COMS News | November 2025

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November Newsletter

COMS Announcements 


Students and professors smiling at Professors & Pastries October 2025 eventCOMS 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? Check out the summary below and visit the COMS Club website or follow their Instagram account for the most up-to-date information!

  • Fall Meeting 5: 11/20, Bracelet making + Q&A (Building 10, Room 225)


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 December 1. Be sure to follow LPH on Instagram @lphcalpoly to stay in the loop. 


Winter Registration COMS Office Hours
Cal Poly Winter registration is here with round one opening November 3-19. If you need help from the COMS department, we're here for you! Associate Chair, Dr. Nelson, and Department Chair, Dr. Dhillon, have scheduled extra office hours to (1) discuss COMS classes in Winter 2026, (2) help re-imagine your schedule, and (3) address any scheduling-related questions or issues. Visit the Calendly links below to set up appointments during extra office hours with either Dr. Nelson or Dr. Dhillon:


COMS Guest Lectures and Teaching Demos
The COMS department is excited to announce that throughout the month of November, we will be hosting several professors who will be facilitating special guest lectures demonstrating their teaching. Students, faculty, and staff are all invited to attend and some professors may even be offering extra credit for your attendance. Special topics will likely include teaching and research on social media, analytics, and strategic communication. Watch your emails for more information, as the dates and times of each event will be announced when they are finalized this month. We hope to see you there!
 

Debate Team News
We are pleased to announce that Cal Poly Debate Team members, Ethan Organista (POLS) and Sky Krueger (CD), finished the first tournament of the competition season in the Yaatly Online Debate League as quarter finalists! This is a great way to start the year and we are very proud of them. Go debate team!
COMS Students Marshall Piros and Kaylie Miros standing in front of an AI-related research poster


AI Convening
Congratulations to your peers who presented their research at a poster session scheduled during Cal Poly's inaugural AI Convening! The AI Convening event, which took place on November 6th, 2025, brought together faculty, staff, students, and industry partners to explore the role of artificial intelligence in higher education. 

  • Marshall Piros (COMS) and Kaylie Marrs (COMS) presented their ongoing research project titled "Adoption and Resistance: A Case Study of ChatGPT's Rollout in the CSU System" (project advisor, Dr. Aubrie Adams). 
     

Spotlights
We're proud to share the amazing stories of our current students and alumni! This month, we're spotlighting the work and leadership of alumni Kat Chaffee and Hannah Siegel:

  • Kat Chaffee (she/her) is a COMS alum (spring 2024) who has had the incredible opportunity to work for a biotech company that specializes in custom surgical planning. She works with patients daily to get them the best and most advanced care possible! When reflecting on her time at Cal Poly, Kat shared the following narrative: "My time at Cal Poly taught me so many valuable skills! I leverage my COMS degree daily, fostering meaningful connections with patients and collaborating with my team. One of the most helpful classes I took was Health Communication, as it correlates directly with what I do!"
  • Hannah Siegel (she/her) is a COMS alum (spring 2024) who relocated to Dallas, Texas, where she has worked as an Account Manager at Gartner, a research and advisory firm. She also works part-time with her mom’s business, in which they support high school students with the college application process. When reflecting on her time at Cal Poly, Hannah shared the following narrative: "The Cal Poly COMS department allowed me to build foundational skills such as presentation building, public speaking, and maintaining business acumen. Aside from the skills I acquired, my professors were always there for support and to offer specific career advice."

Events & Opportunities


Facilitators Needed for Consent Project
The Cal Poly Consent Project is a program aimed at educating elementary school-aged children about consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships. They are currently recruiting lesson facilitators who will work together to lead pre-designed lessons in SLO elementary schools' classes. This is a great opportunity for any students interested in communication, teaching, or working with kids. This is also valuable as a volunteer or internship role to add to your resume. Reach out to COMS student Kristen Conliffe before week 10 to find out more information and get involved!


CSU Entertainment Grants
The CSU Entertainment Alliance (CSUEA) and #STARZtaketheLead have teamed up to offer post-production film-finishing funds to help CSU students and recent alumni get their projects across the finish line! Application and all details can be found for the grants are available here. The deadline for applications is November 15, 2025! 


