COMS News | April 2026
April Newsletter
COMS Announcements
COMS Summer Classes
Interested in taking COMS courses over summer? Check out the list of tentative classes for summer 2026 to see which COMS classes are scheduled to be taught and during which session they will most likely be offered. Although the schedule of summer classes is subject to changes, this may help students get ahead in planning.
COMS Students: Semester Conversion Study Hall (Free Lunch!)
Thinking about how the transition to semesters will impact your COMS courses and graduation plan? CLA Advising is hosting Semester Conversion Study Hall this Spring—drop-in sessions where you can learn more about the transition, get your questions answered by an academic advisor, and explore helpful resources, all while enjoying free lunch. The COMS-focused session will be held on Thursday, May 7 from 11:10 AM – 12:30 PM. Be sure to RSVP here so they can plan for food, and check CLA Advising’s Instagram for reminders and location details.
COMS Club
Want to get involved in the COMS major, show your engagement in the discipline, and connect with other COMS students? You're invited to attend COMS Club all quarter long! Join the COMS club for a lineup of events this quarter designed to connect, inform, and build community:
- 4/9: Trivia Night: Kick off the quarter with a fun, low-pressure trivia night. A great way to meet members and test your knowledge.
- 4/16: Sports Coms Alumni Panel: Hear from alumni working in sports communications about their careers, experiences, and advice for breaking into the field.
- 4/30: Internships Q&A: Get your questions answered about finding, applying for, and succeeding in internships.
- 5/14: LPH Collaboration Meeting: A joint meeting with LPH focused on networking, collaboration, and shared opportunities.
- 5/28: Study Session: Wrap up the quarter with a group study session. Bring your work, stay productive, and support each other before finals.
For more information, follow @calpolyslocomsclub on Instagram!
LPH
Lambda "Pi" Eta is the communication studies national honor society. It is a great opportunity to meet other COMS majors and make connections that can serve you for life. As an academic honor society, LPH has the following required qualifications: 3.0 GPA in all undergraduate work, as well as a 3.25 GPA in COMS major courses and Junior standing. If this sounds like you, feel free to reach out to the current LPH advisor Dr. Carroll (drcarrol@calpoly.edu).
Debate Team News
The Cal Poly Speech and Debate team competed at the Yaatly Online Debate League’s (YODL) National Championship at Clemson University, earning strong results across divisions. Avery Beutner (COMS) served as a judge at the tournament. Sophie Angiulo (POLS) and Lauren Rosenberg (COMS) advanced to the Honors Division quarterfi
nals, while Ethan Organista (POLS) and Franky Chardos (COMS) reached the Open Division quarterfinals. In addition to its competitive success, the team’s Spanish Division hosted the Legados Tournament, further strengthening its presence within the collegiate debate circuit. The program also continued to grow its partnership with the Migrant Education Project through outreach and engagement initiatives. Looking ahead, Franky Chardos, Ethan Organista, Nico Julia (POLS), and Ava Jimmerson (COMS) will travel to Washington, D.C. to compete in the Schumann Challenge, a present-and-defend competition hosted by the European Union Delegation to the United States. Later this month, Nathan Buehne (CRP), Leora Feinsmith (KINE/HLTH), Avery Beutner, Kate Mills (COMS), Andrea Campos (ASCI), and Niko Kaderabek (TH) will represent the team at the Sierra Sustainability Summit, reflecting the team’s continued involvement in both competitive and community-focused opportunities.
Apply Now: 2026-2027 COMS Scholarships
It's scholarship season and COMS Scholarships are now available for the 2026-2027 academic year! One application allows you to be considered for both major-specific and university-wide scholarships. You can also apply for CSU-wide scholarships by following the prompts at the end of the general application. You can apply through the Cal Poly Portal by just clicking on “Scholarships” in the menu. Apply by the priority deadline, Thursday April 30th! Contact the financial aid office at financialaid@calpoly.edu if you have any questions and best of luck with your applications!
Events & Opportunities
ACE Internship Funding
If you are planning for a Spring 2026 internship, consider applying for ACE funding to support your experience! Through a partnership with the Office of Student Success, students may receive up to $2,500 total ($1,000 base ACE award plus up to $1,500 in additional funding) to support a Spring 2026 internship. To qualify, students must: (1) Be a first-generation college student and/or Pell Grant eligible; and (2) Submit a faculty letter of recommendation that speaks to the quality of the internship. The deadline is Monday, April 13, 2026. If you have questions, email Associate Dean Bettergarcia and find out more information at the application link.
