September 2026

Dear CLASS Community,

There is something special about the beginning of a new academic year. Our campus fills with new energy as students find their place (and classrooms), familiar faces reconnect, and all of us have an opportunity to look ahead with renewed optimism. It’s giving new beginnings.

As we begin this year together, I am also filled with gratitude.

I am grateful for everyone in CLASS: faculty who challenge and inspire our students, staff who create the conditions for faculty and students to succeed, and the many who partner with us in support of our mission. Most of all, I am grateful for our students—their curiosity, ambition and willingness to imagine what is possible.

You will see many reasons for that optimism throughout this newsletter.

While classes might have been out for the summer, CLASS was still in motion. Our students took their learning beyond Cal Poly Pomona, conducting research in places ranging from California to Tuscany and pursuing opportunities that have prepared them for whatever comes next. Our faculty continued to teach, research, create, and share their expertise around the world. Our alumni reached new milestones in their careers and communities. And here on campus, our faculty and staff welcomed hundreds of young artists for the first summer of CSSSA at Cal Poly Pomona while also preparing our newest Broncos to begin their journeys through orientations.

These accomplishments are not the journey of a single hero, but are collaborative successes. Behind every student opportunity, performance, research project, program, and success story are people in CLASS who bring their time, expertise, encouragement and care. To everyone who makes CLASS possible: thank you!

And students! Whether this is your first semester in CLASS or one of your last, start this year with curiosity. Ask questions. Attend events. Meet your professors. Find a mentor. Talk to people – face to face. Apply for opportunities you aren’t quite sure you’re ready for. An opportunity to try something new? Say yes. Your education is happening in the classroom, but it is also happening through the people you meet, the experiences you pursue, and the possibilities you allow yourself to explore.

There is so much to look forward to this fall, from performances and concerts to new opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. Take advantage of them and let the stories in this edition inspire you to imagine where your own CLASS journey might lead.

I am excited for what we will accomplish together this year and deeply appreciative of every person who makes this community CLASS-y.

Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!

Dr. Camille Johnson

Dean

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences

OVER THE SUMMER...

CLASS faculty and staff joined the campus community in welcoming new students at Broncos Belong, kicking off a day filled with pomp, circumstance, fun and new beginnings. It was a spirited start to the year—and to our newest Broncos’ journey at Cal Poly Pomona.

CSSSA Wraps Up its First Summer at Cal Poly Pomona

The California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) wrapped up its first summer at Cal Poly Pomona, bringing more than 500 talented young artists to campus for four weeks of creativity, learning and community. Students lived, learned and created across campus as part of the intensive residential program. After an exciting first summer, we look forward to welcoming CSSSA back to CPP next year.

Launch Team Wins One Team Award

The cross-campus team that helped bring CSSSA to Cal Poly Pomona was recognized with the 2026 One Team Award. Faculty and staff from more than 20 departments worked together to support everything from housing and dining to technology, facilities and safety. The recognition celebrates the collaboration and teamwork that made CSSSA’s inaugural summer at CPP possible.

A Big Thank You!

It takes a team to launch a program, but the success of CSSSA would not have been possible without the support of so many campus partners. Thank you for your adaptability, welcoming spirit and willingness to embrace something new. Your partnership helped make CSSSA’s first summer a success and exemplified the very best of what it means to be Bronco Strong.

CLASS Fall Conference 2026

CLASS faculty and staff gathered for Fall Conference to reconnect, recharge and get excited for the semester ahead. Together, we revisited the inspiration behind what we do, explored career readiness and ways to support our students, and welcomed President Vanya Quiñones and members of her cabinet.

We left energized, empowered and ready for a bright academic year ahead.

OVER THE SUMMER...

CLASS Students Showcase Research at CARS 2026

CLASS students shared their research at the 2026 Creative Activities and Research Symposium (CARS), presenting faculty-mentored projects across Communication, Psychology, Sociology, Ethnic and Women’s Studies, Political Science and more. From artificial intelligence and academic stress to identity, social media, culture and global politics, their work showcased the breadth of student research happening across the college. Congratulations to our student researchers and the faculty mentors who supported their work!

Anthropology Student Takes Research Skills to Tuscany

Anthropology student Alexis Yrigoyen received the Vera R. Campbell Promise Scholarship from the Institute for Field Research to attend the Cortona Survey & Excavation Field School in Tuscany, Italy. During the five-week program, Yrigoyen joined an international research team exploring the region’s Etruscan and Roman past, gaining hands-on experience with archaeological excavation and technology. The experience allowed Yrigoyen to build on skills developed at Cal Poly Pomona while preparing for future graduate study and a career in anthropology.

