Recent News
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!
Film Screening and Guest Lecture with Director Fred Kuwornu
Feb 12, 2025
Friday, February 21st at 5:00 PM
Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering,
Building 8, Room: 123
We Were Here – The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe examines the overlooked presence of African and Black individuals in Renaissance Europe and their depiction in masterpieces by some of the era’s most celebrated artists, raising critical questions.
"From Student to Global Intern" by Nicole Troy
Feb 3, 2025
Students in our department are doing amazing things! Third year student Nico Julia had the internship experience of a lifetime last summer at the French Embassy in Serbia. Julia took on a variety of tasks throughout his time at the French Embassy and credits how his Cal Poly courses prepared him for this role. Read more about Nico here:
https://cla.calpoly.edu/student-global-intern
Marty Kaliski: Living by “Learn by Doing”
Jan 22, 2025
By Kelsi Amini
Marty Kaliski has been an integral part of Cal Poly since 1986, where he served nine years as Department Chair in the Electrical Engineering Department. Despite his engineering roots, Marty is a great advocate for lifelong learning, especially when it comes to mastering new languages.
After studying French in high school, Marty decided fifty years later to pursue his interests in other languages. Since then, he has taken many, many courses offered at Cal Poly, in the World Languages and Cultures Department. This decision sparked an incredible journey of language learning.
Marty holds four degrees from M.I.T., including bachelor's degrees in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering, a Master’s, and a PhD. in Electrical Engineering. Yet, his academic journey has yet to end. He thrives on the structure of being a student, and says that being surrounded by ambitious young people is inspiring, despite his ambivalence about group projects.
Over the past three years, Marty has taken on the monumental task of reading the entire Harry Potter series in German, completing a chapter a week, over three thousand pages long. His progress is supported by a “book club” with near native German speakers, underscoring his disciplined and collaborative approach to learning. He emphasizes, “Force yourself to read and write—it’s the only way to keep languages alive.” In a world obsessed with instant gratification, Marty demonstrates that learning is a lifelong pursuit that includes patience and dedication.
In 2022, Marty’s passion was recognized with the World Languages and Cultures Passionfruit Award (Honorable Mention) for his dedication to lifelong learning.
Marty’s commitment to language learning also shines in personal moments. When his son married in Taipei, Taiwan in 2019, Marty addressed 200 guests in Mandarin Chinese, delivering a short, but heartfelt speech. He says, “Value learning languages—you never know when you may need them!”
To date, Marty has completed an astounding twenty-six language courses within the World Languages and Cultures Department, reaching intermediate to advanced levels of fluency in each language he has studied. Through his enthusiasm and dedication, Marty exemplifies Cal Poly's motto of “Learn by Doing,” proving that the journey of education never truly ends.
Winter Career Fair Employers for College of Liberal Arts Students
Jan 21, 2025
The campus wide all-major Winter Career Fair is coming up soon, taking place on Tuesday, January 28 and Wednesday January 29 at the Rec Center, Building 43. Doors open for students at 10:00am and the event concludes at 3:00pm both days. There will be nearly 100 employers and organizations over the two days on campus, recruiting students from all majors.
Career Services is conducting a number of events to assist students with career fair preparation, including:
- Resume and cover letter workshop on Thursday, January 23 2025 at 5:10 PM, Building 124 - Room 117
- Career fair navigation workshop for first year students on Monday, January 27 2025 at 11:00 AM, Building 124 - Room 117
- Career fair preparation drop in for Students with Dependents and Guardian Scholars on Thursday, January 23 2025 from 2:00 PM to 6:00PM, Building 124 - Room 117
- Resume review drop in at in at La Casa, on Thursday, January 23 2025 from 11:00 AM to 1:00PM, Building 52, Room E-22 and E-23
- Resume review drop in with APIDA at the Multicultural Center, on Tuesday, January 21 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:00PM, Building 65, Room 111F
Future workshops on applying for federal jobs and internships, navigating the job and internship search, networking, and building a LinkedIn profile for beginners.
Additionally, the organizations below have either expressed interest in hiring College of Liberal Arts students, have expressed interest in hiring from all disciplines, and/or have open positions that are relevant to CLA students.
At the fair both days
Caltrans HQ
Collabera
Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc.
County of Santa Barbara
Epic
GALLO
Insight Global
Keyence
SIL Language Technology
United States Marine Corps Officer Programs
At the fair Tuesday only
Beacon Hill Staffing
Breakthru Beverage Group
4 Creeks
AAA NCNU
Imerys
JT4
Jackson Family Wines
Techtronic Industries
Mission Springs Conference Center & Frontier Ranch Youth Camp
At the fair Wednesday only
Imperative Care, Inc.
More opportunities:
JOB OPPORTUNITY
The CalFresh Outreach (CFO) team is hiring! This is a fantastic opportunity for students, especially for those passionate about community nutrition and mitigating food insecurity. Students of all majors are welcome and encouraged to apply! The CFO internship is an unpaid, quarter-long commitment of ~5 hours per week. Interns will learn the ins-and-outs of CalFresh eligibility criteria, federal and state legislation that impacts CalFresh, how to support their peers through application assistance appointments, and much, much more! After one quarter, our interns are offered a paid position as a CalFresh coordinator.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, 1/22 at 11:59pm. See below for the application link. Students can reach out to Liv (ojwatts@calpoly.edu) directly with any questions.