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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.
Gabi Kirk
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
Dr. Gabi Kirk was awarded a American Association of University Women (AAUW) American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship for 2026-27 to support the writing of her first scholarly monograph, Cultivating Sustainable Sovereignty: Palestinian Agrarian Lives in Transnational Focus.
AAUW’s largest funding program began in 1888, making it one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious fellowship programs exclusively for women. This fellowship supports women scholars who are completing doctoral dissertations, conducting postdoctoral research, or finishing research for publication. AAUW (American Association of University Women) is the nation’s leading organization for equity in higher education and women’s economic empowerment. Founded in 1881 by women who defied society’s conventions by earning college degrees, AAUW has since worked to increase women’s access, opportunity, and equity in higher education through advocacy and philanthropy of more than $146 million, supporting thousands of women scholars. Learn more at aauw.org.
Socks Lucas, Natalie Anthone, Mia Harmon
Art + Film
Cal Poly Humboldt Ceramics students were invited to participate in the California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art (CCACA) in Davis. Hosted by John Natsoulas Gallery, the conference brings together more than 50 ceramics programs from across the state, creating a dynamic environment for exhibition, dialogue, and exchange.
Our ceramics students represented Cal Poly Humboldt with distinction, exhibiting their work alongside peers from throughout California. Their efforts were recognized with several major awards: Socks Lucas received First Place, Natalie Anthone was awarded Second Place, and Mia Harmon was awarded the honor of a solo exhibition at the John Natsoulas Gallery.
Congratulations, CCACA 2026 Ceramic Students!
Myles Chrispeels
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
Geospatial Science and Technology major Myles Chrispeels won the Christopherson Geosystems Student Award for his paper "A Workflow for the Remote Sensing of Turbidity in Freshwater" at the California Geographical Society annual conference in Huntington Beach, CA. In this paper, Myles demonstrates a methodology for using high-resolution imagery and publicly available field data to develop an accessible, statistically sound workflow for monitoring turbidity and water quality patterns in freshwater drinking-water reservoirs.
CAHSS Alumni Updates
Jon Pede
Environment & Community (Social Sciences), 1990
Dr. Jon Pede retired over a year ago as a middle school Principal. He is currently working as a University Supervisor for Pacific University as a teacher license candidate supervisor supporting special education teachers. He just completed his first book on supporting first year School Principals. He hopes to publish in the coming year.
Ethan Derner
Film, 1993
Ethan is embarking on his fourth career, following his first three as a motion picture editor, college faculty instructor, and currently a self-employed electrician and carpenter. After an initial open studio experience over 10 years ago, he fully immersed himself in the world of glass in December of 2025. Specifically, he is focused on studio glass art, having received instruction from the University of Oregon and Firehouse Glass. Ethan plans to return to Tacoma, Washington, in May of 2026 for continued private instruction at Area 253, in addition to revisiting the hot shop at the Museum of Glass. His present focus is on creating forms to enshrine the ashes of loved ones. Looking ahead, he has designs for free-form slumped sculptures and large-scale kiln-formed pieces.
Kimberly Nguyen
Philosophy, 2020
When Kimberly was pursuing her BA in Philosophy at Humboldt, her intentions were to continue on to law school to become an attorney. Instead, she made the decision to attend nursing school. Her training in critical thinking made nursing school much easier than she could have imagined. Kimberly now practices as a registered nurse and loves it! She has a feeling that her cravings for knowledge won’t stop here, though. She owes so much to the Philosophy Department for helping her build a solid foundation in her thinking and, consequently, opening her mind to what she can achieve. Kimberly can’t wait to see what the future has in store!
Upcoming Events
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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