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College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
The College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) is an artistic, creative, and intellectual community. It is an equitable partnership of staff, faculty, and students who are devoted to teaching, learning, and collaboration. The many fields within CAHSS provide the greatest breadth for service-learning, creative engagement, and professional opportunity within a diverse and changing society.
Hands-on Experience
Our programs and majors offer many unique opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom including student performances, studios, laboratories, newsrooms, internships, and more. Hands-on learning enriches the student, the university, and the community, tying academic study to real-world experiences.
Study Abroad
Studying abroad is an exciting way to enhance an undergraduate experience through exposure to different cultures, languages, and communities. Travel, explore, embrace new environments, all while making progress toward graduation.
Personal Attention
It’s the difference between sitting through a lesson and playing a role in creating it. Feel challenged by faculty who expand students’ worldview and supported by departments that pride themselves on personalized attention.
Josh Meisel
Sociology
Domestic cannabis cultivation has become widespread internationally yet little is known about the methods, motives, and experiences of small-scale growers. In collaboration with the Global Cannabis Cultivation Research Consortium, Dr. Josh Meisel surveyed predominately small-scale cannabis growers in 18 countries about their use of cannabis and other drugs; cannabis growing experience; methods and scale of growing operations; reasons for growing cannabis; participation in cannabis and other drug markets; contacts with the criminal justice system in relation to cannabis growing; involvement in other (non-drug-related) criminal activity; and demographic characteristics. One paper resulting from this research, "Small-Scale Cannabis Cultivation, Use, and Supply in Eighteen Countries: Methods, Motives, and Experiences" was published in the July 2026 issue of Contemporary Drug Problems.
Alison Ruth Holmes
Politics
To mark the nation's 250th, the interdisciplinary Transatlantic Studies Association (TSA) held their annual conference at the College of William & Mary. Professor Alison Holmes (Politics) was an invited keynote speaker on the question "Can Subnational Diplomacy Save the Special Relationship", making the case that actors such as California and Scotland are now both more important on the global stage and to each other. She also presented a paper "The US Constitution(S) and the many Nations of America" offering three case studies beginning with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the evolution and resilience of such documents through the Cherokee and Yurok constitutions.
John Meyer
Politics
John Meyer delivered a keynote speech on "The Problem with Sustainability 'Solutions'" at the 6th annual International Sustainable Development Dialogue, sponsored by the Global Affairs and Sustainable Development Institute at Osun State University in Osogbo, Nigeria, June 9-11.
Participants included scholars, policymakers, traditional leaders, journalists, and students from throughout Nigeria, as well as India, the U.K, Liberia, Cape Verde, South Africa, and Ireland.
Extensive news coverage of the event can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmV_xy-1uFA; https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/06/17/isdd-2026-rethinking-sustainable-development-for-the-global-south/%0A; https://www.instagram.com/gasdi.uniosun/
CAHSS Alumni Updates
Brittany Arzola
Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies, 2023
After graduating from my undergrad, Brittany moved back to the Central Valley and began working as a Youth Counselor serving teenage youth in combating and healing from anti-social behaviors. She is currently working towards an M.S. in Counseling Psychology where she will obtain her License for Marriage and Family Therapy. In the past three years, Brittany has continued showing up for her local community by being involved in working with local food banks and community food gardens at Food Link for Tulare County. Brittany is continuing to pass along her knowledge learned from wonderful professors and remaining respectful to others. It's been tough being away from the community she built in Humboldt, but she can proudly say she is thriving here too.
James Donlon
Theatre, 1970
James has been working in theatre for 56 years as an internationally acclaimed professional actor and director specializing in physical theatre. He recently founded the international Los Angeles Mime Festival, and this summer is playing the lead role of Macbeth at the Island Shakespeare Festival on Whidbey Island, Washington. Last year, he toured his one-person show to Colombia, Argentina, and Peru. Other recent tours have been in Italy, Spain, Cuba, and the Czech Republic.
Alessandro Bruno
Geography, 2012
Life since Alessandro's days studying Geography and Chinese Studies at Humboldt has been a bit of an adventure! He's swapped the redwoods for the UK, where he currently works as an Executive Assistant and Project Manager in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA). It turns out that the analytical mindset and curiosity he developed during my geographical research came in incredibly handy when navigating complex university operations and digital projects.
When Alessandro is not keeping things moving on campus, he tends to stay pretty active. He's developed a massive appreciation for food science—whether that’s mastering authentic sourdough, experimenting with fermentation, or prepping high-protein meals to fuel a pretty disciplined fitness routine. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, he's also an automotive enthusiast with a love for amateur motorsport, so you can occasionally find him working on cars or researching track days.
Living and working in the UK has been a fantastic chapter, and he'd love to connect with any fellow Humboldt alumni who have made the leap across the pond, or anyone working in higher education!
Upcoming Events
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CAHSS News
- Finding Community, Building Community
- Congratulations to the Class of 2026! (PHOTOS)
- Campus Research and Creativity Take Center Stage at 13th Annual ideaFest
- Humboldt Calypso Band Marks 40th Anniversary with Special Guest Artists
- $1 Million Grant Funds Study on Greener, Cleaner Cannabis Farming
- Trailblazing Cultural Property Scholar and Violin Maker Receives Honorary Degree