Dawn Neill Named Interim Vice President for Research
Dawn Neill will assume the role of interim vice president for research effective May 1, 2023, through Aug. 31, 2026. Neill has served as administrator in charge (AIC) for Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education since Sept. 12, 2022, and is a professor of anthropology in interdisciplinary studies in the Liberal Arts Department. Since beginning as AIC for R-EDGE, Neill has worked diligently to enhance campus opportunities and funding for research, scholarly and creative activities. This includes developing and implementing the Proposal Development Program to provide faculty release time to develop grant proposals and working collaboratively with the deans and the office of the provost to develop and implement the Teacher-Scholar Model mini-grant program to broaden the scope of internal funding in support of the Teacher-Scholar Model. Previously Neill served as director of research engagement and internationalization in the College of Liberal Arts. She has also chaired the Cal Poly Grants Review Committee and was a member of the research advisory council for R-EDGE.
Celebrate President’s Diversity Award Winners on May 4
The entire community is invited to honor campus champions for diversity, equity and inclusion at this year’s President’s Diversity Awards ceremony, hosted by the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion. This year’s event will take place from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 4, at the Performing Arts Center lobby and plaza. Winners were selected from an open call for nominations and will be recognized in the categories of faculty, staff, student organization, campus department and Excellence in Inclusive Design, as well as the Dolores Huerta “Si Se Puede” Award for Transformational Leadership. Enjoy catering from local Black, Indigenous and people of color- (BIPOC)owned businesses and help us honor this year’s winners. For more information about the event and the award categories, visit the OUDI website.
RSVP for the President’s Diversity Awards
Safer Hosts Annual Take Back the Night on April 27
Safer will host Sexual Assault Action Month throughout April. The month culminates in Safer’s biggest night of the year — Take Back the Night — from 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27, in the UU Plaza. Take Back the Night is an international movement against sexual violence, with its own roots in San Luis Obispo since the 1980s. With a focus on uplifting survivors and building empowerment in community, this event will feature live music from local bands Próxima Parada and Kiwi Kannibal, catered food, art installations, resource fairs, speakers from the local community, a solidarity march, and will end with a candlelight vigil. This event is made possible with generous support from ASI Events, Planned Parenthood and the Career Services Diversity Funding Committee.
Visit Safer's website for more information
Celebrate Workplace Safety April 28 — and Every Day
World Day for Safety and Health at Work is on April 28, and Environmental Health and Safety is continuing to ensure that the Cal Poly community has a safe place work, teach and advance Learn by Doing. EHS has relaunched the use of Risk and Safety Solutions (RSS) Software to campus, with live trainings and recordings of past trainings available on its website. RSS is vital to keeping campus facilities, employees, students and the environment secure. To promote a safe community and to learn more about RSS, visit the EHS website. Anyone who sees a hazard or has a suggestion is asked to report it so that EHS can continue to improve campus work and learning spaces. To report, simply fill out the report form. And on Friday, celebrate someone who is going above and beyond in helping to create a safe campus. Give them kudos and share how they have contributed toward Cal Poly’s safety efforts.
Learn more about Environmental Health and Safety
Help Raise Awareness at Out of the Darkness Walk on April 29
The campus community is invited to participate in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at the UU Plaza. Check-in and other event activities start at 10 a.m. Hosted by the Greater Los Angeles and Central Coast Chapter of AFSP, this gathering will support the organization’s education, research and survivor support programs. In addition to raising awareness and funds to fight suicide, the walks give those who attend a chance to connect with others and know they are not alone, whether they walk in memory or in support of a loved one or in honor of their own mental health journey. Questions? Contact Kirsten Vinther at [email protected].