Philosophy Student Attends Rutgers Summer Institute

Philosophy student Alissa Varela was accepted to and attended the Rutgers Summer Institute for Diversity in Philosophy this summer. The program brings together undergraduate students for an immersive introduction to graduate-level philosophy, offering seminars, mentorship and insight into pursuing advanced study in the field.

Juan Ramos Gains Hands-On Experience at Amache Field School

Anthropology student Juan Ramos attended the Amache Community Archaeology Field School this summer with support from CLASS donor José Gómez. Building on experiences with the CPP Garbage Project, cultural resource management and research involving oral histories from Amache, Ramos gained hands-on experience in archaeological fieldwork and museum studies while contributing to community-based research. For Ramos, the experience marks an important next step toward his goal of becoming a field archaeologist.

Thank You, CLASS Student Success Advisors

A big thank you to our CLASS Student Success Center advising team for helping our newest Broncos start their journey strong! Throughout the summer, our advisors worked alongside CLASS faculty and staff to help incoming freshmen and transfer students register for classes, get acclimated and feel ready for their new chapter at CPP. We appreciate all the care, time and dedication you put into making sure our students feel welcomed,
supported and ready to succeed!

First Ever CLASS Summer Games

CLASS staff came together over the summer for some friendly competition and team-building at the first-ever CLASS Summer Games. Teams put their skills, creativity and partnership to the test through a series of challenges on a sweltering summer day. In the end, good laughs, friendly rivalry and plenty of teamwork made everyone a winner. A special thank you to Lydia Dolan and Tiffany Frontino for coordinating the fun and bringing the inaugural games to life!

Chelsea Sutton Releases
Krackle’s Last Movie

CLASS staff member and playwright Chelsea Sutton celebrated the release of her novella, Krackle’s Last Movie, with a meet-the-author event at The Open Book in Pasadena. The new release adds another creative accomplishment to Sutton’s growing body of work as a writer and playwright.

CLASS Faculty Take the Classroom Around the World

Two CLASS faculty members are setting sail with Semester at Sea, bringing their expertise to a truly global classroom. Psychology Professor Alejandro Morales will teach psychology courses while traveling to 12 countries, while Communication Professor Kang Hoon Sung will serve as the Murray Chair in Journalism, teaching Media and Society, PR and Advertising, and International Mass Communication.

Both are spending their sabbaticals combining teaching, travel and immersive global learning. Follow Dr. Morales’ journey by subscribing to his Substack, where he’ll share reflections, photos and stories from around the world.

Ivana Cvetkovic Earns
Fulbright Scholar Award

Communication Professor Ivana Cvetkovic has been awarded a 2026-27 Fulbright Scholar Award to Portugal in marketing, communication and media studies. Cvetkovic will spend four months in spring 2027 teaching and conducting research at the Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, where she will study how Portuguese journalists use social media when reporting on farming communities and agriculture. Her work will lay the groundwork for a broader cross-cultural comparison of journalistic practices in Portugal and California while bringing new perspectives and international collaboration back to the classroom.

Evan Ware’s Trumpet Concerto Makes World Premiere

Music Department Chair and Professor Evan Ware’s Concerto for Trumpet and Strings received its world premiere in Calgary, Canada, featuring Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Principal Trumpet Adam Zinatelli with the Kensington Sinfonia. The work was supported by a competitive CAD $63,700 grant from the Canada Council for the Arts and was recorded for a forthcoming commercial album. The album featuring Ware’s concerto is set for release later this year.

James J.A. Blair Launches Community Benefits Agreement Toolkit

Geography and Anthropology Professor James J.A. Blair and collaborators with the Climate and Community Institute have launched a new interactive Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) Toolkit, offering practical resources to help communities navigate energy and mining development projects. Blair will put the toolkit into action through workshops with communities and tribes in Appalachia, Indonesia, California’s Imperial Valley and across North America. The project builds on research published last year and turns it into accessible tools communities can use in practice.

Melissa Barragan—Research Examines Gun Possession and Policing

Sociology Professor Melissa Barragan’s research examines how fear of community violence and distrust of law enforcement can influence decisions to illegally carry firearms for perceived self-protection. Her work sheds light on the complex relationship between policing, community trust and perceptions of personal safety.

