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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.
Achievements
CAHSS Achievements
Benji Salisbury, Stephan Chittenden, Garrit Rensink, Jayden "Spooky" Rocha, Michael Thomas
Dance, Music & Theatre
The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival has recognized multiple students for their work in Voices of a Silent Stage, our Fall 2024 original physical theatre production directed by Michael Thomas. Benji Salisbury won a Meritorious Achievement Award for his work as the Stage Manager. Spooky Rocha, Gerrit Rensink, and Stephan Chittenden were all nominated to participate in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship auditions at the upcoming KCACTF Region conference in Arizona.
John Gerving, Dan Aldag, Piet Dalmolen
Dance, Music & Theatre
The Cal Poly Humboldt Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Dan Aldag was recently awarded Second Prize in the Doug Davis Composition and Performance Endowment 2024 Performance Awards for their recording of Doug Davis's composition "B. and Me". In addition, pianist John Gerving was recognized for an Outstanding Performance on the recording. The Jazz Orchestra's performance was recorded and mixed by Piet Dalmolen, Lecturer in Music and the Music Department's Audio Technician.
James M. Floss
Communication
The purpose of the JAMES M. FLOSS SCHOLARSHIP FUND is to support students majoring or minoring in Dance, Music, and Theatre Arts or other performing arts, with a focus on Theatre Arts including acting, directing, and storytelling. A $2,000 award will be given annually for a period of five years. Recipients can receive the award only once. Recipients will be selected by the Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre, and awarded by the Financial Aid office. Donations can be made to the fund at https://giving.humboldt.edu/james-m-floss-theatre-arts-fund-0
CAHSS Alumni Updates
Mark Pignatelli
Geography, 2004
Mark's time at Humboldt State in the early 2000s had a profound impact on the man he is today. His graduation pledge was to use his life to actively work toward a more socially and environmentally responsible world.
Shortly after graduating, his professional career began in the renewable energy and energy efficiency space. For the past 20 years, his profession has focused on energy efficiency consulting. He is currently a Director with ICF and leads a team of consultants who design, implement, and evaluate programs that help our clients achieve energy, environmental, and economic goals. His skills include project management, sustainable development, energy assessments, and building science. His passion is to create innovative solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, and improve the quality of life for communities. The energy efficiency programs he supports are designed to help builders, developers, and homeowners adopt high-performance building practices, technologies, and standards that increase energy savings, comfort, and durability.
Mark says Humboldt was and will always be a magical and inspiring place to live, learn, and love. His Humboldt professors, friends, and family opened doors of perception that allowed him to see and understand the world through a new lens. These influences and learnings resulted in his passion for the environment and the precious home he calls Earth.
Jeanette K Shribbs
International Studies, 2007
Jeannette is an elementary school teacher in Northern California.
Nick De Anda
Music, 2023
Nick graduated this past summer with a master's in classical guitar performance from the University of Alicante in Valencia, Spain. He was one of twelve from around the world and one of two from the United States to be selected to attend this intensive, high-caliber six-month program on the gorgeous Iberian coast. Nick was also the founding member of Mariachi de Humboldt, and can now be found volunteering with Guitars4Vets, teaching guitar to local veterans with PTSD, on top of performing and teaching privately near his hometown in Garden Grove.
Upcoming Events
See what's happening around campus.
CAHSS News
- Career Expo & Volunteer Fair Events Kick Off
- Cal Poly Humboldt Spring Welcome Concert
- Painting Instructor Raises over $2,000 for Artists Following L.A. Fires
- How to Prepare When Natural Disasters Strike
- Geography Professor Co-Investigates $1 Million NSF Initiative to Support Foreign-Born Women Faculty in Geospatial Sciences
- Humboldt Students Accepted into CSU Pre-Doctoral Program