Find Purrr-fect Plants, Pottery and Cats at the Poly Plant Shop
Come to the Poly Plant Shop April 29-30 for cats, pottery, plants and more. The shop will host a variety of local artisans from the San Luis Obispo County arts and horticulture community in celebration of spring from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the horticulture unit. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Cal Poly Cat Program, a nonprofit cat rescue and sanctuary operating on the Cal Poly campus, as a thank you from the plant shop’s resident cat, Tom. Twenty-year-old Tom is a fan favorite at the greenhouses, where he has lived since he was adopted from the Cal Poly Cat Program in 2006. The festivities, open to the public, will be held at the Environmental Horticultural Sciences Building (No. 48) on Via Carta Road off Highland Drive. Parking will be available for free in lot H14.
Cal Poly Corporation Directors Meeting Set for April 28
The Cal Poly Corporation board of directors will meet at 8:30 a.m. Friday, April 28, on campus in the Corporation Administration Building (No. 15), Room 124. The meeting agenda and more information is available online on the Cal Poly Corporation website. Discussion topics can be added to the agenda at the discretion of the board. Submit comments by 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, via email to [email protected]. If the number of people in attendance exceeds the capacity of Room 124, then Room 135 will be available for attendees to view the meeting. Public comments will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Room 124. The meeting will be held in person; however, a Zoom webinar is available for the public to view only. Questions? Call Holly Clark at ext. 6-1131.
Cal Poly Foundation Board of Directors to Meet May 6
The board of directors of the Cal Poly Foundation will hold its quarterly meeting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6. This meeting serves as the annual meeting of the board. In compliance with Cal Poly Foundation Policy 122, public comments for this meeting must be submitted in writing by 5 p.m. Friday, April 28, via email to [email protected]. Obtain a copy of the agenda after April 25 by emailing [email protected]. Staff and members of the public are encouraged to participate virtually and can request Zoom login information by registering with the Cal Poly Foundation Office at [email protected]. Registration as a non-speaking guest for electronic or telephonic meetings is required prior to the meeting. Once registered, login details will be provided to each registrant to join as an attendee. Registration requests should be emailed to [email protected] a minimum of 72 hours prior to the meeting. For more information, contact the Cal Poly Foundation office at ext. 6-7147 or [email protected].
Business Students Advance to Global Competition
In a competition that began with over 1,000 schools from 90 countries, a team of Cal Poly business students is now one of six global finalists in the CFA Institute Research Challenge. The team, which won first place nationally after victories in San Francisco and New York, will travel to Washington, D.C., on May 3 to defend its in-depth, 10-page financial analysis of tech company Advanced Micro Devices. The Cal Poly team includes four financial management seniors: Benjamin Roe of San Diego; Brenden Rogers of Redmond, Washington; Samantha Gottlieb of Lake Forest, California; Athénaïs Mortier of Fountainbleau, France; and accounting senior Jivitesh Kamboj of San Francisco. Finance Chair Cyrus Ramezani is the faculty advisor.
Learn more about the team's success
Apply for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Summer Accelerator by April 30
The Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is accepting applications for its upcoming Summer Accelerator program. Applications must be received before midnight on Sunday, April 30. Faculty and staff who know students who would be interested in sprouting their startup can encourage them to apply. Exclusively for students and recent alumni, the 12-week program provides students with everything needed to bring their startups to life. With a talented pool of mentors and speakers from the startup world, students receive hands-on mentorship, weekly workshops and access to $10,000 in seed funding to start building their startup.
Sign Up to Volunteer at Spring Commencement June 17 and 18
The Cal Poly Commencement team is seeking employee support to help celebrate graduates at the 2023 Spring Commencement on June 17-18. Sign up for a volunteer shift today, and help create a memorable spring celebration for graduates and their supporters. Volunteer tasks may include: greeting graduates and guests; ensuring guests have access to shuttles, wheelchairs and first aid; helping with stadium logistics and more. Volunteers will receive a $50 gift card to the University Store for each shift completed. For additional details on faculty and staff shifts at Spring Commencement, go to the Employee Engagement Program page.