Kathryn Daniels Helps Bring Certified Wellness Coach Program to CPP

Psychology Professor Kathryn Daniels helped secure approval and grant funding for Cal Poly Pomona to develop a Certified Wellness Coach II (CWC II) education program. With approval from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, CPP can move forward with developing the program and preparing students for careers supporting behavioral health and wellness. The milestone expands career-connected opportunities for students while helping address California’s growing behavioral health workforce needs.

Gwendolyn Dolske Podcast Named Episode of the Year Finalist

Philosophy Professor Gwendolyn Dolske and co-host Rudy Salo were named top-three finalists for Episode of the Year at HigherEd PodCon, selected from 155 submissions for an episode featuring Philosophy Professor Alex Madva. Dolske and Salo also took the stage as speakers at the conference, adding to a growing list of recognition for their podcast and celebrating the work coming out of CPP Philosophy.

Robert Nyenhuis Co-Authors Book on Religion and African Elections

Political Science Professor Robert Nyenhuis co-authored The Role of Religion in African Elections: God Is on Our Side? with Thomas Isbell. The book explores the role religion plays in electoral politics across Africa and its relationship to political attitudes and behavior.

Music Alumnus Performs on International Stage

Recent Music graduate Jesus Aguilera (`26) earned a spot in the prestigious World Youth Wind Orchestra, joining emerging musicians from around the world at the WASBE International Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The percussion performance alumnus represented both Cal Poly Pomona and the United States while performing and learning alongside musicians from across five continents. Aguilera will continue his studies by pursuing a Master of Music in percussion performance at Cal State Long Beach.

Kristen Gutierrez (`26, Economics) Builds an Impressive Career Path

Economics alumna Kristen Gutierrez made the most of her time at CPP, serving as Economics Club president while representing the university in national competitions and academic programs, including Summit@Booth at the University of Chicago and the CFA Institute Research Challenge. She also earned a competitive student scholarship to attend the 2026 PRIMA Annual Conference in Florida. Gutierrez is now putting those experiences into practice as an Investment Operations Associate with EP Wealth Advisors.

Mya Elizabeth Alvarado (`26, Theatre and New Dance)

Recent Theatre alumna Mya Elizabeth Alvarado was selected for Phantom Projects Theatre Group’s 2026 Young Artist Project. Alvarado joined emerging artists from across the country for an intensive collaborative experience creating an original multidisciplinary performance.

Lem Garcia (`05, Communication)

Alumnus and attorney Lem Garcia launched Car Accident Playbook, a podcast aimed at helping listeners better understand what happens after a car accident. Garcia, who graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2005 with a journalism degree, draws on his experience as a personal injury attorney to make legal information more approachable and accessible.

Aileen Orlino Dinkjian (`06, Political Science)

Alumna Dr. Aileen Orlino Dinkjian made history as the first Filipina American to serve on the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education. Dinkjian earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Cal Poly Pomona in 2006 before continuing her education in public health and education.

Jessica James (`26, Psychology)

Psychology alumna Jessica James capped off her Bronco track and field career with Second Team All-American honors in the 4x400 relay at the NCAA Division II National Championships. James graduated in May after a standout senior season that also included three CCAA championships and CCAA Track Athlete of the Meet honors.

Victoria Menzies (`12, Master in Public Administration)

Cal Poly Pomona alumna Victoria Menzies was appointed vice president of administrative services at San José City College. Menzies brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education finance and public-sector operations to the role and holds a Master of Public Administration from CPP.

Matt Mogensen (`06, Master in Public Administration)

Alumnus Matt Mogensen was selected to serve as city manager for the City of Marina.

Gideon Ondap III (`24, Political Science)

Political Science alumnus Gideon Ondap III was featured by Political Science Now as a DFP Spring Fellow. Now pursuing a Ph.D. in government and politics at the University of Maryland, College Park, Ondap studies how race and ethnicity shape political attitudes, identity and civic engagement. He is also a recipient of the university’s prestigious President’s Fellowship.

Ani Yardumian (`92, English and Modern Languages)

English alumna Ani Yardumian, a senior deputy district attorney in Oregon, received the Joyce Harpole Award for her commitment to justice, integrity and compassion. Yardumian was recognized for her advocacy on behalf of vulnerable victims and her professionalism in the courtroom.

CLASS Alumni Featured on CSU Summer Reading List

CLASS alumnae Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke (’99, Communication) were featured on the CSU’s summer reading list for their latest novel, The Naysayers. The longtime friends and writing partners have co-authored 10 books together, including the Amazon Charts bestseller The Good Widow. Their newest novel blends corporate satire, romance and a little supernatural mischief in a story about connection and shared humanity.

Theatre and New Dance Takes the Stage

The Department of Theatre and New Dance has an exciting season ahead, with four full productions, two dance performances and two development projects planned for 2026-27. This fall, catch The Graveyard Shift and Into the Beautiful North, along with special performance projects in December—and stay tuned for even more taking the stage this spring.

The Graveyard Shift

Oct. 9–18 | By Chelsea Sutton

Marley’s first graveyard shift at a 24-hour burger joint takes an unexpected turn when a drive-thru prank sparks an escalating fast-food rivalry. Written by CLASS staff member and playwright Chelsea Sutton, The Graveyard Shift is a sharp comedy about friendship, survival and the absurdities of small-town, minimum-wage life.

Get Tickets

Into the Beautiful North

Nov. 13–22 | By Karen Zacarías

When her hometown in Sinaloa, Mexico, is threatened by drug dealers, Nayeli and her friends embark on an epic journey to the U.S. in search of help. Based on the novel by Luis Alberto Urrea, Into the Beautiful North blends humor and heart in a story about immigration, belonging, friendship and community.

Get Tickets

Music Happenings This Fall

The Music Department has a full season ahead, with free concerts, student performances and signature events you won’t want to miss. Among the highlights is the Songwriter Showcase Fall 2026 Fundraiser Concert on Oct. 15, an evening of live music supporting scholarships for students in the Music Industry Studies program. From jazz and mariachi to orchestra, choirs and more, there’s plenty to hear this fall—check out the full calendar and catch a show!

Music Concert and Events

Faculty and Research Recently Featured

Kevin Autry — Research Highlights AI-Supported Learning

Psychology Professor Kevin Autry’s research was highlighted by University Business in a discussion about strengthening reading comprehension in higher education. The piece explores how AI-supported learning tools can help students engage with and better understand complex academic texts.

Melissa Barragan — Research Examines Illegal Gun Possession and Policing

Rachel Baumsteiger — Publishes Research on Prosocial Behavior

Psychology Professor Rachel Baumsteiger published “The Past Prosocial Behavior Scale: A Briefer, More Inclusive Measure” in Individual Differences Research. The article introduces a more concise and inclusive approach to measuring past prosocial behavior.

James J.A. Blair — Discusses Chile’s Lithium Economy

Geography and Anthropology Professor James J.A. Blair shared his expertise with Coda Story for an in-depth look at Chile’s lithium industry and the global demand for the critical mineral. Blair discussed the history and policies shaping lithium extraction and its impacts on communities.

Jarred Cuellar—Election Polling Featured in Politico

Political Science Professor Jarred Cuellar co-authored the California Elections and Policy Poll, a statewide survey of likely voters conducted ahead of California’s June primary election. The collaborative research between political scientists at CPP, USC and CSU Long Beach examined voter priorities, concerns and decision-making leading into Election Day and was featured by Politico.

Álvaro Huerta — Advocates for Environmental Justice in Boyle Heights

Ethnic and Women's Studies Professor Álvaro Huerta wrote an opinion piece for CALÓ News calling for Lineage Logistics to relocate its Boyle Heights facility following a June warehouse fire. Huerta highlights the incident within the neighborhood’s broader history of pollution and environmental justice concerns.

Álvaro Huerta — Weighs In on World Cup Street Vendors

Ethnic and Women's Studies Professor Álvaro Huerta spoke with CALÓ News about Los Angeles street vendors and demand for Mexican jerseys surrounding the World Cup, offering insight into the vendors, communities and informal economies connected to the global event.

Alex Madva — Explores Structure-Facing Virtues

Philosophy Professor Alex Madva was featured in Psyche discussing “structure-facing virtues,” an approach that considers how people can recognize and respond to larger social structures rather than focusing solely on individual actions.

Christopher Stoughton — Calls for Fact-Based Climate Discussion

Political Science Professor Christopher Stoughton wrote an opinion piece for The Coast News arguing that debates over climate policy should remain grounded in scientific evidence. Stoughton points to California’s climate initiatives and their impacts on the economy, public health and greenhouse gas emissions.

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