Achievements

Ryder Dschida

History

On February 28, the Humboldt County Office of Education and the Cal Poly Humboldt History department ran the annual county-level History Day competition on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus. Well over 300 local school children, from 4th grade through high school seniors, present their History Day projects in numerous locations across the campus. The awards ceremony was held in Forbes Gym, where many of the projects were on exhibit for all to inspect. Cal Poly Humboldt has been hosting this event since the 1990s and is the only university that hosts a county-level event in the United States.  

Loren Cannon

Philosophy

Loren Cannon (Philosophy, Applied Humanities) was requested to present his work at the American Philosophical Association's Central Meeting, in Chicago, February 18-21. He presented his most recent essay, "Court of Supreme Contradictions: A Changing Legal Landscape for LGBTQ+ Americans," in the session on LGBTQ+ Philosophy of Law. His latest work explores the relationship between the pro-LGBTQ+ rights rulings in 2015 (Obergefell) and 2020 (Bostock) and how the arguments of several Supreme Court ruling since 2020 together present a much less optimistic picture, especially with regards to broad based social acceptance including the contexts of health care, education, and commerce. This changing legal climate has ramifications for LGBTQ+ persons and our intent to live flourishing lives as well as the stability of the Obergefell and Bostock rulings themselves. 

James Floss, Annie Bolick-Floss

Communication

James Floss, Lecturer Emeritus of the Communication Department, recently gave a workshop, “More Than Words” in Tlacochahuaya, Mexico to future teachers focusing on vocality and physicality to enliven read-alouds. The conference, hosted by Escuela Normal Bilingüe e Intercultural de Oaxaca was for indigenous teachers from throughout Oaxaca promoting instruction in their native languages. He was assisted by his wife, Annie Bolick-Floss, former director of Service Learning and Academic Internships.

James Floss, Annie Bolick-Floss

Communication

James Floss, Lecturer Emeritus of the Communication Department, recently gave a workshop, “More Than Words,” in Tlacochahuaya, Mexico to future teachers focusing on vocality and physicality to enliven read-alouds. The conference, hosted by Escuela Normal Bilingüe e Intercultural de Oaxaca was for indigenous teachers from throughout Oaxaca promoting instruction in their native languages. He was assisted by his wife, Annie Bolick-Floss, former director of Service Learning and Academic Internships.

Dr. Aaron Donaldson, Charlie Burrowes, Genevieve Caruso, Wes Christensen, Ethan German, Aly Greaver, Oz Kimbell, Evan Moreno, Mia Rivera, Sylvia Seay, Sadie Shields

Communication

Cal Poly Humboldt’s Debate Club marked a major milestone with its first full squad trip since before the pandemic, competing at Las Positas College against teams from 33 institutions. Five debate pairs participated, most at their first collegiate tournament. Sylvia Seay and Oz Kimbell advanced to quarterfinals, the program’s first elimination round appearance in six years, earning top‑eight finishes and speaker awards. Arcata High student Gamma Caruso also excelled, placing 2nd in Novice Debate. The successful weekend was supported by staff, student organizers, and Debate Coach Dr. Aaron Donaldson, signaling renewed momentum for Humboldt’s speech and debate program. 

Go Jacks!

Dan Mar

Sociology

Dan Mar received a $65,000 grant from the Resources Legacy Fund to support initiatives within the Cannabis Studies Program, including the 2026 Cannabis and Environmental Stewardship Symposium on  April 17, 2026, and student-led podcast production through the Cannabis Studies Lab. Funding will provide paid opportunities for undergraduate students in event planning, research, and media creation, and allow the purchase of podcast equipment. Through the podcast, students will explore cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions of cannabis. The all-day symposium will feature moderated panel discussions on sustainable cultivation, environmental restoration, and cannabis research. Together, these initiatives will expand hands-on learning opportunities and strengthen the Cannabis Studies Program.

Joshua J Frye

Communication

Dr. Frye has published the Citizenship+ Communication Action Guide with the upcoming nationally convened Civic Learning Week, March 19-23, 2026. The Citizenship+ Communication Action Guide is an open source educational resource developed by Dr. Joshua Frye and Dr. Steve Goldzwig (Marquette University) to accompany their 2024 book, Rhetoric and Democracy in a Post-Truth Era.  The OER includes several applied learning activities to advance ethical and effective citizenship+ communication. It also includes a series of topically organized quotations to help inspire democratic attitudes and practices.

Deidre Pike, Hanna Mounce ('03), Marcy Burstiner

Journalism & Mass Communication

Journalism chair Deidre Pike contributed an article “Bringing Back Birds From the Brink of Extinction” to Paris, France-based educational website News Decoder. The article, published Jan. 16, looks at the hopeful work of the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project in saving Hawai’ian birds from extinction. The Maui organization’s project manager is Humboldt State University alumna Hanna Mounce (‘03, Wildlife). News Decoder is an educational publication edited by Cal Poly Humboldt emeritus journalism professor Marcy Burstiner.

Josh Meisel

Sociology

Professor Josh Meisel (Sociology) was quoted in a MJ Biz Daily news story about the implications for cannabis research of the Trump administration's recent Executive Order calling for the rescheduling of cannabis to a less restrictive category. 

Yaneyry Delfin Martinez

Sociology

Sociology M.A. student Yaneyry Delfin Martinez received an Alpha Kappa Delta Social Justice Award of $1,500, addressing food insecurity among undocumented students with support from Sociology Professor Stefanie Israel de Souza.