Sign up for spring commencement shifts
Nominations Open for 37th Annual Community Service Awards
The Center for Service in Action is hosting the 37th annual Cal Poly Community Service Awards, and nominations for this esteemed recognition are due by midnight Sunday, May 7. Awards for the categories of individual faculty, staff and student contributions, along with student organizations and community partner of the year, will be awarded during a ceremony on May 18. President Armstrong bestows the awards and recognizes recipients for their efforts. Learn more about the history of the awards, details on each category and a link to the nomination form. Questions? Email the Center for Service in Action at [email protected].
Safer to Host Action Planning and Trigger/Content Warnings Workshops
Safer invites faculty and staff to attend two important workshops on May 11 and 16. Both sessions will be held via Zoom. They include:
- Action Planning Workshop: Thursday, May 11, 10 a.m. to noon. This workshop is designed to help employees grow as leaders in gender and power-based violence prevention. Learn about the root causes of gender and power-based violence and explore risk and protective factors for sexual violence perpetration. Attendees will create individual plans to integrate violence prevention activities into their position on campus. Join the workshop via Zoom.
- Trigger/Content Warnings Workshop: Tuesday, May 16, 1-2 p.m. This workshop will discuss trigger warnings and their effectiveness versus their potential to cause harm. Participants will have the chance to examine the impact of putting these warnings on their materials and consider multiple perspectives. Attendees will look at recent research and feedback from students involved with the Safer program. Join the workshop via Zoom.
Teacher-Scholar Mini-Grant Program Proposals Due May 28
The 2023-24 Teacher-Scholar Mini-Grant Program is now open. This program has been developed to support Cal Poly's institutional commitment to advancing discovery, integration, application and engagement in the context of teaching and learning. With support from the Office of the Provost, the Teacher-Scholar Mini-Grant Program expands internal funding to support all areas of teacher-scholar activities. All faculty unit employees are eligible to compete for funding, including lecturers, tenure-track, and tenured faculty. Proposals are due before midnight Sunday, May 28, via the Cal Poly InfoReady system. A Teacher-Scholar Mini-Grant Program Information session will be held on Zoom at 1:10 p.m., Friday, May 5. Participants must be logged in with their Cal Poly credentials to join. Direct questions to [email protected].
Find more information and submission instructions
Applications Open for Faculty Sustainability Fellow
The Center for Teaching and Learning and Technology is accepting applications for a two-year Sustainability Faculty Fellow for upcoming academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25. The faculty fellow will help focus Cal Poly’s efforts to prepare students to pursue social justice, promote environmental responsibility and improve economic conditions in their workplaces and communities. This two-year pilot fellowship is open to instructors of all ranks with at least two years of Cal Poly service. For best consideration, applications should be received by Friday, May 12, and no later than Friday, May 19.
Visit the Sustainability in the Curriculum webpage to learn more and apply
University Personnel Offers Well-being Workshops in April and May
University Personnel — Employee Wellbeing has worked with Cal Poly’s employee assistance program, LifeMatters, to offer synchronous well-being workshops. They include:
- Personal Resilience: Learn how engagement and energy management relate to personal resilience. The concepts covered will challenge long-held beliefs and habits about maintaining a work-life balance. The session will discuss principles of energy management, understanding engagement and developing energy rituals. April 20 at 10 a.m.
- Respect in a Diverse Workplace: Learn about the benefits of a diverse, inclusive workplace and how to remove barriers through constructive, assertive confrontation. This session will review definitions of diversity and respect, examples of respectful and disrespectful behaviors, and assertive confrontation. May 18 at 11 a.m.
- Mind-Body Wellness: Practicing mindfulness, breathing and guided relaxation promote mind-body wellness. Learn how to develop a centering mindset and improve focus. May 23 at 2 p.m.
Contact Lisa Gray at [email protected] for more information on well-being workshops.
Employee Assistance Webinar Set for April 27
Empathia - LifeMatters, Cal Poly’s employee assistance program, offers a free benefit for workers and household members, including dependents living away from home. The benefit includes 24-hour access to confidential well-being services. In a live hourlong webinar — set for 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 27 — Phil Gray of Empathia — LifeMatters will provide an overview of the types of services available through the program, including counseling, legal and financial referrals, convenience services, how to access services and information about the provider network. No registration needed; access the webinar at the link below. The session will be recorded and available one week after the presentation date. Empathia - LifeMatters services are available 24 hours a day and can be accessed at mylifematters.com using the sign-in “calpoly,” by phone at 1-800-367-7474, or through the LifeMatters app. Contact Lisa Gray at [email protected] with questions.
