Updates about the latest accomplishments—including latest research, publications, and awards—by students, faculty, and staff
Faculty Dr. Cutcha Risling Baldy, Dr. Kaitlin Reed, Native American Studies
Drs. Cutcha Risling Baldy and Kaitlin Reed received a $1 million grant from the Sierra Health Foundation to support the Food for Indigenous Futures project, an initiative of The Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab and Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute (FSL). The program aims to develop tribally informed, place-based, and culturally informed programming for mental health and substance abuse interventions amongst Native American youth. FSL Coordinator Marlene' Dusek will serve as project director. Funding will also support the creation of an Indigenous youth council to serve in an advisory capacity to the FSL, and support the Lab’s annual Indigenous Foods Festival.Student Elizabeth Osuna, Haley Huffaker, Dr. Meenal Rana,
Two Child Development students, Elizabeth Osuna (2020 graduate) and Haley Huffaker (graduating fall 2022), with their advisor, Dr. Meenal Rana, have been accepted to publish their manuscript, "Resilience among Student Parents in College: Voices of Latina Student Mothers" in the special issue (College Women of Color) of Research in Human Development (RHD) Journal. The team has presented their research at the Society of Research on Child Development’s (SRCD) biennial meeting (April 2021); the CSU wide research competition (April 2020); HSU's 26th Annual Social Justice Summit (March 2020), and Society of Study on Human Development (SSHD) Conference (October 2019).
Staff Michele Miyamoto, Arianna Thobaben, Su Karl, Victor Garcia Balderas, Xander Roberts, Nicole Womack, Learning Center
Michele Miyamoto, Arianna Thobaben, and Su Karl presented at the Association of Colleges for Tutoring and Learning Assistance (ACTLA) Conference a workshop titled Advancing Equity Beyond the Training Session that shared what Cal Poly Learning Center is doing to create Equitable Learning Spaces in their center. Here they contributed an Equitable Learning Spaces assessment for learning center professionals to utilize and provided an action-research model for training Tutors and Supplemental Instruction Leaders in developing equity-minded practices. Cal Poly Humboldt students and Supplemental Instruction Leaders Victor Garcia Balderas, Xander Roberts and Nicole Womack presented their findings during the session.
Faculty Taylor Bloedon, School of Applied Health
Dr. Taylor Bloedon received a grant to expand a collaborative project with Cal Poly SLO, examining the effects of wild blueberries (WB) on fat oxidation and exercise. The project aims to measure substrate oxidation in men and women at rest and various exercise intensities following 4 weeks of WBs. Project findings will enhance pilot data demonstrating significant increases in fat oxidation during exercise following 2 weeks of WBs. WBs are a safe and healthy alternative to many current methods used to increase fat oxidation in both athletes and non-athletes, they also significantly reduce cardiometabolic disease risk and improve overall health.Faculty Susan Edinger Marshall , Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management
Dr. Susan Edinger Marshall received a planning grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to develop the California Rangeland Education (CRED) program in collaboration with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and Audubon California. The initiative aims to assist individuals in completing educational requirements to sit for the California Certified Rangeland Manager (CRM) exam, analogous to the Registered Professional Foresters (RPF) exam. The program will create a curated study guide for prospective candidates, and also inventory and suggest integrative range courses being offered in California, perhaps by collaborating with other campuses and ranches.Faculty Prof Alison Holmes (INTL) and Dr Susan Ross (San Jose State), International Studies
International Studies Professor Alison Holmes and Dr Susan Ross (San Jose State) presented to study abroad coordinators at the CSU International Forum at Sonoma State. Together with Dr Lily House Peters (CSU Long Beach) they are conducting research into ways to update and improve materials to support students before and after they return from study abroad that better represent the diversity of our students. The feedback was positive including interest from the Chancellor's Office. Faculty Sarah Jaquette Ray, Environmental Studies
