Spring Issue Now Live
Cal Poly Magazine Celebrates 125 Years of Learn by Doing
In the latest issue, explore how a polytechnic education spans generations. Get to know the founder of the university’s dance program, a mathematics major crunching numbers for the baseball team, student scientists who built a laser and a professor who explores cities on YouTube. Find more articles on Cal Poly Volleyball’s Sweet 16 run, research on a leopard tortoise colony and an alumnus in the Super Bowl. Pick up a copy from magazine racks across campus or read this issue online.
University Communications and Marketing
New Cal Poly Report Submission Launching in Fall 2026
University Communications and Marketing is planning to introduce a new online submission form for Cal Poly Report in fall 2026. The form will provide a more streamlined way to submit content and reduce the amount of back-and-forth needed to get submissions approved. Additional notices with more details — including dates and a link to the new form — will be published in the Cal Poly Report at the start of the fall semester. The form is currently being tested by a group of frequent submitters across campus. Their feedback will be used to improve the form’s effectiveness before launching.
Learn By Doing
‘Moneyball’ for Mustangs: Student Leverages Data to Boost Baseball’s Success
When Gabe Riedel set foot on campus at the start of his first year, he was already inspired to pursue a career path that could marry his interests in math and baseball. “I remember watching ‘Moneyball’ as a kid and thinking, ‘Oh, that’s amazing,’” said Riedel, a mathematics major and lifelong baseball fan. “And then when I was picking my major for college, I started to think about what I would want to do professionally, and the idea of doing sports analytics was so cool.” He cold-emailed Cal Poly Baseball Coach Larry Lee in October of his freshman year to ask if there were any opportunities to use his skills, and Lee connected him to the student team in charge of statistics.
College of Engineering
CAPED Team Wins First Place, Impact Award at National Competition
Cal Poly Amusement Park Engineers and Designers, or CAPED, earned first place in the West Division and the Impact Award at the national 2026 Ride Engineering Competition, held April 11 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The competition gives university teams six months to design and build an attraction around a shared prompt, then present it for judging. Organizers describe it as the only hands-on engineering competition in the attractions industry. CAPED’s mission is to help students appreciate, learn about and connect with the themed entertainment industry.
Fraternity and Sorority Life
Greek Week Raises Funds for Local Animal Shelter
Greek Week, hosted by Fraternity and Sorority Life in May, brought together students, alumni and supporters for a week of philanthropy and community building. Through online fundraisers and in-person activities, the event raised $2,280 for Woods Humane Society. Participants also contributed to the local community through three service projects, volunteering with City Farm SLO, Laurel Lane Community Garden and 40 Prado Homeless Services. By participating, chapters earned points. Winning chapters were: Chi Omega (Panhellenic Council), Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (United Sorority and Fraternity Council) and Pi Kappa Phi (Interfraternity Council).
The International Center
First Year GO Staff Mentor Applications Open
The International Center invites Cal Poly staff to apply to serve as Spring 2027 First Year GO mentors in Seville, Spain. One to three mentors will support first-year students’ academic, cultural and personal growth, participate in fall pre-departure sessions and provide onsite support during the first two weeks abroad. Applicants should have basic Spanish skills, experience working with students and an interest in global education. Apply by Friday, June 12, by sending a statement of interest, CV and pre-approval materials to Cari Vanderkar at civander@calpoly.edu.
Fulbright Program
Faculty Awarded Prestigious Fulbright Honors for Research and Collaboration
Three Cal Poly faculty members have been awarded the highly competitive Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award for the 2026 academic year, with an additional faculty member named as an alternate. These honors recognize excellence in teaching, research and a shared commitment to advancing global collaboration:
- Natasha Neumann — associate professor and co-coordinator of the M.S. Educational Leadership and Administration Program in the School of Education, Bailey College of Science and Mathematics — has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Spain.
- David Askay, professor of communication studies in the College of Liberal Arts, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Japan.
- Jasmine Nation, professor in the Liberal Studies Department in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics, has received an award for Chile.
