Science and Technology
Students Build Cal Poly’s First Laser: ‘A Rare and Valuable Skill’
Undergraduate students collaborated with Isinsu Toker, an assistant professor of physics in Bailey College, to construct a titanium-sapphire laser from scratch. The tunable laser, which emits red and near-infrared light, was constructed over three months during the fall and winter quarters. Lasers, which generate highly concentrated beams of light, are used in industrial manufacturing, medical procedures, communications, scientific research, consumer electronics and many other forms. While lasers can be purchased commercially, the benefit of constructing them includes opportunities for students to gain hands-on knowledge and to learn how to make modifications for specific laboratory uses.
Culture and Institutional Excellence (CIX)
Nance Named 2026 Winner of Dolores Huerta ‘Si Se Puede’ Award for Transformational Leadership
Meagan Nance, director of inclusion initiatives for Student Affairs at Cal Poly Maritime Academy, was named this year’s winner of the Dolores Huerta “Si Se Puede” Award for Transformational Leadership at the Cal Poly Institutional Excellence Awards ceremony Thursday, May 7. This distinguished honor recognizes an individual whose leadership, integrity, compassion and steadfast commitment to equity have created meaningful and lasting impact within the Cal Poly community and beyond.
Read more about Nance and all this year’s winners
Staff Learning Community (SLC)
May SLC: ‘Make Time Work for You: Systems for Managing Projects and Priorities’
Join the SLC on Zoom from 11:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 20 for a session on practical strategies to better manage competing priorities, projects and daily demands. Hosted by Jared Mandrell and presented by Leslie Gracian, this informative session will introduce easy-to-implement systems to help you take control of your time and work more effectively. Participants will explore ways to prioritize what matters most, manage projects with greater clarity and use tools to stay organized. Walk away with simple, actionable approaches you can start using right away to reduce stress and improve your workflow.
Cal Poly Maritime Academy
Solano Campus Celebrates Commencement
Saturday, May 2, marked the final Cal Maritime Academy commencement with 170 graduates earning their degrees. During the ceremony, we conferred an Honorary Doctor of Science on Capt. Kate McCue (Business Administration ’00). Capt. McCue is an internationally recognized maritime leader. She was the first American woman to command a megaton cruise ship, a milestone that expanded opportunity and visibility for women in the maritime industry. Today, she serves as the inaugural captain of Four Seasons I, helping launch a new era in luxury yachting. On Friday, May 8, Training Ship Golden Bear departed for Summer Sea Term with port visits scheduled in San Diego, Tahiti, Fiji, Hawaii and Los Angeles before returning to Vallejo.
Cal Poly Green Campus Team
Zero Hero Nominations Now Open
Do you know someone working to incorporate sustainability through their everyday actions, leadership or service? We’re looking to recognize Cal Poly students who are taking steps big or small to reduce waste and inspire others. Nominate a Zero Hero and help us celebrate students who promote reuse, reduce waste and make sustainability more approachable across campus. Selected honorees will receive a certificate of recognition along with prizes from Campus Dining, the Craft Center and Campus Market. For more information, visit Instagram.
Student Affairs
Campus Invited to Learn by Doing Good Awards Ceremony May 20
The campus community is invited to celebrate the recipients of the Learn by Doing Good Awards at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, in the Performing Arts Center Grand Lobby. The awards commemorate members of the campus community demonstrating excellence and distinction in leadership and engagement on campus, as well as faculty, staff, students and community partner agencies for off-campus contributions to the quality of life in San Luis Obispo County. Vice President Terrance Harris will personally recognize the awardees, refreshments will be served and Cal Poly jazz students will play live music. Questions? Email serviceinaction@calpoly.edu.
President’s Office
Provide Input About Grand Avenue Improvements
In early 2025, the city of San Luis Obispo introduced several low-cost safety improvements on Grand Avenue between Slack and Monterey streets. They have been monitoring the results to understand what’s working, what needs to change and what should be removed.
As part of that process, they are seeking community input:
- Take the Online Survey before June 10.
Attend the Active Transportation Committee Meeting:
- City Hall Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 20
Cal Poly does not control the next steps in this process, but your input can help influence the final decisions.
Cal Poly Intergenerational Initiative
Intergenerational Initiative Kickoff Event Set for May 16
Students and older adults are welcome to join the Intergenerational Initiative kickoff event from 1:30–3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16. The event aims to build meaningful and reciprocal connections between Cal Poly and the San Luis Obispo older adult community through intergenerational exchange of ideas, talent, experience and mutual support. This kickoff event will bring older adults to Poly Canyon Village for fun social interactions and joint activities, including tai chi, tours, games and conversations.
Theatre and Dance Department
‘Hurricane Diane’ Runs Through May 16
Don’t miss your chance to see the Theatre and Dance Department’s production of “Hurricane Diane,” running through May 16 in the Spanos Theatre. Directed by faculty member Mae Williams, the play centers around Diane, a permaculture gardener dripping with butch charm. She’s got supernatural abilities owing to her true identity — the Greek god Dionysus — and she's returned to the modern world to gather mortal followers and restore the Earth to its natural state. Tickets are $30 for the public and $19 for students, senior citizens and children. Order tickets online or call (805) SLO-4TIX (8756-4849).
Performing Arts Center
Civic Ballet’s ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ Comes to SLO May 16-17
Civic Ballet of SLO presents its enchanting, innovative ballet adaptation of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” at 2 p.m. May 16 and 17 at the Performing Arts Center in Harold Miossi Hall. The Civic Ballet will share the stage with an energetic 11-piece jazz orchestra under the direction of Dave Becker, featuring Inga Swearingen and Damon Castillo, along with a host of jazz luminaries from throughout the Central Coast playing an all-new score based on some of the most influential music in the classic American songbook. This event has a student and youth-under-12 discount.
Associated Students, Inc.
A Night of Culture and Connection
Celebrate culture and community at ASI Unity Night. Join ASI Student Government from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, at U.U. Plaza for an evening of connection and celebration. Open to the Cal Poly campus, this event brings together cultural and identity-based clubs and organizations. Explore interactive booths, enjoy live performances and experience traditions from diverse groups across campus. Unity Night encourages belonging while highlighting the impact of student organizations throughout the year. Enjoy free food, meet new people and discover new communities in a welcoming atmosphere.
Performing Arts Center
See Próxima Parada with the SLO Symphony May 21
Próxima Parada is coming home for a one-night-only performance with the SLO Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at the Performing Arts Center in Harold Miossi Hall. This special event welcomes Próxima Parada back to Cal Poly, where the band members attended college, met one another and began making music together before becoming a touring band. They’ll be performing their original music written in San Luis Obispo, reimagined in collaboration with the SLO Symphony, a cornerstone of the Central Coast’s arts scene. This event has a student discount available.
Music Department
Cal Poly Jazz Combos Spring Showcase Set for May 21
The Cal Poly Jazz Combos Spring Showcase is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21, in the Pavilion of the Performing Arts Center. There are four jazz combos which explore a wide spectrum of jazz performance, from modern and traditional styles to original compositions and arrangements, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian–influenced repertory and classic standards. Tickets are available from the Cal Poly Ticket Office. Learn more on the Music Department website.
Music Department
Duo to Present ‘The Songs of Pedro Ximénez Abril Tirado’ Recital May 21 at Cal Poly
Guest artists Rafael Montero, tenor, and John Sloboda, piano, will present a free recital of the songs of Pedro Ximénez Abril Tirado — one of Latin America’s most successful and prolific composers of the early 19th century — at 11:10 a.m. Thursday, May 21, in Room 218 of the Davidson Music Center. Montero is an Argentinian solo tenor and ensemble singer, teacher and coach. Sloboda is a singer, pianist, conductor and researcher. They are founders of the El Parnaso Hyspano early music ensemble. For more information, including for a 4:10 p.m. presentation by Montero, visit the Music Department’s website.