COMS News | February 2025
February Newsletter
COMS Announcements
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! When and where are the meetings? Visit the COMS Club website or follow their Instagram account for the most up-to-date information. An upcoming calendar of events for COMS club will be forthcoming, so be on the lookout in the winter quarter!
LPH Recruitment
LPH is the National Communication Association’s official honor society. The organization recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of COMS majors and offers membership benefits including honors status at graduation and ceremonial graduation regalia. To see if you qualify to join, check out the membership requirements and fill out the Cal Poly LPH Interest Form by March 1. Be sure to follow LPH on Instagram @lphcalpoly to stay in the loop.
Debate Team Crowdfunding
The Cal Poly Debate Team is sending students to the 2025 Spanish Debate World Championship (CMUDE) and they need your help to meet their fundraising goal of $3,000! CMUDE is more than a competition— it’s a platform where students refine their skills in research, collaboration, and critical thinking that showcases not only the talent of Cal Poly students but also a commitment to bilingual advocacy and global citizenship. Make a gift today and help cover the costs of meals, registration, and travel to send students to the Dominican Republic to compete!
Cal Poly Research/Creative Activity Competition
Come see the exciting projects being conducted by your peers across campus! The Cal Poly Student Research/Creative Activity Competition is held each year to promote excellence in scholarly research and creative activity by recognizing outstanding student accomplishments. Here's who is presenting and representing the COMS Department this year:
- Kendall Baebler is a COMS alum presenting a study titled The Socializing, and the talking, and the Screaming: Socialization and Teamwork in Lethal Company. This was a project originally conducted in Dr. Adams COMS 404 Video Games and Society course. Kendall's presentation takes place Friday, February 21 during the 10:40am - 12:10pm time slot.
Student Spotlight
We're proud to share the amazing stories of our current students and alumni! This month, we're spotlighting the work and leadership of current student Andrea Valle:
- Andrea Valle (she/her) is a 3rd year COMS student expected to graduate in 2026. She is a Member and Campus Community Outreach Coordinator for the Cal Poly Debate Team, Vice President of Cal Poly Tech Sales, and over the summer, she completed an internship as a Customer Solutions Consultant for Fastenal. In addition, Andrea has won several debate awards including those for the Spanish Legados Debates at tournaments in both the spring and winter of 2024! Great work Andrea!
Course Spotlight
Interested in learning more about classes in the COMS Major? This month we’re spotlighting an assignment from COMS 205 Rhetorical Studies:
- When Dr. Carroll teaches the class, he offers an assignment called the “Role of the Critic” which features a wonderful diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) focus! In this assignment, he asks students to outline their own perspective on what rhetorical critics should do. This assignment builds on course readings like Karlyn Kohr’s Campbell’s early explanation of the expansion of the sub-discipline to better engage gender and race as well as Lisa Flores’ recent point that rhetorical studies as a discipline has been the study of race making. Way to go Dr. Carroll in teaching students to engage in these important DEI-related topics!
Events & Opportunities
COMS Faculty Present on Black Twitter Panel
Dr. Darrian Carrol & Dr. Sasha Sanders are scheduled to be panelists for an upcoming Black History Month Event sponsored by the City of San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly’s Office of University Diversity & Inclusion. The event will feature a film screening and panel discussion of Black Twitter: A People's History. This docuseries highlights the rise, movements, voices, and memes that made Black Twitter an influential and dominant cultural force. This event is free and open to all ages. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. Date: Feb 11 |Time: 5-7pm | Location: Palm Theatre.
COMS Guest Lectures in Media Studies
Save the date! The COMS department is bringing three special guest speakers to campus this month featuring experts who will be discussing their teaching and research in the area of media studies and media production! Some professors may be even giving extra credit for your attendance at these lectures. Tentative times for each guest lecture are included below. We hope to see you there!
- Media Lecture 1: Tuesday, February 18, @11:10am (building 10, room 200)
- Media Lecture 2: Friday, February 21, @10:10am (building 10, room 227)
- Media Lecture 3: Tuesday, February 25, @11:10am (building 10, room 227)
Panetta Institute Internship
Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program. This prestigious program is designed to encourage and develop future leaders as well as prepare individuals for greater civic involvement. This opportunity is open to third and fourth-year qualified students from ANY major who have an interest in Congress, civil leadership, or public service. Complete program requirements and application details are available at the Panetta website and the application deadline is February 14, 2025 by 11:59 PM PST.