BEACoN Logo that says Research ScholarsBEACoN Research Funding for Students
The BEACoN Research Mentoring Program provides opportunities to educate, empower, and advocate for underrepresented students by providing funded undergraduate research opportunities in which students work one-on-one with faculty. Selected students will work with faculty during Winter and Spring quarters and receive a $2,000 quarterly stipend ($4,000 total) for their time gaining research experience and participating in professional development. The deadline to apply is November 17 at 5pm. For more information, visit the BEACoN Website.


How to Get Involved in Student Research at Cal Poly
Want to learn how to get involved in student research opportunities at Cal Poly? The Office of Student Research has launched a new self-paced online learning module: “How to Get Involved with Student Research at Cal Poly.” Interested students can join the Canvas module directly or visit the Office of Student Research website. They are also doing a raffle of $10 Cal Poly bookstore gift cards for the first 100 students who enroll before end of day on Wednesday, 11/19/26. Have a question? Email studentresearch@calpoly.edu. 


Critical Language Scholarships Available
The application for the 2026 U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is now open! This fully funded summer study abroad opportunity lets U.S. undergraduate students rapidly build language and intercultural skills in just eight weeks. CLS scholars live and learn abroad through immersive language classes, cultural excursions, and community engagement. Languages offered in 2026 include Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, and Swahili. Several CLS languages are open to complete beginners, while others require one or two years of prior study. Get personalized feedback and essay support from Dr. Nishi Rajakaruna, Cal Poly’s National & International Fellowships and Scholarships advisor. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 8:00 PM EST. Learn more & apply here and also find out information on upcoming info sessions. Questions? Email clsadvisors@americancouncils.org.


Distinguished Teaching Award Nominations
Have you had a professor who influenced your life or schoolwork in a meaningful way? Show your appreciation by nominating your professor for a Distinguished Teaching Award! The deadline to submit nominations this year is November 21 at 5pm. Students or alumni may submit one or more nominations at this link. 


CSU Research/Creative Activity Competition
The CSU Student Research/Creative Activity Competition is held each year to promote excellence in undergraduate and graduate scholarly research and creative activity by recognizing outstanding student accomplishments across the 23 CSU campuses. The competition is open to all disciplines and to current undergraduates, graduate students, and 2025 alums. Cash prizes are awarded. Submissions are due by the end of the day on Monday, 1/12/26. For general information, visit the Office of Student Research website and to learn more, attend one of the two upcoming scheduled Information Sessions below: 

  • Th 12/4/25, 2:10-3pm (Zoom Meeting ID 883 6250 1116)
  • Th 1/8/26, 11:10am-12pm (Zoom Meeting ID 883 6250 1116)


Capital Fellows Programs
Capital Fellows Programs are administered by the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State and are an outstanding opportunity for college graduates to begin their careers and engage in public service. Fellows work 10-11 months as paid, full-time staff members in the California State Assembly, California State Senate, California executive Branch, or California's Judicial Branch. They participate in policy making, program development, and program implementation. Upon successful completion of their fellowships, Fellows receive a graduate certificate in Applied Policy and Government from Sacramento State. Prospective Capital Fellows must have a bachelor's degree and a demonstrated interest in public service, California state government, and public policy. All majors are welcome to apply. Online applications are now open and must be submitted by Monday, December 8, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST. If you have questions regarding the Capital Fellows Programs, please contact the Senior Outreach Specialist, Shannon Swanson.


MA Program in COMS at San Jose State
The Department of Communication Studies at San Jose State University is currently accepting applications for their M.A. program for Fall 2026 admissions. This graduate program features both a hybrid track (mix of in-person and online classes) or online only track and is grounded in the theoretical and ethical foundations of communication studies. Students accepted to the hybrid track will also be eligible to apply to the Teaching Associate program, which includes a full tuition waiver and stipend. They will also be hosting a series of info sessions for prospective students to learn more about the programs. Please contact Graduate Program Director, Dr. Marie Haverfield for the online link to the info sessions, which take place 12-1pm and 3-4pm Pacific Time on Thursday December 4th and January 29th. Learn more about the M.A. program: Graduate program here.  


CSU Entertainment x Disney Internships
Interested in learning about internships with Disney? Join the CSU Entertainment Alliance (CSUEA) for a Disney info session on internships. Learn how to apply, what to expect, and more! Disney internships help students gain hands-on, real-world experience. There are varying internship locations and career fields to apply to. Don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity! For more information on how to apply, get valuable application tips, and have your questions answered directly by Disney, reserve your spot at the event and attend the Q&A. This is an online event that takes place on December 12 from 12pm to 1pm PST. 


Healthcare Communications & Marketing Scholarships
Are you interested in pursuing a degree in advertising, marketing, or public relations with a specific interest in healthcare marketing communications? Apply for a scholarship through The Lagrant Foundation (TLF)! TLF will be providing $2,500-$3,750 scholarships for 10-20 students. The early bird deadline to apply is January 20, 2026 (with a final deadline of February 27, 2026). Find out more and apply online. 


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. 
 

National Communication Association 

Communication Studies students, alumni, and faculty head to the 110th annual convention of the National Communication Association (NCA), November 23-25, 2025, in Denver, CO. Scheduled participants will present their original research, share best practices in teaching, participate in academic service opportunities, and network with scholars.  

NCA 2025 Conference logo that reads "Communicate to elevate"Scheduled Student Presentations


Hanna Lee

  • Kit Connor and Queerbaiting: Enacting Heterosexual Hegemony in Public Persona [Author/Speaker]
  • A framework for teaching and assessing communication competency in nurse education [Author/Speaker]
  • Exploring Caregiver Activation in Serious Illness Communication with Healthcare Providers [Author/Speaker]

Scheduled Faculty Presentations


Dr. Darrian Carroll

  • Legislative Assembly I & II [Participant]
  • Exploring Rhetorics of Race, Indigeneity, and Nationalism Across US History [Respondent]
  • Public Address Division Meeting [Business Meeting]
  • African American Communication and Culture Division Meeting [Co-Chair Business Meeting]
  • Race and Rhetoric Pedagogy in the 21st Century [Panelist/Speaker]
  • Speaking Wealth into Being: Communication, Capital, and Black Economic Survival [Chair]
  • Book Roundtable: Black Iconoclasm (2024) by Charles Athanasopoulos [Panelist/Speaker]


Dr. Anu Dhillon

  • Elevating Mental Health Communication in the Competitive Culture of Medical School [Respondent]


Dr. Sergio Fernando Juárez

  • Legislative Assembly I & II [Participant]
  • Transgressing Linguistic Hegemony: Reimagining Public Speaking Through Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy Top Papers in the Basic Course Division [Author/Speaker]
  • Doctoral Education Committee Meeting [Participant]


Dr. Vince Meserko

  • The Limits of “Lived Experiences” in Elite Settings [Author/Speaker]
  • Elevating Humanistic Qualities of Deliberation: Modeling Deliberation Pedagogy Theory and Practice [Panelist/Speaker]


Dr. John Patrick

  • Beyond the Debate Win: Rethinking Success Through Civic Debate Pedagogy and Inclusive Best Practices [Panelist/Speaker]

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 of your professors: 


Dr. Aubrie Adams presented during a poster session at the inaugural Cal Poly AI Convening event on November 6, 2025, with a project titled "Adoption and Resistance: A Case Study of ChatGPT's Rollout in the CSU System" (with student collaborators Marshall Piros and Kaylie Marrs). This ongoing research used a case study approach to explore faculty and student perceptions of ChatGPT during its early rollout at Cal Poly as part of the system-wide CSU AI Initiative. 


Dr. David Askay & Dr. Dhillon's scholarship was recently accepted for publication by JMIR AI in a paper titled "Use of AI for Public Health Messaging: Does Knowledge of AI Impact Perceived Effectiveness and Credibility?" (with paper collaborators Alber, Sandoval, Ramos, & Santilena) JMIR AI is a new peer-reviewed journal that focuses on research and applications for the health and artificial intelligence (AI) community.


Dr. Blau and colleague walking with a musical keyboardDr. Jnan Blau is one of the founders and directors of the Phish Studies Association (PSA)—which has seen a flurry of activity of late. PSA recently became a legally incorporated entity, with Bylaws, a Code of Ethics, elected officer positions, and a board of directors. PSA also opened up a permanent Phish Studies area within the Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association, where PSA members and presenters can meet and share scholarship at MAPACA's annual conference. At this year's conference, held in Philadelphia in early November, Dr. Blau will present "The Three Deeps of Phandom: A Generative Typology for Fan Studies," will chair a session titled "Playing with Phish," and will participate in the PSA business meeting.


Dr. Darrian Carroll's scholarship was recently published in Communication and Democracy in an article titled, "Be courageous: Everyone is afraid." The article argues that Critical Race Theory (CRT) remains a vital framework for understanding and confronting the persistence of racial inequality and white supremacy in the United States. The article also calls for renewed courage and creativity in applying CRT within academic and rhetorical study.


Dr. Alison Cheung's scholarship was recently published in The Western Journal of Communication in an article titled "Representing Crazy Rich Asians: Constructing Race in Postproduction Discourse." This article analyzes how Asian American identities and audiences are articulated through screening, reception, and transnational discourse in postproduction.


Dr. Anu Dhillon's scholarship was recently published in the edited book collection New Directions for, and Panaceas Arising from, Communication Accommodation Theory (edited by Giles, Markowitz & Clementson) in a chapter titled "From Genes to Gestures: Uncovering Biological Threads in Communication Accommodation." This co-authored piece was written with collaborators Denes & Turner. 


Dr. Sergio Fernando Juárez's scholarship was recently published in Communication Education in an article titled, "Imagining futures for communication education: anti-DEI backlash and the threat to academic freedom." This collaborative piece (written with C. Kyle Rudick) examines how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies have become the bête noire of the right-wing, who see these approaches to public life as anathema to their political and cultural goals.
 

Dr. Sergio Fernando Juárez's scholarship was also recently published in Communication Pedagogy in an article titled, "Transgressing Linguistic Supremacy: Reimagining Public Speaking Through Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy."  This essay reimagines public speaking education through a culturally sustaining and transgressive lens that challenges dominant norms of language, professionalism, and communication competence.


A lighthouse with abstract imagery of data analytics and graphsProfessor Martin Mehl's scholarship has been published in 3 articles featured in LinkedIn's AI Lighthouse Series that each explore the idea of "Navigating the AI Fog: Practical Strategies for Everyone." Article 1 is titled The Intellectual Foundation, Article 2 is titled Capability Building, and Article 3 is titled Institutional Embedding. This three-part series offers a strategic and operational blueprint based on verifiable information that moves the conversation about AI from abstract value to measurable, scalable, and sustainable business.


Professor Martin Mehl is also working on an initiative with Deloitte team called the AI ImmersionLab (a partnership of several universities, including UT Austin, U Michigan, & others). This inititative strengthens Education and Industry partnership for learning retention, learning labs (makerspaces), and use case application with technology clients and automotive industry learners in management and leadership roles. This effort is conducted in collaboration with an AI startup called Elevator 9.


Dr. Carmen Navarro presented during a poster session at the inaugural Cal Poly AI Convening event on November 6, 2025, with a project titled "Synchronizing Social Science and Artificial Intelligence [AI]." In this project, Dr. Navarro created a new web-based platform inclusive of her social science research.  Starting in January 2026, students in Dr. Navarro's COMS 206-Communication Theory courses will be using this new web-based digital platform in their classes (Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, ISBN: 9798385182367).


Dr. Maria Subert gave an invited presentation at UCA West Coast Hungarian Science Club in Los Angeles, CA, titled "The Questions of 'Acceptable' and 'Unacceptable' Help" on October 19, 2025. The question raises an important issue, since we rarely consider that help itself can sometimes be “unacceptable.” This discussion served as a call to critically examine how we communicate and practice “help.” It invited reflection on the difference between colonizing and decolonizing help practices—and on how recognizing that difference can guide us toward more ethical and effective forms of support across diverse fields.


Dr. Stephenson Whitestone is presenting her work on discrimination after death to Dr. Sally Hastings’ communication class on Death and Dying at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Whitestone’s work explores the manner in which agents associated with the dominant culture become empowered to enact the identities of vulnerable community members when they die. Her work specifically focuses on the post-mortem detransitioning of trans people, but understandings taken from this work are transferable to studies of other vulnerable communities. Dr. Whitestone will appear as a guest lecturer via a pre-taped, interview-style format that was recorded this month.

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 

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