Breadcrumb
College of Professional Studies
The College of Professional Studies at Cal Poly Humboldt seamlessly integrates core competencies within practical contexts through a variety of immersive experiences. Our graduates emerge as exceptional leaders in their respective professions and communities, embodying a steadfast dedication to social, economic, and environmental justice.
Applied Learning
We provide every student with dynamic opportunities for experiential learning in real-world scenarios, where they engage in practicums, research, internships, clinical, and service-learning experiences. Each is designed to enhance students' career-ready skills, ensuring they are well-prepared for their future.
Social Justice and Sustainability
Through the application of active learning and critical thinking, we prepare students for meaningful community-oriented careers that foster a just, inclusive, and environmentally conscious society.
Personal Guidance
Through innovation and collaboration our faculty challenge and support our students, ensuring their success beyond the classroom. Our students receive academic and career guidance from their faculty advisors, professional advisors, and peer mentors.
Alumni Updates
John and Linda Rubert
Business Administration, 1978
John and Linda met at Humboldt State in 1972 square dancing with the Lumberjacks and Jill’s. After 34 years of running a business, they are retired now and enjoy their cabin on Hayden Lake in Northern Idaho.
Joanie Stadtherr Cahill
Recreation Administration, 1985
Joanie Stadtherr Cahill was recently ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church. Joanie and her husband, Brian Cahill ('81 Natural Resource Planning and Interpretation) both retired from long careers with California State Parks. They live in the Folsom area with their daughter Erin.
Maureen Tubbiola
Psychology, 1983
Maureen took her Bachelor's degree in psychology ('83) in a neurobiology direction through opportunities provided by Humboldt State faculty who connected her to employment in electron microscopy at the University of Utah. She proceeded to earn both an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Zoology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she discovered interest in teaching. She has just returned to her position as Full Professor in Biological Sciences after serving as the Associate Dean of the College of Science and Engineering at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. She is very excited to see her alma mater transition to Cal Poly status!
Kauyumari Sanchez
Psychology
Kauyumari Sanchez, PhD published the article Cross-modal matching of monosyllabic and bisyllabic items varying in phonotactic probability and lexicality in Frontiers in Language Sciences, 4, 1488399. https://doi.org/10.3389/flang.2025.1488399
Ethan Gahtan, John Steele, Emma F. Jones, McKay Gog Butler, Darina Trendafilova, Mayra S Mendez, Luke A. Jernigan
Psychology
Professors Ethan Gahtan (Psychology) and John Steele (Biology) along with students from psychology, biology, and chemistry developed a new transgenic zebrafish line in the Behavioral Neuroscience Research Lab. This development was first described in 2022 in the Journal of Comparative Neurology. They developed a zebrafish fluorescent reporter line to track neuronal chloride (Cl-), KCC2, expression in vivo during early brain development. "KCC2 regulates neuron excitability and development". Then in 2024 the team contributed this genetics resource to the Zebrafish International Resource Center (ZIRC) to make it available to external researchers. Article reference: DOI: 10.1002/cne.25411 ; ZIRC entry: https://zfin.org/ZDB-PUB-221018-26#summary
Sara K. Sterner
Education
Dr. Sara K. Sterner was recently chosen to serve on the award selection committee for the Children's Literature Assembly Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts. The seven-member national committee reviews texts written for young people in grades K-8, reading 700-1,000 books annually. Each year the committee selects 30 books that best exemplify the criteria established for the Notables Award. The role is a three-year appointment.