Design Team Office Hours
Need some help with designing or branding materials? University Communications and Marketing’s Design Team is back with its monthly office hours, and these sessions are open to all staff – whether you're a pro, a student worker, or someone who just wants to make sure their project looks polished and on-brand. No judgment, no pressure – just a safe space to ask questions and get help. No appointment, no RSVP, no gatekeeping. Just pop in! Sessions are held the first Friday of each month at 9:30 am on Zoom (Meeting ID: 860 2373 5276, Pass code: 465824)
UC-Irvine Psych Post-Baccalaureate Program
The Post-Baccalaureate Program in Psychological Science at the University of California, Irvine is currently accepting applications for Fall 2025 with applications open to all CLA students. This certificate program combines psychology coursework with research and/or internship experience. It is designed for people who have a bachelor’s degree (in any discipline); who are interested in a psychology-related graduate program, career development, or career change; and who could benefit from additional coursework, research, and/or real-life work experience in psychology. Applications are due on April 15 for Fall 2025 admission. For more information, please visit: UCI Post-BaccProgram
Western States Communication Association
Communication Studies students, alumni, and faculty head to Albuquerque, New Mexico this year to attend the 95th Annual Western States Communication Association (WSCA) Convention, February 14-17, 2025. Faculty and students in attendance will be presenting original research, sharing best practices in teaching, participating in academic service opportunities, and networking with scholars.
Scheduled Student & Alumni Presentations
Bridget LaPorte, Olivia Thomas, and Kaley Scheppler
- In AI We Trust: The Effect of Artificial Intelligence on Credibility, Instructor Immediacy, and Future Student Investment (Sponsored by the Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference)
Wendy Miyazaki (Alum)
- Examining Pathos & Logos in Marine-Focused Nature Documentaries (Sponsored by the Environmental Communication Interest Group)
Ty Rivas (Alum)
- The Influence of Dry Texting on Evaluations of Interpersonal Attraction in Text Messages (Sponsored by the Interpersonal & Family Communication Interest Group)
Miranda Ward
- Pokémon GO: Fostering Community in Location--Based Augmented Reality (Sponsored by the Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference)
Scheduled Faculty Presentations
Dr. Aubrie Adams
- The Influence of Dry Texting on Evaluations of Interpersonal Attraction in Text Messages (Sponsored by the Interpersonal & Family Communication Interest Group)
- Examining Pathos & Logos in Marine-Focused Nature Documentaries (Sponsored by the Environmental Communication Interest Group)
Dr. Darrian Carroll
- Suturing Rhetoric: Synecdoche Sustaining Black History in Langston Hughes’ “Harlem” (Top paper sponsored by the Rhetoric, Culture, and Advocacy Interest Group)
Dr. Lauren Kolodziejski
- Supporting Sustainable Action: Promoting Sustainability and Closing the Green Gap through Educational Interventions (Sponsored by the Environmental Communication Interest Group)
Dr. Maria Subert
- The Role of Visual Storytelling in Supporting Emancipation and Resistance among the Hungarian Roma (Sponsored by the Communication, Identities & Difference Interest Group)
Faculty & Staff News
Department Updates
The Communication Studies Department has some updates to report:
- Dr. Leslie Nelson is currently out of the office this quarter on a sabbatical. She will be back in the spring 2025 quarter to continue her teaching and leadership roles at Cal Poly.
- Dr. David Askay is taking over the role of interim Associate Chair during the winter 2025 quarter while Dr. Nelson is away on sabbatical. He will be filling in this important leadership role within our department until the spring.
- Jacob Chung is our new COMS department Administrative Support Coordinator (ASC) working at the front desk. Make sure to say hello and welcome Jacob when you stop by the office!
Faculty Service
- Dr. Darrian Carroll was elected as the chair of the National Communication Association's (NCA) Public Address Division Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Committee.
- Dr. Darrian Carroll presented a workshop titled "The Universal Negro Improvement Association: Building Black Power to Imagine a Black World" at the Annual Afrikan Black Coalition Conference that was hosted at Cal Poly during MLK weekend.
- Professor Martin Mehl hosted a “Leadership Unplugged” event on Monday, February 3, at 6:00 p.m. in the Orcutt Academy High School (OAHS) Gym. At the event, Dr. Kevin Walthers (superintendent/president of Allan Hancock College) spoke candidly about leadership initiatives and challenges in his field, describing Hancock’s work to provide local high school graduates two years of free tuition through the Hancock Promise initiative as well as the college’s ongoing effort to grant bachelor’s degrees.
- Dr. Sasha Sanders presented a workshop titled "Comics and Radical Black Imagination" at the Annual Afrikan Black Coalition Conference that was hosted at Cal Poly during MLK weekend.
- Dr. Stephenson Whitestone was invited to speak as a guest lecturer on Zoom during Dr. Emily Scheinfeld’s class on Death and Dying at Kennesaw State University (KSU). She will be presenting a talk called “Post-Mortem Discrimination: Transgender Identity after Death,” which examines how people, groups, and institutions associated with the dominant culture become empowered in problematic ways to enact the identities of marginalized or vulnerable people after they die.
Miscellaneous Updates
- Congrats to Dr. Nelson and her family on their latest addition to the crew, a new puppy named Denali! Denali is a Great Pyrenees like his big sister, Piper. He is super confident, smart, playful, and sweet. He plans to make his campus debut in late February, so be on the lookout for a white fuzz ball as you walk to and from class. Welcome to the COMS community, Denali!
Sharing is Caring
Do you have an announcement to share with COMS majors, minors, faculty, and staff? Email Dr. Brie to find out how to share it! Follow COMS on Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn