COMS News | September 2026

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COMS Announcements

New COMS majors sitting in an auditorium smiling

Welcome COMS Majors
Welcome to our new COMS majors! The COMS Department hosted a meeting last month for first-years and transfer students to find out how to make the most of their time at Cal Poly. Students learned about getting involved on campus, the debate team, and they also met their COMS academic advisors. Good luck to our new & returning students, we look forward to getting to know you and helping you achieve pathways to success!


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 semester long! COMS Club will meet the first Wednesday of every month for an hour to connect with other students in the major/minor as well as professors and alumni. Meetings run from 11 am to 12 pm in Math and Science Room 038-0227. Visit the COMS Club website or follow their Instagram account for the most up-to-date information - we hope to see you there!
 

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. 


Debate Team
The COMS Department is excited to share information about our fabulous Debate Team! The focus of the team is on the exchange of ideas, and it provides a wonderful opportunity for students to make a difference through communication! Participating in debate will be especially beneficial for students who are pursuing careers in law, politics, journalism, public relations, ethics, advocacy, or bureaucracy. There are also opportunities for students to debate in both English and Spanish. Want to follow along and learn more about the Debate program? Check out the Debate Team Page for more information on how to get involved in the future! 

 

Events & Opportunities

Adapting to the Semester System
For students who started at Cal Poly when we followed a quarter calendar, the transition to semesters will affect several things, including course planning and degree progress. The CLA Advising Center has resources to help you understand what the move to semesters means for you, including course equivalencies and planning tools. Visit the CLA Advising semester conversion website for updates and guidance, and follow @CLAadvisingcenter on Instagram for tips, reminders, and helpful information as Cal Poly prepares for the move to semesters.


CLA Social Media Student Assistant
The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) is hiring a social media and digital content student assistant to begin training in the 2026 fall semester. Joining the communications team, this position will create content for and manage the College of Liberal Arts’ social media accounts and occasionally create/update website content. Day-to-day tasks will include strategizing, writing, and scheduling social media posts; pitching and executing social media campaigns; and tracking social media analytics. This position has the opportunity for growth into more content channels and to write for other CLA publications. For More information, check out the job advertisement. Applications are due Friday, September 11.


Media & Communication Research Initiative
Want to receive travel funding to present the results of a class project at a destination conference? The Media & Communication Research Initiative (MC-Cal Poly) is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 cohort! In this program, you can apply to receive funding and support to present original research from a class project at an academic conference. For application materials and more information, visit the MC-Cal Poly website. Applications for the fall priority deadline are due by September 15th.


Disney Cinematic Story Talks
Discover how Disney transforms cinematic stories into the real-life park magic of the “Happiest Place on Earth!” Join this joyful and imaginative film series curated by Dr. Troy Hiduke Campbell, a former Disney Imagineer, Netflix researcher, consumer psychologist, experience designer, and lifelong Disney fan. Dr. Campbell will introduce Disney films and offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on Disney storytelling and immersive experiences. Known for his “scientific mind, artistic heart” approach, Dr. Campbell brings together research and creativity to explore how stories become memorable experiences. The event takes place Monday, September 21 at 7 p.m. at the Palm Theatre in downtown San Luis Obispo. For more information, visit the SLO Film Center website.


A green flyer for Diane Negra's talk titled "I'm Sorry You Feel That Way"Guest Speaker: Diane Negra
Mark your calendars! We would like to share an opportunity to attend a talk by guest speaker Dr. Diane Negra from the University College Dublin. At this talk, Dr. Negra will present, "I'm sorry you feel that way: The new cultures of customer service," in which she examines how modern consumer capitalism shifts labor, frustration, and digital tasks onto customers. This talk will take place at the Advanced Technology Laboratories (building 007) on September 23, 2026 from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM. 


Cal Poly Marvel Rivals Club
If you are interested in leveling up your gaming skills in a fun and competitive Cal Poly esports club, consider joining 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. We are also happy to share that Dr. Aubrie Adams from the COMS department is the advisor for this club! If you are interested in joining or would like to find out more, check out the club’s IG page for more information.


Disney Imagineering Applications
Walt Disney Imagineering invites undergraduate and graduate students to showcase their skills and talents through the Imaginations Design Competition! All finalist teams win an all-expenses-paid trip to the Imagineering headquarters in California, where they will present their project to Disney executives, compete for awards, and interview for internship opportunities. Apply by October 16 (final submission deadline of November 19, 2026. For more information, please email: wdi.imaginationsentry@disney.com with Subject: "Imaginations Info."


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 policymaking, 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 Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST. If you have questions regarding the Capital Fellows Programs, please contact calstudies@csus.edu. 


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. 

Dr. Cheung smiling in front of treesFaculty & Staff News

Awards

Congratulations to our amazing COMS faculty! This year, we are celebrating the fabulous work of Dr. Alison Cheung and Dr. Leslie Nelson:

  • Dr. Alison Cheung was the recipient of the 2026 CLA Early Career Award for Achievement in Teaching! This college-level award recognizes outstanding performance in teaching early in the candidate’s career. 
     
  • Dr. Leslie Nelson was theDr. Nelson smiling with her white dog in front of the ocean 2026 recipient of the Cal Poly Distinguished Teaching Award! This university-level award recognizes faculty members who demonstrate excellence in teaching at Cal Poly.

New Faculty & Staff

Welcome to our new and returning faculty and staff in the COMS Department this fall! We’re excited to share the following updates as we begin the new academic year:

  • Patrice Auyong is a new Administrative Support Coordinator (ASC II)
  • Dr. Yuming Fang is a new assistant professor. 
  • Dr. Hyeonchang (Kay) Gim is a new assistant professor. 
  • Sam Hughes is a new Administrative Support Coordinator (ASC I).
  • Dr. Salwa Kazi is a new assistant professor. 
  • Professor Primavera Martinez is a new full-time lecturer.
  • Rachel Newman is a new Student Assistant.
  • Professor Hamsini Sridharan is a new assistant professor. 
  • Dr. Jarrod Ventura is a new full-time lecturer.

Faculty Research

  • Dr. Leslie Nelson and Dr. Anu Dhillon recently published a co-authored article in the Journal of Family Communication, titled "Family Disclosure of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Motivations, Tendencies, Communication Accommodation, and Adult Well-Being." Drawing on a survey of 150 U.S. adults, the article explores the complexity of trauma disclosure within families. This collaborative piece was written with Cal Poly Alumni Eden Peterson and Andrew Gilmore, with funding provided by the Cal Poly Baker/Koob Endowment. 
     
  • Professor Maria Subert presented at the international summer workshop, “Roma in the Ottoman and Post-Ottoman World,” which was held in Urla, İzmir, Türkiye. The program brought together Roma youth, interdisciplinary researchers, and scholars of Romani Studies from around the world. In addition to academic lectures and discussions on Roma communities and their experiences in the Ottoman and post-Ottoman world, the program incorporated field activities and community engagement focused on the history, culture, and lived experiences of local Roma communities. Professor Subert is deeply committed to teaching about Romani communities and to strengthening communication and understanding between Roma and those seeking to support and empower them.

Faculty Service & Projects

  • Dr. Aubrie Adams served on the 2026 University Calendar Review Summer Workgroup as the designated CLA representative. The group was charged with conducting foundational work and developing recommendations for Cal Poly’s future academic calendars. As part of this effort, the workgroup reviewed campus feedback on the 2027-28 calendar, identified key themes, and developed recommendations aimed at improving the academic calendar and supporting greater work-life balance for members of the Cal Poly community in the years ahead.
     
  • Dr. Alison Cheung received a Mini-grant from Cal Poly's Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Initiatives to host the AMA (Ask Me Anything) series this year. Throughout the year, Cal Poly hosts a number of events, workshops, and speakers as part of its AANHPI Initiatives. Visit the AANHPI Events webpage to view upcoming events and past events, and stay tuned to the COMS department for more information on this particular series that Dr. Cheung will be involved with! 
     

  • Dr. Mehl's family all wearing green Cal Poly shirts and smilingProfessor Martin Mehl was named Founding Director of the new Cal Poly AI Immersion Lab (AI²), a university initiative supported by the Offices of the President and Provost and the Cal Poly Foundation. Set to open later this month, this interdisciplinary initiative brings together expertise from across Cal Poly to provide AI literacy and applied AI programming, including programs delivered directly to industry partners

  • Professor Martin Mehl has also continued his work on mentorship and communication. In July, he was a featured speaker at the ScreenPal Innovative Learning Summit, where his presentation explored the use of video and captured communication to scale mentorship across educational and professional settings (full session viewable online or ScreenPal version available). Professor Mehl was also named Principal Lead of the Mentorship Program at Washington State University’s Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneurship Institute, where he leads an interdisciplinary mentorship framework spanning communication, strategy and engineering, and financial literacy. 

Miscellaneous Milestones & Updates

  • After 25 years on the Cal Poly faculty, Professor Martin Mehl is taking on a new role this fall: first-year Mustang parent! His son joins the Cal Poly community with junior standing in Computer Science, bringing Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy even closer to home. Congratulations to Professor Mehl and his family on welcoming another Mustang to Cal Poly!

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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