With co-editors Sarah D. Wald, David Vazquez, and Priscilla Solis Ybarra, Environmental Studies professor Sarah Jaquette Ray's book, Latinx Environmentalisms: Justice, Place, and the Decolonial (Temple UP) won the Modern Language Association's prize for best edited book. Faculty Troy Lescher, Austin Maisler & Isabelie Montalvo, Dance, Music & Theatre
Dr. Troy Lescher and students Austin Maisler ('22) and Isabelie Montalvo ('23) published the “Doctoral Projects in Progress in Theatre Arts, 2022” report for the Association of Theatre in Higher Education [ATHE].Faculty 1, Geography
The Association of Pacific Coast Geographers, the western branch of American Association of Geographers, recently honored emeritus Professor Stephen Cunha with their Distinguished Service Award. During the awarding, a former student said “His passion for teaching geography through storytelling is unrivaled in the APCG. He has inspired generations of new geographers on the Pacific Coast and mentored many of them on to professions in the academy and industry for decades.” In February, Stephen heads to Senegal, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia to lecture on National Parks and World Heritage Sites.Faculty Michael H. Pazeian,
Michael H. Pazeian published the interview “John Hewston, World War II Veteran: Aircraft Gunner, Mechanic, and Supply Sergeant” in the newly released ideaFest Journal. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ideafest/Student Carrie Tully,
Carrie Tully published their CSU Research Competition article and presentation “Working Towards Land Return in Goukdi'n: A History of Genocide and a Future of Healing” in the newly released ideaFest Journal. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ideafest/Student Eli Baginski, Eden Marquez, and Skye Choi, School of Applied Health
Eli Baginski, Eden Marquez, and Skye Choi published their CSU Research Competition article and presentation “Normative Values of College-Aged Men and Women for the 1.5-Mile Test on a Treadmill for Cardiorespiratory Fitness” in the newly released ideaFest Journal. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ideafest/Student Sondra P. Schwetman, Art + Film
Sondra P. Schwetman published her original artwork “S.O.S.” in the newly released ideaFest Journal. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ideafest/Student Albert Ochoa Castillo and Dr. Joshua Smith, Chemistry
Albert Ochoa Castillo and Dr. Joshua Smith published the peer-reviewed paper “Design of Possible Organic Photovoltaic Compounds and Their Initial Computational Assessment” in the newly released ideaFest Journal. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ideafest/Student Kodiak E. Miller, Caleb J. Strait, Jacob I. Begorre, Brittney L. Mitchell, and Dr. Claire P. Till, Chemistry
Kodiak E. Miller, Caleb J. Strait, Jacob I. Begorre, Brittney L. Mitchell, and Dr. Claire P. Till published the peer-reviewed paper “Concentration of Heavy Metals in Three Distinct Algae Families from Humboldt County, California” in the newly released ideaFest Journal. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ideafest/Faculty Nikola Hobbel, English
Dr. Nikola Hobbel's co-edited collection titled *Social Justice Pedagogy Across the Curriculum: The Practice of Freedom* has been released from Routledge in a second edition. Co-edited by Cal Poly English Professor Nikola Hobbel and Thandeka K. Chapman, the book takes up the question: "What knowledge and tools do pre- and in-service educators need to teach for and about social justice across the curriculum in K-12 classrooms?" The collection synthesizes historical foundations, philosophic/theoretical conceptualizations, and applications of social justice education in public school classrooms. That the book is released in second edition is indicative of its significance in the field.
Staff Michele Miyamoto, Arianna Thobaben, Su Karl, Victor Garcia Balderas, Xander Roberts and Nicole Womack , Learning Center
Michele Miyamoto, Arianna Thobaben, and Su Karl presented at the Association of Colleges for Tutoring and Learning Assistance (ACTLA) Conference a workshop titled Advancing Equity Beyond the Training Session that shared what Cal Poly Humboldt Learning Center is doing to create Equitable Learning Spaces in their center. Here they contributed an Equitable Learning Spaces assessment for Learning Center Professionals to utilize and provided an action-research model for training Tutors and Supplemental Instruction Leaders in developing equity-minded practices. Cal Poly Humboldt students and Supplemental Instruction Leaders, Victor Garcia Balderas, Xander Roberts, and Nicole Womack presented their findings during the session.