Students with Dependents Program
Students with Dependents Inclusivity Training Scheduled for June 3
The Students with Dependents Program within the Office of the Dean of Students will host its Inclusion Training from 1–2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, via Zoom. The virtual training will help participants learn more about students with dependents and higher education policies specific to parenting and caregiving students and think about how to apply new knowledge to their campus roles. The training is designed for faculty, staff and student employees who are interested in enhancing inclusive and equitable practices to support students with dependents. Questions? Contact Courtney Moore, Students with Dependents Program coordinator, at cmoore90@calpoly.edu.
Join in the Retirement Celebration
Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences
Please join the NRES department in celebrating the careers and contributions of Craig Stubler and Chris Surfleet at their retirement celebration from 3:30–6 p.m. Wednesday, June 3.
Craig Stubler
Soil science can be a dirty job — that has never stopped Craig Stubler from getting the work done. For nearly three decades, Stubler (Soil Science, ’96) served the soil science program with excellence as an instructional support technician. From daily lab set-up to research projects to hosting national competitions, no job was too big or too small. Stubler, who received the Outstanding Staff Award in 2014, models a commitment to service, student success and teamwork with collegiality and excellence. He retires this summer and plans to spend more time with family, traveling and enjoying various hobbies.
Post a Message, Photo or Video for Stubler
Chris Surfleet
Chris Surfleet (Forestry and Natural Resources, ’93) brought a breadth of knowledge and expertise when he returned to his alma mater as a professor of hydrology. For 14 years, Surfleet’s hard work, attention to detail and high standards in teaching has strengthened the watershed hydrology program. His dedication to students and Learn by Doing is evident through his pedagogy, research and years of spearheading the master’s program. Surfleet has been a model for service and leadership and his legacy will be carried into the future. He retires this quarter and plans to spend more time traveling, volunteering and sailing.
Post a Message, Photo or Video for Surfleet
Music Department
Meredith Brammeier Retirement Celebration on June 4
Music Professor Meredith Brammeier is retiring from full-time teaching after 25 years at Cal Poly. A gifted educator, she has shaped decades of students through her leadership of the music theory and musicianship programs, as well as her thoughtful stewardship of the curriculum. She is an award-winning composer, and her music has been performed across Europe and North America. A vocalist and pianist, she performs with the Cal Poly Bach Week Choir, Canzona Women’s Ensemble and the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale. Celebrate her distinguished career at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, in Room 218 of the Davidson Music Center.
Sign Meredith’s Retirement Card
Cal Poly Partners
Andrea Burns to Retire from Cal Poly Partners
Associate Executive Director of Commercial Services Andrea Burns will retire on June 5 after seven years of leadership at Cal Poly Partners. Since joining the organization in 2019, Burns has overseen Cal Poly Dining, the Mustang Shop, Cal Poly Print and Copy, as well as Conference and Event Planning, while helping lead more than $100 million in student-focused facility improvements. Her impact includes projects such as Vista Grande, 1901 Market Place, Campus Market, the Via Carta mural, Cal Poly Partners Plaza and Pavilion and the new downtown Mustang Shop. Burns’ last day in the office will be June 5.
Cal Poly Partners
Board Meeting Scheduled for June 5
The Cal Poly Partners Board meeting will be held on Friday, June 5, at 11 a.m. at Vista Grande Dining Complex, third floor. It is open to the public. Written comments must be submitted by Wednesday, June 3, to cppartners-admin@calpoly.edu. To comment on any board item, please fill out a Board Appearance Request and submit it 24 hours before the meeting, and arrive at 10:45 a.m. The agenda will be available on the website five days in advance of the meeting. Questions? Call (805) 756-1131.
Transportation and Parking Services
Summer and Annual Parking Permits Available June 8
Faculty and staff may purchase summer and annual parking permits beginning Monday, June 8. Permits will be effective starting June 15, 2026. Employees can purchase permits online through the Parking Portal. Please note that summer and annual permits will be prorated to align with the short summer term and the semester conversion.
