a stipend.
Each year, the CLS Program receives approximately 5,500 applications for about 500 scholarships. Selection is highly competitive and varies by language and proficiency level.
Cal Poly has had only three previous CLS recipients (in 2007, 2015, and 2018). Zoya is now the fourth!
Spanish
Araceli Aronin has been a key member and leader of the Cal Poly Spanish Debate Team for the past three years, and has helped guide the team to multiple wins at the Legados civic debate events. As a team leader and mentor, she has fostered an inclusive space where students develop confidence, cultural fluency, and a deepened understanding of civic dialogue.
A’s dedication extends far beyond the debate stage. She has contributed extensively to community-based projects such as the Latina Testimonios Initiative, where she helped collect and preserve the stories of Latinas on the Central Coast. She also volunteered with the Latino Voter Engagement Project, supporting nonpartisan outreach efforts to increase access to election information and civic participation across five Central Coast regions. In each of these projects, Araceli demonstrated not just responsibility and initiative, but cultural sensitivity and deep respect for the communities she served.
In addition, Araceli has volunteered as a speech coach in the Migrant Education Program, Region 18, where she worked closely with middle school students—many of them hesitant to speak publicly—encouraging confidence and communication in a welcoming environment.
Whether mentoring peers, guiding public events, or uplifting community voices, Araceli exemplifies the values of public service and Learn by Doing. We are proud to celebrate her contributions and her continuing impact on both the Cal Poly community and the wider region.
"Memory Day" featuring Charan Raganath, Ph.D.
May 8, 2025
We are excited to share that Professor Karen Muñoz-Christian from our Department will be presenting at 'Memory Day,' an exciting, interdisciplinary day of talks & dinner on Wednesday, 5/14 from 2-6 pm in the Advanced Technologies Lab (ATL; Building 007)
Cal Poly and Cal Maritime faculty will share their memory-related research across disciplines (see talk titles below!), ending with dinner and keynote speaker Dr. Charan Ranganath. Dr. Ranganath is a leading neuroscientist, UC Davis Professor, and bestselling author of Why We Remember.
RSVP here Please address any questions to either Dr. Antony (jwantony@calpoly.edu) or Dr. Bennion (kbennion@calpoly.edu).
Dr. Silvia Marijuan presenting at "International Engagement Symposium"
May 6, 2025
International Engagement Symposium
Faculty and staff are invited to attend the International Engagement Symposium to be held 4-6 p.m. May 7 at the 1901 Marketplace Pavilion in the UU. This event, in collaboration with the Cal Poly Division of Research, highlights global scholarship, research, and cross-cultural engagement.
Come join us as we welcome three dynamic voices, each bringing a unique global perspective and spirit of innovation to their work:
Dr. Ahmed Deif (OCOB): Delve into the world of development studies as Dr. Deif shares his collaborative research on shea butter supply chain management in Ghana.
Dr. Silvia Marijuan (CLA): Explore powerful intersections of language, culture, and global learning as Dr. Marijuan describes her research in Spain on how immersive, international experiences shape language acquisition and identity.
Dr. Nick Babin (CAFES): Discover the intersections of service-learning and sustainability as Dr. Babin highlights his hands-on research with students on Fair Trade coffee cultivation on an eco-friendly farm in Costa Rica.
Plus, be inspired by over 20 poster sessions presented by colleagues from across campus as they share their creative approaches to international research, teaching and engagement. Mingle with fellow internationally-minded colleagues and be part of the conversation that’s shaping how we bring Cal Poly to the world and the world to Cal Poly.
WLC's Winter Quarter Highlight
Mar 13, 2025
This past Winter Quarter, we were honored to celebrate Black History Month by hosting Fred Kuwornu for a screening of his film We Were Here. Kuwornu is an Afro-Italian and U.S. multi-hyphenate socially engaged artist, filmmaker, and scholar based in New York. His work bridges the past and present, exploring identity and race through the historical remixing of archival materials. Kuwornu's films have been exhibited at the 60th Venice Art Biennale (2024), the Museum of Moving Image (NY), the Library of Congress, and various international film festivals.
Kuwornu screened We Were Here: The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe, which was exhibited in the Central Pavilion, directed by Adriano Pedrosa, at the 60th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale. The film sheds light on the overlooked presence of African and Black individuals in Renaissance Europe, highlighting their depiction in masterpieces by some of the era’s most celebrated artists. The film raises important questions: How did they come to Europe? Were they truly all servants or enslaved people? If the Black faces in these Renaissance masterpieces could speak, what would they tell us?
Following the screening, Kuwornu hosted a Q&A-style lecture here at Cal Poly, where he engaged in important conversations with students. One student, Vito De Luca, noted that they thought the film “did an amazing job highlighting the presence of African people in Europe during the Renaissance, and how their involvement was of cultural importance in shaping our understanding of European religions.” Through this conversation, De Luca shared that they left with a “better perspective on the history of religion in Europe” and a greater understanding of how many different cultures impacted it.
For more information on Fred Kuwornu and his film We Were Here, please visit https://www.wewereherethefilm.com.
Dolores Huerta
Mar 11, 2025
Dolores Huerta is an activist best known for her role in advocating for the rights of farm workers. Growing up, Dolores witnessed the struggles of working-class families in marginalized communities. Throughout her social activist journey, she co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) union, which allowed her to play a pivotal role in advocating for better working conditions and securing labor rights for farm workers. In doing this, she helped highlight the intersection of labor rights and gender rights, as many farm workers were women.
She has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of her lifelong dedication to social justice, labor rights, and advocacy. In 2012, she received the Frances Perkins Award, a prestigious honor for labor leadership. In 2003, she received the Hispanic Heritage Award for Leadership as she advanced the rights of many Hispanic and Latino communities. Lastly, in 2008, Huerta accepted the Women's Rights Award, recognizing the impact of advancing women's rights in the labor movement and social justice. We are so grateful to have had her visit Cal Poly several times and deliver inspirational speeches as well.
Throughout her career, she demonstrated how women could be powerful agents of change. As an advocate for women's rights, Huerta worked to elevate the role of women in leadership positions. She emphasized the importance of women's voices in shaping the future everywhere. "Sí, se puede" was Huerta's most iconic contribution, demonstrating the legacy women can create. Dolores Huerta has been a role model for women striving to create change. Her legacy continues to inspire activists and leaders around the world.
YES showing
Mar 3, 2025
Come on Thursday to see the film YES, a short film that touches on topics of immigration, resilience, and hope.
A Q&A will be held after the film.
ATL, Building 7
Thursday, March 6 from 2:00-4:00pm
We hope you can make it!