Faculty Sarah Jaquette Ray, Environmental Studies
Dr. Sarah Jaquette Ray will join a panel of experts on the topic of "Climate Education as Climate Action," organized by the Penn Program for Environmental Humanities, on December 13, 10-11am. Register to join at this link: https://www.amphilsoc.org/events/climate-education-climate-action-virtu…Student Giselle Urquijo, Kana Voelckers, Dr. Marjan Asadinia, Computer Science
Computer Science students Giselle Urquijo and Kana Voelckers, in collaboration with Assistant Professor Dr. Marjan Asadinia, presented their poster on Improving Reliability and Durability of Phase Change Main Memories at this years Northwestern Regional Conference hosted by the Consortium for Computing Sciences in colleges, winning Best Poster Award.Faculty Suzanne Pasztor , History
Professor Suzanne Pasztor published the book, La revolución Mexicana en Coahuila: El espíritu de Hidalgo. The book was published by Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, and was featured at the Feria Internacional del Libro in Saltillo, Cohauila, Mexico. Pasztor was the invited keynote speaker at that event.Faculty Armeda C. Reitzel, Communication
Armeda C. Reitzel, Professor Emerita, was one of the co-authors of a new open educational resource titled: "Interpersonal Communication: Context and Connection (OERI)." This project was funded and facilitated by The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI). Faculty Mary Virnoche, Sociology
Professor Mary Virnoche published in Teaching Sociology “‘You Make Your Own Luck’: Building Cultural and Social Capital in a Major-Based Career Course.” The piece is a call to action for sociologists and other faculty, particularly those serving first-generation and BIPOC students. Research indicates that first-generation students are more likely than continuing generation students to rely on posted ads for opportunities, while most opportunities are actually discovered through networking. The article outlines curriculum and a pilot assessment of a required sociology proseminar. The course focuses on integrating major-based skills into professional materials, developing soft skills, and organizing professional opportunities and contacts.Faculty Alison Ruth Holmes, International Studies
Professor Alison Holmes (Chair International Studies and Politics) presented to the Association of Interdisciplinary Studies hosted by Sonoma State University. She was attending the conference to promote the new online interdisciplinary journal, csuglobal. With a launch set for 2023, the journal will highlight the global work of faculty, students and staff of the CSU system. The goal is to better connect our campuses while showcasing the research, curricular and co-curricular work we do that connects California to the world. If you would like to know more about the journal or to submit your work email Dr Alison Holmes: csuglobalmanagingeditor@humboldt.edu.Faculty Alison Holmes (Chair, Politics and International Studies), Richard Marcus (Global Studies Institute, CSULB), International Studies
Professor Alison Holmes and Professor Richard Marcus (CSU Long Beach) made a brief presentation via zoom to the CSU's Academic Council of International Programs enlisting their help to get the word out about the new online journal, csuglobal. This interdisciplinary journal will launch in 2023 and is designed to showcase the work of faculty, staff and students of the CSU as they connect California to the world. If you are interested in learning about the journal or submitting work email Dr Holmes: csuglobalmanagingeditor@humboldt.edu.Student Johnathon A. Macias, Environmental Science & Management
Johnathon A. Macias published the peer-reviewed paper “Highlighting the Disconnect Between Legislation and Sustainable Cannabis” in the newly released ideaFest Journal. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ideafest/Student Erin J. Hanson and Dr. Jose R. Marin Jarrin, Fisheries Biology
Erin J. Hanson and Dr. Jose R. Marin Jarrin published the peer-reviewed paper “List of Fish Species Present in Galápagos, Ecuador, and California, U.S.A., With Notes on Their Commercial Importance and Conservation Status” in the newly released ideaFest Journal. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ideafest/Student Louis Antonelli, Alexandra Winkler, Theron Taylow, and Natalie Greenleaf, Fisheries Biology
Louis Antonelli, Alexandra Winkler, Theron Taylow, and Natalie Greenleaf published the peer-reviewed paper ”Variation in Coastal Macroinvertebrate Species Diversity on Intertidal Boulders in Trinidad, California” in the newly released ideaFest Journal. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ideafest/Student Jasmine Williamshen, Alison O'Dowd, Kyle De Juilio, Nicholas Som, Darren Ward, Brian Williamshen, Environmental Science & Management
Former ESM graduate student Jasmine Williamshen and co-authors Alison O'Dowd (ESM professor), Kyle De Juilio (Yurok Tribe Fisheries Program), Nicholas Som (USFWS), Darren Ward (Fisheries professor) and Brian Williamshen (UC Davis) published a paper entitled, "Restoration pulse flows from a California dam temporarily increase drifting invertebrate biomass concentration" in the Journal of Environmental Management (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479722022204).Faculty Geneviève Marchand, Recreation Administration
Geneviève Marchand recently completed a national study on compensation in collegial outdoor programs. Findings were presented at the Symposium on Experiential Education Research and are published in a national report through the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education.Student G. Webster Ross, Environmental Systems, M.S.
G. Webster Ross published the peer-reviewed paper “Injustice Within Renewable Energy Life Cycles: Can IRENA Offer a Solution?” in the newly released ideaFest Journal. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ideafest/Faculty Micaela Szykman Gunther, Ho Yi Wan, Wildlife
Drs. Micaela Szykman Gunther and Ho Yi Wan received a $170,000 grant from the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) to support a distribution study on the marten and fisher, two closely related members of the weasel family that are both species of special concern. The project aims to assess potential shifts in the species’ distributions after wildfires in Lassen County, and will support two Department of Wildlife graduate students. Findings will determine if certain management strategies or habitat types are more resilient to fire, potentially serving as refugia for martens and fishers.Faculty Pedro Peloso, Biological Sciences
Research Associate Dr. Pedro Peloso and collaborators have discovered and described a new species of frog from South America (Brazil and French Guiana). They revealed this discovery in a paper titled "A new Chiasmocleis (Anura: Microhylidae) from the eastern Guiana Shield with an amended definition of C. haddadi", published in the Journal Zootaxa.Faculty Laura Johnson, Geography
Dr. Laura Johnson, a lecturer in departments of Geography and Environmental Studies, was interviewed on the Sacred Community Project Podcast. Her conversation with host Sitaram Dass, MSW, revolved around ecological grief, rest as radical practice, embodied activism, and postcapitalist futures, among other related topics. Feel free to listen or share here: https://sacredcommunityproject.org/digital-library/eco-grief Faculty Bonnie Ludka, Adam Young, Robert Guza, William O’Reilly, Mark Merrifield, Environmental Resources Engineering
Dr. Bonnie Ludka and colleagues have published a paper in Coastal Engineering titled "Alongshore variability of a southern California beach, before and after nourishment." Their work investigates the link between wave-driven alongshore currents and hotspots of beach erosion and accretion on a southern California beach. Additionally, they analyze the effectiveness (both positive and negative impacts) of beach nourishment as a coastal management technique to manage the hotspots. The influence of alongshore sand transport on the migration and closure of a nearby river mouth is also discussed.Student Frank Juma Ong'ondo, Frank Fogarty III, Peter Njoroge, and Matt Johnson, Wildlife
Wildlife graduate student Frank Juma Ong'ondo and his collaborators Drs. Frank Fogarty and Matt Johnson from Humboldt Wildlife, and Dr. Peter Njoroge from the National Museums of Kenya published a paper entitled "Bird abundance and diversity in shade coffee and natural forest in Kenya" in the journal Global Ecology & Conservation. Open access link here.Faculty Dr. Oscar M. Vargas-Hernandez, Biological Sciences
Assistant Professor Dr. Oscar Vargas and collaborators published a paper titled "Evolutionary history constrains heat tolerance of native and exotic tropical Zingiberales." The paper studies the thermal tolerance of native and wild gingers in Costa Rica, discussing its implications to conservation and the biology of invasive species. Faculty Matt Johnson, Wildlife
Wildlife faculty member Matt Johnson has secured a new grant ($659,987) from the Agricultural Research Institute to investigate the use of nest boxes for bluebirds and swallows for insect pest control in winegrape vineyards. The 3-year project is in collaboration with researchers at UC Davis (Dr. Daniel Karp) and UC Riverside (Drs. Erin Wilson-Rankin and S. Houston Wilson), and it will fund a post-doctoral researcher and multiple undergraduate students from Cal Poly Humboldt, along with a PhD student at UC Davis. The research will occur in Napa Valley.Faculty Brittany D. Light and Robert W. Zoellner, Chemistry
Professor Emeritus Robert W. Zoellner and his former student, Brittany D. Light, have published a "mini-review" entitled "Chemistry with a capital Z: The superheavy elements, Flerovium" in the Summer 2022 issue of The Hexagon of Alpha Chi Sigma: B. D. Light and R. W. Zoellner, The Hexagon of Alpha Chi Sigma, 2022, 113(2), 20-24.Faculty Tara S. Caso, Robert W. Zoellner, Chemistry
Professor Emeritus Robert W. Zoellner and his former student, Tara S. Caso, have published a peer-reviewed article entitled "The effect of substituents on the hypothetical decomposition energies of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) derivatives: Structures and properties from density functional calculations": T. S Caso, R. W. Zoellner, Journal of Undergraduate Chemistry Research 2022, 21, 106-110.Faculty Alison O'Dowd, Environmental Science & Management
Dr. Alison O'Dowd, with collaborators in the Yurok Tribe and Hoopa Valley Tribe, was awarded $123,000 by the Trinity River Restoration Program to explore the effects of scour and marginal inundation on Trinity River invertebrate communities. River invertebrates are an important food resource for salmonids and this study will investigate if longer periods of winter inundation can bolster invertebrate populations. The other aspect of the study will use monthly invertebrate sampling to see if high-flow winter scouring events can 're-set' the system and increase fish food later in the season (as has been shown in other research).Faculty Pedro Peloso and Brandice Guerra, Biological Sciences
Dr. Pedro Peloso and Brandice Guerra, M.F.A., received a $10,000 grant from the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation to support a scientific illustration residency program at Cal Poly Humboldt. The program will recruit a student or recent graduate from anywhere in the world to work with faculty from the departments of Art+Film and Biology. The intern will create a series of illustrations of recently extinct Brazilian frogs, and share their work and artistic process through a lecture or exhibition on campus.Student Linda Kuckuk, English
Linda J. Kuckuk (graduate student, M.A. English, Applied English Studies) is presenting a paper titled "Interwoven Stories/Embroidered Identity" at the 119th Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association (PAMLA) Conference in November 2022. The conference theme is "Geographies of the Fantastic and the Quotidian." Linda's presentation will be part of a session on ideas about "Auto/biography."
Student Alexandra Papesh and Tanner Hooven, Physics & Astronomy
Congratulations to Physics & Astronomy majors Alexandra Papesh and Tanner Hooven who presented Cal Poly Humboldt gravitational physics research at the 2022 Far West Section Meeting of the American Physical Society. This year around 100 researchers were welcomed by the University of Hawai'i, Manoa in Honolulu to share knowledge, network, and learn about recent groundbreaking results. Great work!!Faculty Dr. Christopher Hopper (KINS), Dr. Sheila Rocker Heppe (CEEGE), Joy Hermsen (LDRS), and Betsy Rogers (LDRS), School of Applied Health
Dr. Christopher Hopper, Program Director; Dr. Sheila Rocker Heppe, Director of Extended Education; Joy Hermsen, faculty; and Betsy Rogers, Academic Advisor, presented at the California Community College Association for Occupational Education Conference (CCCAOE) to an audience of faculty and administrators representing vocational/technical degrees throughout the CCC system. The presentation highlighted transfer pathways for members of the vocational and technical workforce to earn their bachelor’s degree in Leadership Studies, a fully online major at Cal Poly Humboldt, and shared how California community college programs can build transfer agreements that cater to working adults. https://extended.humboldt.edu/leadership-studies/overviewStudent Molly Parren, Daniel Barton, and Barbara Clucas, Wildlife
Molly Parren, MS graduate in Wildlife, published results from her MS thesis research, "Drought and coyotes mediate mesopredator response to human disturbance" in the ESA open-access journal Ecosphere, co-authored with Cal Poly Humboldt faculty Drs. Daniel Barton and Barbara Clucas and CDFW scientists Dr. Brett Furnas and Misty Nelson. This work addressed how California's extreme drought and coyotes in 2013-16 influenced interactions between bobcats, kit foxes, raccoons, and human disturbance at 585 study sites throught California's Central Valley and Mojave Deserts.Faculty Alan Tepley, Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management
Alan Tepley was the lead author on a paper that evaluates trends in wildfire evacuations across Canada's forested regions over the last four decades. The study summarizes spatial variation in the characteristics of the fires that led to evacuations (e.g., the size, seasonality, and ignition sources) and the communities exposed (e.g., population, access to the road network, and trends in evacuations on First Nations reserves vs. non-reserves). Understanding the key risk factors and how they vary spatially across Canada and temporally over the fire season will aid in planning for future fire seasons.
Faculty Hunter Harrill, Will Goldenberg, Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management
Dr. Hunter Harrill (Forestry, Fire, and Rangeland Management) was invited to deliver a presentation titled, "Creating Immersive Field Trips and Assignments During COVID" for a panel session on Forest Operations Education at the COFE-FORMEC-IUFRO Division 3 International Conference of Forest Engineering, in Corvallis, Oregon, October 4-7th, 2022. His presentation featured the high quality virtual field trips that were filmed and produced by Humboldt alumni Will Goldenberg, that are now helping professors from other universities around the world, to educate their students. Dr. Harrill also served as a moderator for a panel session on Forest Operations Planning Issues and Opportunities. Student Club Dennis Lindelof, Lisa Elconin, Huntington Paulson, Amanda Admire, Geology
On Saturday October 1st, the Geology Club officers, Dennis Lindelof, Lisa Elconin and Huntington Paulson, joined the Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group and Humboldt Earthquake Education Center to participate in Pastels on the Plaza. Their design promoted the Great ShakeOut happening on October 20th at 10:20 am, and it highlighted the importance of earthquake and tsunami awareness and preparedness. Check out their design on the Arcata Plaza! We encourage everyone to sign up and participate in ShakeOut during Safety Week so you too can practice your earthquake and tsunami drill. Preparedness makes a difference! Student Karolyn Fagundes, Hunter Harrill, Susan Marshall, Andrew Stubblefield, Han-Sup Han, Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management
Karolyn Fagundes (Forestry, Fire, and Rangeland Management) was invited to deliver a presentation highlighting her Master's thesis research, titled, "Assessing Soil Disturbance from a Tethered Feller Buncher on Steep Slopes in Northern California." The presentation was part of a panel session on Environmental Impacts at the COFE-FORMEC-IUFRO Division 3 International Conference of Forest Engineering, in Corvallis, Oregon, October 4-7th, 2022. Student Logan Hysen, Wildlife
Logan Hysen, M.S. student from the Department of Wildlife, was selected to be the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship given by the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the California Association of Environmental Professionals. The scholarship supports students pursuing a career in the environmental field. Logan is conducting research on environmental impacts on northern spotted owl for his thesis.