Cal Poly Safer to Host Denim Day April 26
Safer invites faculty and staff to attend a Denim Day reception from 8:30-10 a.m. Wednesday, April 26, in the Campus Health and Wellbeing downstairs patio (No. 27) as part of its monthlong Sexual Assault Action Month campaign. Denim Day is an international campaign that evolved out of an Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction because the victim wore tight jeans. Millions of people across the world wear denim on this day to show their support for survivors. Wear denim and join us for pastries, coffee and community. Participants can write letters to survivors, make their own Denim Day buttons and take photos in front of a denim backdrop. Get a free Denim Day button (first 25 responders) to wear with your jeans by contacting Gillian Cutshaw at [email protected].
Youth Swim Lessons at the Cal Poly Recreation Center
Learning to swim starts with ASI Aquatics’ youth swim lessons. ASI Recreational Sports offers small, tailored group lessons to the children of Cal Poly Recreation Center members, ages 4 to 16. Members can sign their child up for youth swim lessons to give them the opportunity to learn with participants of similar skill levels and be paired with instructors that best fit their abilities. There are still spaces available for session two lessons on May 6, 13, 20, and June 3. Lessons will take place on Saturday mornings at the Recreation Center Leisure Pool from either 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. or 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Learn more about youth swim lessons
Connect in New Study Space in Spring Quarter
University Housing is hosting a temporary study space at the Sierra Madre Lounge. Opening up this new temporary study space is the most recent step to helping the university community prepare alternative study spaces around the campus in advance of the Kennedy Library building closure and renovation. Construction on the library is set to begin this summer. All students can sign in and access this space seven days a week between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from the main entrance of Sierra Madre Community Center. Access to the lounge after hours will be limited to residents only.
Cal Poly Corp. Enhancing Campus Dining Experience
To continue to enhance the student experience, Cal Poly Corporation is expanding its current partnership with Chartwells Higher Education that will bring additional resources to Campus Dining starting July 1. The expanded partnership will offer access to new systems and industry expertise, as well as financial support that will further the success of the Campus Dining program. Chartwells’ increasing partnership creates a new model to maintain an affordable dining program as the campus grows. While Chartwells will provide daily management, the corporation will continue to lead the short- and long-term program decisions and the development of master plans. Campus Dining staff, including students, will keep their current positions as Chartwells employees and will continue to receive competitive wages and more choices in their new benefits packages. Compass Group, Chartwells’ parent company, was ranked in Forbes 2022 Best Employers for Diversity and Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity in 2023. Chartwells has worked with the corporation since 2017, when it was first contracted to provide management and consulting services for Campus Dining operations.
Staged Reading and Discussion Panel on ‘Our Enemies’ Set for April 27
The campus community is invited to attend a staged reading of award-winning playwright and guest artist Yussef El Guindi's “Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat” featuring Cal Poly student actors at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27, in Room 212 of the Davidson Music Center (No. 45). The reading will be followed by a panel discussion titled "Arabs and 'Others' in American Culture," moderated by theatre and dance faculty member Hala Baki and featuring the playwright along with Assistant Professor of Theatre Ramón Esquivel and Assistant Professor of English Shanae Martinez. This event is free and open to the public, hosted by the English and Theatre and Dance departments and the Multicultural Center. Anyone needing any type of accommodation, including (but not limited to) physical access, deaf/hard of hearing services or adapted materials, can contact [email protected] in advance of their attendance.
Pianist W. Terrence Spiller to Perform Beethoven Sonatas April 28
Pianist and Music Professor Emeritus W. Terrence Spiller will give an all-Beethoven recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, in the Pavilion of the Performing Arts Center. The recital is the seventh in Spiller’s survey of the complete piano sonatas of Beethoven. For this year’s program, Spiller will perform the poetic masterpiece Op. 109; two large early works: Sonatas Op. 2, No. 2, and Op. 10, No. 3; and the compact and joyous Sonata Op. 78. Spiller retired from full-time teaching in March 2021, but he continues to teach applied piano in the Music Department. Tickets are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Actress Isabella Rossellini Brings Her One-Woman Show to the PAC April 29
Cal Poly Arts presents Italian actress, author, philanthropist and model Isabella Rossellini in Miossi Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29. Best known as an award-winning actress but also holding a master’s degree in animal behavior and conservation, Rossellini seeks to reconcile her two worlds of acting and complex scientific theories in this new one-woman show through humor, insight and a killer Charles Darwin impression. The show is both a lesson on evolution and acting. In her usual comical tones, she demonstrates how acting could be used to understand the mysterious nature of animals and their emotions. With humor and simple devices, she plays on stage dogs, cats, chickens, peacocks, and of course, Charles Darwin.
Get tickets to see Isabella Rossellini
Climber Maureen Beck to Speak at the PAC May 1
Cal Poly Arts presents paraclimber Maureen Beck at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 1, in Miossi Hall. She learned how to rock climb one-handed through trial and error — one of her early adaptive climbing innovations involved taping a metal ladle to her arm. It wasn’t long before she was tackling some of the hardest climbs by a one-handed athlete, securing two world championships in the process. In her constant pursuit of new challenges, Beck journeyed to Canada’s Cirque of the Unclimbables to attempt the first unassisted adaptive climb of the Lotus Flower Tower. With her trademark humor and wit, this 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year will chronicle her journey as one of the foremost leaders in the sport of paraclimbing. A 20% staff and faculty discount is available for this event.
Get tickets to hear Maureen Beck
University Art Gallery’s 2023 Juried Student Exhibition Open Through May 2
The annual Juried Student Show is open in the University Art Gallery in the Dexter Building (No. 34), from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The show, juried by artist Chen Tianquitao, a visiting professor of photography, features work made in Cal Poly Art and Design classes. The 2023 Juried Student Show includes an impressive grouping of artwork from many different mediums, all carefully selected from a larger pool of submissions.
Aditya Prakash Ensemble to Perform in the PAC Pavilion May 3
Cal Poly Arts presents vocalist Aditya Prakash at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, in the PAC Pavilion. Prakash is one of the foremost young virtuosos of Carnatic music, the traditional classical style of South India. Growing up in Los Angeles, Prakash was rooted in South Indian arts and culture through his immigrant family, yet at school, he found himself in a distinct minority. He has studied Carnatic voice with great dedication since childhood, but he kept that passion apart from the public persona he had for his friends. In 2010, Prakash founded the Aditya Prakash Ensemble. The roots of the ensemble’s unique collaboration began during the members’ ethnomusicology studies at UCLA, where horizons to cross-cultural musical interaction expanded vastly. The young, imaginative group of musicians, who while bridging seemingly disparate styles of music, create a boldly innovative and powerful mix of the deep-rooted tradition of Indian classical ragas, chants and rhythms with the modern sounds of brass band arrangement, jazz harmony and hip hop-infused rhythms. A 20% staff and faculty discount is available for this event.
Get tickets to the Aditya Prakash Ensemble
Darryl Taylor to Present Vocal Master Class, Seminar with Bill Banfield on May 4
Countertenor Darryl Taylor, a soloist, recording artist, professor, arts administrator and founder of the African American Art Song Alliance, will present a vocal masterclass and seminar on Thursday, May 4, in Room 218 of the Davidson Music Center. The master class will be at 11:10 a.m. and will feature performances by three music majors studying voice. The seminar will begin at 5:10 p.m. Taylor will be joined by another guest artist, Bill Banfield, who will be at Cal Poly for a residency co-sponsored by the Music and Ethnic Studies departments and the San Luis Obispo Symphony. Taylor will speak and answer questions about his extensive career. Students interested in careers in the arts, education, arts administration or African American repertoire are encouraged to attend and ask questions or observe. The presentations are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Author, Professor Bradley Onishi to Speak on Christian Nationalism in America
Cal Poly welcomes University of San Francisco Professor Bradley Onishi to explore the rise of Christian nationalism in contemporary America from 3:30-5 p.m. Friday, May 5, in Philips Hall (No. 6) Room 124. Author of "Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes Next" and co-host of the popular podcast "Straight White American Jesus," Onishi draws from both his personal experience as a former evangelical Christian and his scholarly work to trace the origins of Christian nationalism — the belief among some that America is and should be fundamentally for white Christians — and speculate about its future. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact religious studies Professor Stephen Lloyd-Moffett at [email protected].
SLO Symphony Presents Season Finale on May 6
SLO Symphony presents Tchaikovsky’s Fourth in Miossi Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6. Composer William Banfield’s work, commissioned in 2022 by Andrew Sewell and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, will receive its West Coast premiere with SLO Symphony saxophonist Anthony Yi. “Testimony of Tone, Tune and Time,” written for two narrators, saxophone, piano and strings is based upon the speeches of Frederick Douglass. The symphony welcomes this message of courage, hope and endurance. Hindemith’s “Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber” is a masterpiece for orchestra and one all musicians love to play. The symphony will conclude with Tchaikovsky’s stunning Symphony No. 4, a tour de force for “brass and a triumphant end to the season.
Get tickets to the SLO Symphony
May 7 Sing Along with ‘The Greatest Showman’ to Benefit PAC Outreach Services
Join in a special sing-along screening of the hit film “The Greatest Showman” at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 7, in Miossi Hall. Starring Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron, the film tells the story of American showman P.T. Barnum as he creates a showcase of talent that eventually becomes the traveling Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. This fun family event will feature lyrics on screen for all the songs. Costumes are encouraged, so come as a ringmaster, clown, animal, strong man or acrobat. Families are also encouraged to come early to enjoy some activities in the lobby before the film. All proceeds will benefit the PAC Outreach Services program, serving to create an accessible center for students throughout the Central Coast. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and children.
Get tickets to benefit PAC Outreach Services
OperaSLO to Bring Comedic Operetta to the PAC May 13-14
Opera San Luis Obispo will present a new rendition of Johann Strauss II’s comedic masterpiece, “Die Fledermaus,” at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 13-14, in Miossi Hall. The original “Die Fledermaus” was set in Vienna on New Year’s Eve in 1899; however, OperaSLO’s new production takes place at a 1970s-themed masquerade disco party in New York City. As the evening unfolds, the main character is pranked by his best friend through a hilarious series of events. Set to some of the most famous melodies and Viennese waltzes of all time and performed by a live orchestra, the production features an acclaimed cast of singers and dancers from around the country.
Get tickets to “Die Fledermaus”
Event Postings
Events.calpoly.edu is a new platform that shines a spotlight on high-profile special events at Cal Poly and throughout our community, focusing on the wide and diverse range of activities on and around campus. This site is designed to help our colleges, programs, departments and facilities promote exciting events that can be seen by a selected audience. It will update regularly and includes events happening in the next 30-45 days. It is not a calendar of all events, and it does not include student club events. Here are some links to help you navigate:
Submitting an Event to Events.calpoly.edu
To submit your event for consideration, please send the event title, date, time, duration, ticket information, intended audience(s) and image (1600 bpi wide) to [email protected].
University Events Calendar
To find a listing of all events — such as performances, lectures, workshops and more — visit our Master Calendar.
Scheduling/Booking Venues
25Live: Space and Event Scheduling can help you schedule or book a venue for an upcoming on-campus event.
Note that a minimum three-day lead time is required to process a request for use of space through the Office of the Registrar.
Visit Cal Poly Now for Student Affairs events, learning opportunities and more
Find the latest student-focused campus events from your favorite Student Affairs programs and services by visiting the new Cal Poly Now.