Learn More About Parking Permits
Office of Institutional Research
New Internal Dashboards Now Available for Cal Poly Faculty and Staff
Institutional Research (IR) has launched a new suite of internal dashboards for faculty and staff. These interactive dashboards provide access to historical admissions, enrollment, degree completion and retention and graduation rate data through an enhanced user interface and user experience (UI/UX). Unlike the public dashboards available on the website, the internal dashboards allow users to drill down by major, minor and other detailed categories. They also offer an alternative to the Statistical Program Profile PDFs for exploring and working with institutional data. Additional training resources and opportunities will be shared later this summer. Questions? Contact ir@calpoly.edu.
Associated Students, Inc. (ASI)
Anderson Aquatic Center Transitions to ASI Management
Associated Students, Inc. has officially assumed management of the Anderson Aquatic Center as part of a campus effort to expand and streamline access to aquatic facilities for student organizations and campus partners. The transition aligns the facility with ASI reservation systems, staffing, maintenance and operational oversight already used across other ASI-managed spaces. The change will support Recognized Student Organizations, campus departments and external partners while also increasing open recreation opportunities at the Cal Poly Recreation Center.
College of Liberal Arts
Come to the May 30 Release Party for ‘Intertidal Literary & Arts Journal Vol. 4: Depths’
“Intertidal” is a student-led literary and arts journal that proudly publishes creative work from Cal Poly (and now Cal Poly Maritime Academy) students, faculty, staff and alumni. The name “Intertidal” refers to the areas between land and sea, where biodiversity flourishes, representing our values as an interdisciplinary and multimedia micropublication.
- Intertidal Release Party
- Saturday, May 30, 6–8 p.m.
- Linnea's Cafe, 1110 Garden St., Downtown SLO
This event is free and open to the public. Join us for a free copy of “Intertidal,” light refreshments and artist readings and presentations. Questions? Email intertidal@calpoly.edu or search @calpolyintertidal on Instagram.
Music Department
Arab Music Ensemble Concert on May 30 to Feature Iranian Music Guest Ensemble
The Arab Music Ensemble spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30, in the Performing Arts Center will feature a special ensemble of guest artists performing Iranian music. The set with Bahram Osqueezadeh, Siamak Bozorgi, Arash Bahrololoomi and Javid John Mosadeghi will be centered on “Dastgah-e Rast Panjgah,” an intricate and expansive modal system in Persian classical music. The ensemble will open the program with an instrumental composition by its director Ken Habib, and then it will perform a variety of works, including songs by the seminal Egyptian composer Sayyid Darwish, as well as Greek and Romanian selections.
Music Department
Cal Poly Wind Bands to Conclude Season with ‘Journey Home’ Concert on May 31
The Cal Poly Wind Bands will conclude their season with a concert titled “Journey Home” at 3 p.m. on May 31 in the Performing Arts Center. A highlight will be the world premiere of “Imprints That Shine” by Laura M. Kramer, which was commissioned by the Cal Poly chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi to celebrate the 44-year career of music Professor Emeritus William Johnson. More than 50 band alumni will join in the performance. The Wind Orchestra will perform Robert Russell Bennett’s “Suite of Old American Dances” alongside Andrew Boysen, Jr.’s energetic “Kirkpatrick Fanfare.” The Wind Ensemble will also present John Mackey’s “The Odyssey.”
Culture and Institutional Excellence (CIX)
Author Viet Thanh Nguyen Comes to Cal Poly June 3
Join us for our last Cal Poly AANHPI Initiatives event of the academic year with Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author Viet Thanh Nguyen on Wednesday, June 3, at 4 p.m. in Chumash Auditorium. Viet Thanh Nguyen is a Vietnamese-born American author and cultural commentator and is considered one of the leading voices in the urgent conversation around the immigrant experience. His memoir, “A Man of Two Faces” (2023), blends his personal narrative with history, cultural critique and literary experimentation to explore his life as a Vietnamese refugee in America. The event is free and open to the public.