Commencement 2025
鶹’s Great Grads
To celebrate Commencement each year, 鶹 highlights a group of “Great Grads” — a student from each of the university’s six colleges who are completing their academic journey here and moving on to the next phase of their lives.
This year, we explore the idea of the impact our graduates have had as students at 鶹 or will have as professionals when they take their Learn by Doing experience into the world.
Orfalea College of Business
Economics Professor Analyzes Teambuilding as NBA Finals Begin
This year’s NBA Finals, featuring two small-market teams with relatively low budgets, demonstrates a shift away from teams driven by star power, says an economics professor who has researched how NBA teams can build winners. The NBA Finals began Thursday with the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Indiana Pacers.
While East Coast and West Coast teams have spent big money on acquiring stars, Kuehn’s research concludes that a better strategy is to build a team with players who work well together, like this year’s finalists.
Digital Democracy
Emmy Nominations Spotlight 鶹’s Role in Reinventing Political Transparency
A 鶹-born transparency platform is earning national acclaim — including two Emmy nominations — for uncovering hidden patterns in California politics and powering award-winning investigative journalism.
Digital Democracy, built through a campus-based research initiative and relaunched in partnership with nonprofit newsroom CalMatters, uses artificial intelligence to turn large volumes of legislative data into searchable, actionable insights.
An Emmy-nominated entry titled “Digital Democracy” — submitted by CalMatters and CBS News — featured reporting that used the tool’s data to reveal how lawmakers quietly sideline bills by declining to vote, including legislation related to California’s fentanyl crisis.
Faculty
Promotion and Tenure
President Jeffrey D. Armstrong and Interim Provost and Executive Vice President Al Liddicoat have announced the promotion of 48 faculty members and the award of tenure to 22 faculty members effective in the 2025-26 academic year. The promotions include 28 to the academic rank of professor and 20 to the rank of associate professor or associate librarian. Armstrong and Liddicoat extend their congratulations and appreciation to those faculty members receiving promotion and/or tenure.
Integration Update
鶹 — Cal Maritime
The administrative integration of 鶹 and Cal Maritime will take place July 1, marking the beginning of the two campuses functioning as one university. This includes the appointment of new leadership: Dr. Corey Cook as CEO of 鶹 Solano Campus, and Rear Admiral (Ret.) Eric C. Jones as superintendent of 鶹 Maritime Academy. These leaders will guide strategic vision, academic excellence and integration efforts, advancing Learn by Doing and maritime education. We will continue the integration process throughout the coming academic year, and all students will become 鶹 students in fall 2026.
Read More About the Integration
Outstanding Staff Award
Three Staff Members to be Recognized at Fall Convocation
Three exemplary staff members have been selected to receive the 2024-25 Outstanding Staff Award: Dee Louie, recently retired assistant director of University Accounting and Reporting; Joe Johnston, senior university photographer in University Communications and Marketing; and Missi Allison-Bullock, director of ASI Programs and Services.
The award, presented by the President’s Office, honors staff members for their dedication and loyalty; expertise in job performance; willingness to assist others; initiative in making their department more efficient and productive; excellent relationships with coworkers, faculty and students; and their contributions to the university. The awardees will be recognized at Fall Convocation in September.
BEACoN
Research Symposium: June 11, noon–2 p.m.
Join for the 2025 BEACoN Research Symposium from noon-2 p.m. in the MAC (No. 43). BEACoN (Believe, Educate and Empower, Advocate, Collaborate, Nurture) is a research mentoring program for underrepresented students funded by the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion.
The symposium will showcase more than 40 research projects conducted by undergraduate student and faculty teams across all six academic colleges, as well as campuswide, DEI-focused projects. You won't want to miss what the 48 BEACoN Research Scholars have to share. Contact BEACoN Faculty Fellow Kelly Bennion at kbennion@calpoly.edu with questions.
Cultivating Empathy
An Economist's Approach Workshop
Explore a unique perspective on empathy in Cultivating Empathy: An Economist’s Approach, happening June 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Zoom. Led by Jennifer Imazeki, this engaging workshop applies cost-benefit analysis — a core concept in economics — to help uncover unconscious assumptions and disrupt bias. Through thoughtful discussion and reflection, you’ll gain practical tools to pause automatic reactions, build understanding, and create more inclusive interactions in both personal and professional settings.
鶹 Cat Program
Volunteers Needed
With summer approaching, many of the 鶹 Cat Program student volunteers will be away and the shelter is looking for some extra help caring for the cats and kittens. From June 14 to Sept. 18, the program will seek community members to volunteer or foster.
Volunteers help with daily care—cleaning cages and litterboxes, refreshing food and water and giving the kittens and cats some love. They are also looking for foster homes for kittens and cats; all expenses are covered, and short-term fostering options are available. It’s a rewarding way to make a difference.
鶹 Arts
40th Anniversary Season Announcement on June 30
Big news is on the way! 鶹 Arts is unveiling the 2025–26 season lineup at 10 a.m. Monday, June 30 — and you won’t want to miss it.
Get ready for an unforgettable year filled with world-class musicians, stunning dance performances, award-winning Broadway tours, and so much more, all right here in San Luis Obispo.
Mark your calendar, and be the first to get your tickets for the season on June 30!
Technology Park
Phase II Complete
The second building at the 鶹 Technology Park is now complete, with tenants beginning to move in. The new 16,200-square-foot facility supports innovation, collaboration and growth, enhancing partnerships among students, faculty and industry across science, technology, engineering, mathematics and liberal studies (STEML).
Long-term plans aim to expand the park into a 120,000-square-foot campus that unites students, faculty and strategic partners in an interdisciplinary environment. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for winter 2026 to celebrate the facility’s opening.
How to ‘Go Safely’
On Campus During Commencement
As campus fills with graduates and supporters, Public Safety wants the campus community to be aware of how to Go Safely so that everyone can get to their destination. Here are some tips to help everyone get around safely:
- Wear comfortable shoes and get those steps in.
- Stay hydrated.
- If driving to campus, plan to carpool and arrive early.
- Use Highland Drive to access the Commencement parking lots.
- Commencement shuttles run from 7:15 am to 6:30 p.m.
- Leave electric scooters at home. Electric scooters, skateboards and other micro-mobility devices are not allowed on campus.
Save the Dates
Mustang Move-in
Campus will welcome new students to University Housing on Thursday-Friday, Sept. 11-12. Continuing students return Tuesday-Wednesday, Sept. 16-17. Please keep these dates in mind as you plan fall opening activities and meetings — campus roads and parking will be significantly impacted.
University Housing invites you to join its crew of student leaders, faculty and staff who bring welcoming vibes to students as they start their journey at 鶹. Sign-ups open this summer.
Capital Projects
What to Look Out for This Summer
As the academic year draws to a close, several capital projects will continue to make visible progress. This summer, work will continue on the student housing project, Vista Meadows, the John Madden Football Center and more.
Construction will start on the Student Success Center and wrap up on Kennedy Library. With this construction, many parking spots will be brought back online and others will be taken offline. To help the 鶹 community navigate campus this summer, a list of capital projects and affected roads and parking lots has been compiled into one convenient list.
Green Campus
Grad Gown Reuse Program
The vast majority of gowns are utilized once in a lifetime, for only a few hours. 鶹 Green Campus’s Grad Gown Reuse Program aims to make graduation more sustainable. Graduates are encouraged to donate their used gowns, caps, tassels, hoods, and cords, and 鶹 will redistribute the gowns next year at no cost to students.
After graduation, donation booths will be located at O’Neill Green through North Concessions. Graduates can also drop off or mail regalia to:
Building 70, Room 117A
1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA, 93407
Ballet Theatre SLO
Robin Hood at the PAC on June 21–22
The legend of Robin Hood is brought to life by Ballet Theatre San Luis Obispo on June 21 and 22 at the Performing Arts Center. Step into the thrilling world of Sherwood Forest in a bold, action-packed ballet filled with heart, heroism and high adventure.
This captivating production blends swashbuckling sword fights, quarterstaff duels, daring archery, dynamic dancing, lavish sets and exquisite period costumes for an unforgettable experience for the entire family.
Festival Moziac
Orchestra Concert Finale at the PAC on July 26
Festival Mozaic’s Summer Music Festival comes to a close with this thrilling performance by the Festival Mozaic Orchestra led by Scott Yoo at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Performing Arts Center. Beethoven’s exciting Leonore Overture opens the concert, followed by Nielsen’s Flute Concerto featuring guest soloist Alice K. Dade. The second half of the program will feature Prokofiev’s darkly romantic suite inspired by Romeo and Juliet.
鶹 Women’s Basketball
Youth Camp
The 鶹 Women’s Basketball Program will host a youth camp for children entering first through eighth grade. Attendees will be taught the discipline and fundamentals of basketball by coaches and camp counselors, play fun games, earn prizes and make new friends. Camp will be held in Mott Gym every day June 23-26. Faculty and staff can use discount code “STAFF50” for $50 off the total fee.