COMS News | March 2026
March Newsletter
COMS Announcements
COMS Sticker Design Competition
Ready to turn your creativity into a COMS department sticker? Participate in the COMS sticker competition organized by the Student Advisory Committee! The COMS Department is looking for (1) original, creative sticker designs, (2) concepts that capture COMS culture, humor, or values, and (3) digital or hand-drawn artwork — all styles welcome! If selected, your design could be printed and shared across campus, representing our department in a fun and meaningful way. This can also be used as a portfolio piece or creative résumé booster. This is a great chance to contribute your voice, creativity, and perspective to the COMS community. Submit your design here by our newly extended deadline, Friday, March 6 at 11:59 PM.
COMS Student Award Nominations
It’s award season at Cal Poly, and we need your help nominating (and self-nominating) students for university, college, and COMS department awards! Have you been involved in opportunities such as on-campus service, research projects, or community-related work? You know your awesome achievements best and we are encouraging you to nominate yourself and/or a peer! Please use the following Google Form to nominate students by Friday, March 13 (by 5:00 PM).
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!
COMS Summer Course Planning
Interested in taking some COMS courses over summer? Check out the list of tentative classes for summer 2026 to see which COMS classes are scheduled to be taught. Although the schedule of summer classes is subject to change, this may help students get ahead in planning. Also, keep an eye out on the schedule of summer classes because more options may become available after the first round of registration begins.
Debate Team News
Congrats to the Cal Poly Debate Team, who had an excellent showing at the
Yaatly Online Debate League’s fourth competition of the year! In the Open Division, Sophie Angiulo (POLS) and Lauren Rosenberg (COMS) advanced to the quarterfinals in a highly competitive field. Sophie also distinguished herself as a Top-3 speaker overall at the tournament, while Lauren was the top-ranked speaker in the competition! In the Honors Division, Nathan Buehner (CRP) and Emma Thompson (COMS) reached the quarterfinals, and in the Novice Division, Cleo Saxe (IS) and Hazel Alperin (POLS) advanced all the way to the finals! We are so proud of our debate students, and we'll be cheering them on as they gear up for the next championship event hosted by Clemson University, March 26-29, 2026!
Honors Seminar for COMS Students
Have you ever wondered what funded research, graduate study, or international experiences might be possible during college or after graduation? Sign up for Honors Seminar 299-06 and learn all about these opportunities! This new 1-unit class is a CR/NC course open to all students (honors and non-honors) offered this Spring, and it's perfect for our COMS Majors as it will be co-taught by our very own professor, Dr. David Askay! The course introduces national and international opportunities in research, cultural immersion, public service, study, and post-graduation work, while providing structured support to develop competitive applications. Even if you’re just curious or feeling overwhelmed, this class is designed to help you get started. See the flyer for more information and express your interest here.
International Association for Communication and Sport Presentation
Congrats to one of your fellow students, Aaron Heyman (REC), who will be presenting at the International Association for Communication and Sport Conference in Dublin, Ireland (March 12-14, 2026)! Aaron will be presenting a study titled Institutional Control in the NCAA: Analyzing the Role of Image Management in Athlete Activism. This project was conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Megan Lambertz-Berndt. Way to go Aaron and Dr. MLB!
Events & Opportunities
SURP Paid Summer Internships
Looking for a paid summer research experience? Apply for the CLA Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)! Selected CLA SURP students will receive a financial award of $3,500 to support their research engagement, will have multiple opportunities to work closely with faculty mentors, and can participate in professional development throughout a 7-week summer program (approximately 20 hours a week). Research may be conducted in-person, virtually, or hybrid (depending on the project). Student applications are due Friday, March 6, 2026 (at 11:59 PM). For more information, visit the SURP website.
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 priority deadline is Friday, March 6, 2026, with a final Deadline of Monday, April 13, 2026. If you have questions, email Associate Dean Bettergarcia and find out more information at the application link.
Free Documentary Screening on Surfing
Cal Poly Expressive Technologies, Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences, and the Surfrider Club are co-sponsoring a free screening of the documentary "The Cigarette Surfboard" on Friday, March 6, at 4 pm in 180-101. The filmmaker will be there for a Q&A afterwards. The film has won awards at several film festivals and may be of interest to students as it is about both sustainability and surfing. RSVP and reserve your free tickets online!
Womxn’s History Month Events
Come join the Gender Equity Center and Students with Dependents for their annual Womxnhood Lunch event, which takes place during Womxn's History Month! The event takes place Tuesday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Multicultural Center and is open to all. Find out more information and RSVP on the event website. Also, mark your calendars for Women Empowered for their winter 2026 General Meeting on Friday, March 13, from 11 a.m. to noon in the Bldg. 10, room 222 (Hosted by Women Empowered).
CIE Innovation Application
Have an idea you’ve been building, coding, designing, or prototyping? Cal Poly’s Innovation Quest (iQ) competition is open to students of all majors and is awarding $15,000 to the top student innovators—and it could be you! What’s in it for you? (1) Compete for $15K in startup funding; (2) Gain valuable feedback from industry experts; and (3) Join a 21-year legacy of student entrepreneurs. Learn more and apply here by March 13 at 11:59 PM!
Risography Printing Installation
The University Art Gallery is holding a Local Print Pop-Up Workshop this quarter for Risography! Students can learn more and engage with Risography and Riso printing through the following opportunities: (1) Take part in hands-on demonstrations of Riso printing as well as zinemaking workshops; (2) Print your work during Friday Open Studio Hours; (3) Take home posters from an ongoing installation with reflections from the growing community of Riso printers; and (4) learn more about Riso printing via ongoing screenings. The installation is available January 29 - March 13, 2026. For more information, please visit the Riso Installation website.
Social Science Student Symposium (S4)
Interested in conference travel to visit CSU Fresno? Submit your class research project to the annual “Social Science Student Symposium” (S4) and build your resume! The S4 is an exciting and supportive opportunity for students to share the results of their class research projects with peers. Paper submission is due Friday, March 20 at 11:59 PM and the conference takes place Friday, May 1, 2026. For more information, visit the S4 website and contact Dr. Brie at aadams45@calpoly.edu for help and support with planning your trip & presentation.
Distinguished Speaker Lecture on AI
The Noyce School of Applied Computing is hosting a Distinguished Speaker Series event featuring Hadley Wickham, Chief Scientist at Posit PBC and a leading voice in data science and statistical computing. This particular talk is called “Y code when AI?", which examines crucial skills for coding in the age of generative AI, and why programming education matters now more than ever. The talk includes a Fireside chat and Q&A to follow. The event will take place on Monday, March 30, from 2:10–4:00 p.m. in the Advanced Technologies Lab.
Cal Poly Global Program in Spain
Looking for a study abroad opportunity in the fall? The Cal Poly in Spain Fall program is a twelve-week intensive language and cultural immersion program. Students take two Cal Poly general education courses, two Spanish classes (taught by local Spanish language instructors), and a two-unit activities course. Students will study at the University of Valladolid (UVA), the second-oldest university in Spain. During the twelve-week program, students will participate in a variety of excursions to explore other areas of the country. Find out more at the link and apply by April 15 (Financial aid applies!).
Cal Poly Marvel Rivals Club
New club alert! Are you interested in leveling up your gaming skills in a fun and competitive Cal Poly esports club? Consider joining the brand new Cal Poly Marvel Rivals Club (CPMR)! The Marvel Rivals Club works to create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming community for players of all experience levels. Their goal is to foster sportsmanship, collaboration, and a positive gaming environment where everyone feels connected and supported. And we're excited to share that our very own COMS professor, Dr. Brie, will be advising this club! If you are interested in joining or would like to find out more information, follow the club’s IG page and reach out to club leaders Tyli Stewart and Lex Leckband.
CalFresh Drop-In Hours
Looking for help with a CalFresh application or want to learn more about CalFresh food options? Visit the CalFresh food drop-in hours this winter quarter! They are available Mondays (9 - 11 AM), Tuesdays & Wednesdays (2 - 4 PM), and Thursdays (11 AM - 1 PM). They are located on the 1st level of Campus Health and Wellbeing (door is to the right of the snack bar).
Free Immigration Legal Services
The California State University (CSU) offers free immigration legal services for CSU students and employees through the nonprofit agency Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD). Attorneys, paralegals, and/or accredited representatives from the service providers visit campuses on a routine basis to assist with legal services such as consultations, DACA renewals, and general assistance in filling out forms such as family-based petitions. For more information, visit the immigration legal services website.
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 now serving as a faculty mentor for a new esports gaming club, the Cal Poly Marvel Rivals Club (CPMR)! The Marvel Rivals Club works to create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming community for players of all experience levels. Their goal is to foster sportsmanship, collaboration, and a positive gaming environment where everyone feels connected and supported. Dr. Brie looks forward to working with students in the club and helping them connect and learn through play!
Dr. Marion Hart's research project, Voz pública: How Spanish-Language Communities in California Frame Public Issues, has been selected to participate in the CLA SURP program! This project will examine contemporary Spanish-language civic discourse in California as a dynamic field of public voice and persuasive expression. Throughout the project. Dr Hart will work closely with an undergraduate student researcher, who will gain experience in close reading, transcription methodology, and comparative textual analysis of contemporary Spanish-language materials. The project will culminate in the preparation of a research poster for presentation at the Fall 2026 SURP symposium. For more information, visit the SURP website.
Dr. Megan Lambertz-Berndt's scholarship will be presented this month (March 12-14, 2026) in two separate presentations at the upcoming International Association for Communication and Sport (IACS) Conference in Dublin, Ireland! Her first presentation is titled From Player to Journalist: Carli Lloyd’s Neoliberal Feminist Narratives Around Women in Sport (presented with co-author Ryalls). Her second presentation is called Tackling Challenges Related to Teaching Gender and Sport in the Classroom (presented with co-authors Ryalls, Rasmussen, & Pratt). The IACS is an organization focused on the advancement of knowledge in the academic disciplines of communication and sport. Comprised of faculty, staff, and students, IACS hosts one annual conference for academic and applied presentations, keynotes, and conversations.
Professor Martin Mehl has been involved in several timely research and mentorship projects. First, Professor Mehl was a contributing author and research analyst for the Women in Learning: State of the Industry Report, which was released in March 2026 for Women’s History Month; this report highlights the structural barriers for women in Learning and Development Industries. In addition, Professor Mehl was also a guest expert for The Cyber-Savvy Woman Podcast, and was featured in a conversation exploring the intersection of AI-human collaboration, digital literacy, and mentorship. Lastly, Professor Mehl has also been providing mentorship expertise with the Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneurship Institute (HFEEI). This program provides mentoring to student teams to bridge the gap between technical innovation and entrepreneurial success, including empowering women in STEM & Entrepreneurship.
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