Breadcrumb
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.
Maxwell Schnurer, Mark Taylor, Steven Ladwig, Tony Wallin-Sato, Arthur Monarque, Javier De La Torre
Communication
27 Cal Poly Humboldt Communication majors who are currently incarcerated at Pelican Bay State Prison presented at the National Conference on Higher Education on Friday April 10. Students in the program shared how resilience, student leadership, and collective voice shape a BA program inside California’s highest-security prison. Through live video conference to the largest prison education conference in the United States students discussed with conference attendees their leadership strategies, recruiting, curriculum input, and the creation of clubs and academic work centered on their vision. The room in Cleveland was packed including Cal Poly Humboldt staff and students who are alumni of the program. The recording of the presentation is available in the link above.
Maxwell Schnurer, Chelsey Castiglione, Lauren Nicolosi, Dean Washington, Shiloh Litke, Keith Flamer, Mark Taylor
Communication
On April 14th the Sexual Assault Prevention Committee hosted the third annual Anti-Violence Summit at College of the Redwoods. In partnership with the President's office at College of the Redwoods, the Social Work department CR and the Department of Communication at Cal Poly Humboldt, students from both schools collaborated to prevent and respond to sexualized violence. Communication Department Sexual Assault Intern Lauren Nicolosi, CRGS major Dean Washington and Communication major Shiloh Litke facilitated breakout sessions. Project Rebound director and College of the Redwood instructor Mark Taylor hosted the session with guests of Chelsey Castiglione (Prevention Coordinator) and Dr. Maxwell Schnurer chair of the Communication department and the Sexual Assault Prevention Committee.
Gabriel Roletti, Rosemary Sherriff, Lucy Kerhoulas, Jill Beckmann and Wallis Robinson
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
Gabriel Roletti (ESM BS 2020, Forestry MS 2022) published his Master's thesis in Forest Ecology and Management with his co-advisors Rosemary Sherriff (GESA) and Lucy Kerhoulas (Forestry), along with other Humboldt alums Jill Beckmann and Wallis Robinson.
CAHSS Alumni Updates
Jonathan Souza
Music, 2001
Jonathan Souza, Cal Poly Humboldt Class of 2001 (Humboldt State University), earned his B.A. in Music Education and has built a distinguished career as a music educator, arts leader, conductor, and advocate for equitable access to arts education. He currently serves the Gilroy Unified School District in dual leadership roles as Teacher on Special Assignment for Arts and Music in Schools Initiative Support while also continuing his longstanding work running music education and choral programs at Gilroy High School.
In Gilroy Unified, Souza has played a central role in advancing arts education at both the school site and district levels. He facilitated the development of the district’s TK-12 Strategic Arts Plan, guiding a collaborative process that engaged educators, administrators, families, and community stakeholders in shaping a shared vision for arts education. He also helped lead the plan through adoption, marking an important step in strengthening and sustaining high-quality arts learning opportunities for all students across the district.
Souza also helped spearhead Gilroy High School’s successful application for the 2026 California Department of Education Exemplary Arts Education Program recognition. His leadership in that process included coordinating data collection, organizing evidence across disciplines, shaping the program narrative, and working closely with colleagues to highlight the rigor, impact, and breadth of arts education at the school. His work reflects a deep commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and the transformative power of the arts in public education.
Alongside his educational leadership, Souza recently reached a major professional milestone with his Carnegie Hall debut as a guest conductor with MidAmerica Productions, leading a festival chorus and the New England Symphonic Ensemble. The appearance reflected both his artistic excellence and his enduring commitment to building meaningful musical experiences that connect performers, audiences, and communities across generations.
Throughout his career, Souza has received numerous school site and district honors in recognition of his teaching and leadership. His broader professional awards include the 2008 North Coast Section California Music Educators Association Music Educator of the Year Award, the 2010 Wells Fargo Outstanding Educator Award from the Humboldt County Office of Education, and the 2022 Arts Leadership Award from the Santa Clara County Office of Education.
Whether conducting, mentoring teachers, leading strategic planning, or advocating for expanded access to the arts, Jonathan Souza’s work is grounded in the belief that music and arts education are essential to student growth, belonging, and success. His career reflects the values of artistry, leadership, and service, and the foundation he received at Cal Poly Humboldt continues to inform and inspire his work.
Lance Torgerson
Geography, 2004
Lance currently works for Off Duty Officers as a security guard and with California State Parks as a Park Aide. His location is Merced, California. He's had several jobs after his 2004 graduation with a BA in Geography in the Eureka/Arcata area and, more recently, in the Central Valley in Merced, CA.
Kory Lamberts
Environmental Studies, 2021
Kory came to Humboldt as a transfer student after turning away from a possible career as a football player. Like many students, he had multiple interests, and used his time in college to find a path to combine them. Since graduating, Kory worked with a nonprofit, Negus in Nature, that focused on building bridges between Black communities and natural spaces. While in college and working with Negus in Nature, he became an avid scuba diver, joining the National Association of Black SCUBA Divers, and received multiple opportunities to participate in dives focused on connecting Black people to their histories and connections with the ocean. In 2024, Kory founded the Aquatic Futures Foundation, which he designed to create equitable access to ocean science education and careers, empowering the next generation of marine scientists to build a sustainable future for our oceans and world. Kory also serves as the Chair of the Next Gen Committee for the National Association of Black Scuba Divers (NABS) and a member of Aqua Corps, where he helps teach diving & water safety to communities that have been historically excluded from the conversation. Kory also spearheaded the USC Wrigley’s Scientific Dive Discovery program, where he started his work of training scientific divers collegially over two years. He is expanding aquatic education and safety through community-driven collaborations with organizations that have the same mission, like Diving With a Purpose (DWP), Diverseafy, and the Empowher Institute. A profile about him was written in Humboldt Now: https://now.humboldt.edu/news/finding-belonging-water
Upcoming Events
See what's happening around campus.
CAHSS News
- 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 to Receive Honorary Degree
- Art + Film Professor Sarah Lasley Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship
- Transformational $3 Million Gift