Call for Student Entrepreneurs: CIE Summer Accelerator
The Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Summer Accelerator is now open to students and recent graduates with startup ideas. This 10-week program provides participants with $10,000 in seed funding, one-on-one mentorship, and access to startup resources and workspace to help launch their ventures. An information session will be held on Tuesday, April 14 at 6 p.m. in the Hatchery (Building 2, Room 206). Learn more at https://bit.ly/3PZ3t4x
The Power of Stories: April 14 Storytelling for Healing with Safer 
As a part of this year's Sexual Assault Action Month and Safer's 30th Anniversary, Safer presents The Power of Stories: Storytelling for Healing! This event features five speakers across five different generations sharing their experiences of survivorship or supporting survivors. Our speakers are both students and community members, ranging in age from 19 to 89. Led by ISLA student Ellie Kidd as a part of her senior project, this event will be held Tuesday, April 14, from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Forum. Lemonade and cookies provided.
Cal Poly Safer Celebrates 30 years at Annual Take Back the Night event April 30
Join Cal Poly Safer for its annual Take Back the Night event as part of Sexual Assault Action Month on Thursday, April 30, from 6:30–8:30 p.m. in the University Union Plaza. This year’s theme, “Safer, Stronger: Moving Forward Together,” honors 30 years of Safer at Cal Poly and 25 years of standing with survivors during Sexual Assault Action Month. The evening will include guest speakers, live music, wellness activities, a solidarity march, candlelight vigil, and cupcakes.
April is Free STI Testing Month at CH&W!
Campus Health and Wellbeing (CH&W) is offering free Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Testing throughout the month of April to all currently enrolled students! If you’re currently sexually active or have been before, making STI testing a regular part of your health and wellness routine is the right call for you and your partner(s)! STI Self-Order Testing at CH&W is fast, easy and discreet, so don’t wait – schedule your test today via the Health and Counseling Portal.
Faculty & Staff News
Faculty Projects
Our COMS Department faculty are always participating in high-quality teaching, research, and service projects within our academic community! This month we're highlighting the following news, showcasing the work and achievements of your professors:
Dr. Aubrie Adams is currently out of the office this quarter on a sabbatical. During her sabbatical, she will be working on research related to video game stereotypes, artificial intelligence in academic environments, and more! She will be back in summer and fall 2026 to continue her teaching and service roles in the COMS department.
Dr. David Askay
The Communication Studies (COMS) Department proudly congratulates Dr. David Askay on receiving a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholars Award, one of the nation’s most competitive international academic honors. During his Spring 2027 sabbatical, Dr. Askay will spend five months in Japan teaching and conducting research on cultural practices related to teamwork and creativity. His work reflects the COMS Department’s and Cal Poly’s commitment to global engagement, applied scholarship, and the Learn by Doing philosophy. Dr. Askay will begin his Fulbright appointment in March 2027, with additional announcements to follow.
Professor Martin Mehl has released the Winter/Spring 2026 edition of the Mentorship Academy White Paper Series, highlighting nearly 25 years of research on the intersection of mentorship communication, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship. Continuing this leadership, he will also serve as panel leader for the Cal Poly College of Engineering’s AI Symposium on May 7, bringing together industry partners to explore AI’s impact on workforce readiness and higher education collaboration. Learn more: https://www.mentorship-academy.com/publication-research
Dr. Sasha Sanders' scholarship will be presented this month (April 12, 2026) at the upcoming American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California! Her presentation is titled "'Nah, Imma do my own thing': Performing Remix Pedagogy Grounded in Hop-Hop Culture and Black Feminist Thought." The presentation focuses on Dr. Sasha's Fandom & Performance class that she taught at her previous institution. She plans to teach the course at Cal Poly in Spring 2027! Her presentation is part of a symposium titled, "Hip Hop in the Margins: Hip-Hop, Comics, and Critical Speculative Pedagogies." The AERA Annual Meeting is the world's largest gathering of education researchers with over 2,500 sessions! This year's theme is "Unforgetting Histories and Imagining Futures: Constructing A New Vision For Education Research."
Sharing is Caring
Do you have an announcement to share with COMS majors, minors, faculty, and staff? Email COMS Dept to find out how to share it! Follow COMS on Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn