Students

I changed my major to Liberal Studies during my third year to make me the best possible teacher for my future students. 

Once I decided to be an elementary school teacher,  I knew I wanted to be as educated in my field as possible.  I am also a tutor for K-6 students, which is a great hands-on learning opportunity!

I am the eldest daughter and the first woman to graduate college in my family.

After transferring to CEIS, I joined the Liberal Studies Club and I currently hold the position of Club President and Scheduler. I have been at Cal Poly since I was a freshman and have been active with many different organizations in the past four years.  On campus, I have worked for ASI Conference and Events and have been part of Sigma Kappa Sorority since my first year.

-Yvonna Hernandez, fourth-year Liberal Studies major (Pre-Credential) and English minor

Inspired by our recent struggles, my works in the Liberal Arts intend to shed light on the plights of the marginalized, with a main focus on African Americans.

Protest music, for example, should serve not only as an upfront look at the harsh, stinging daily realities of the marginalized, but also as a unifier, an uplifting way to make us be proud of ourselves and challenge the contradictions of what is described as a ‘modern, post racial society’.”

A “knowledge sponge”, I enjoy discovering and learning new things that can expand my worldview.

(Maybe that’s why I love history so much!).This quest for new experiences extends to my hobby of collecting vinyl records from a vast array of artists (the more challenging, the better!) In the future, I would like to be a history teacher at either the high school or university level.

-Brett Amua, senior Liberal Studies major with a minor in history

I was born in Mexico and moved to the United States at the age of 11.

I transferred to Cal Poly, Pomona from Mt. San Antonio College. I graduated from Cal Poly, Pomona with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies in the Spring of 2019. I am currently enrolled in the CPP Credential program and am working towards my teaching credential with a bilingual authorization. It is thanks to my professors in the Liberal Studies department that I made the choice of perusing a bilingual authorization.

“The amazing aspects of being a Liberal Studies Major are the wide variety of concepts we learn and discuss in the classrooms; these concepts have shaped the teacher I want to be.”

As a Cal Poly, Pomona undergrad I had the opportunity to be a part of the CEIS (College of Education and Integrated Studies) podcast, participated in Raza graduation, and was the treasurer for the Liberal Studies Club. From Tiffany Smith, Dr, Chavez-Reyes, Dr. LLoro, and Dr. Roy I identify as a feminist and am an advocate for equity. Dr. Stovall and Emma Mesrobin showed me a world where I can express myself, and ideas, through the art of performance, Dr. Ballon opened up my interest to Chicano studies.

-Joanna Flores, Liberal Studies alumni and post-baccalaureate Teaching Credential Program student

During my Liberal Studies experience I have acquired strategies to promote critical thinking and creativity in my classroom.

I began as a Liberal Studies student in 2015 and am currently a first year Education Specialist credential student. My first year I was still confused and unsure of what I was doing, but as I continued through the Liberal Studies major I gained insight on the amount of opportunities the Liberal Studies degree can navigate me through. I became interested in K-12 education.

Not only did LS courses influence my role as an educator, but the skills to succeed in any capacity.

In my first two years I was apprehensive about reaching out to professors and getting involved. Once I began participating in class and being in contact with professors I wish I had started sooner. The professors I worked closely with challenged and supported me to new experiences. Now in my graduate classes I am building upon the knowledge I gained in the Liberal Studies program to be a Special education teacher.

- Max Shellebergar, Liberal Studies alumni and first-year Education Specialist Teaching Credential student

While I have been successful in my academic career, as a single mother, I have had my share of challenges and I always continued to push forward in my educational and career goals. 

I have currently been hired by a local high school as a substitute teacher, which suits me well considering my graduate student status.  As a single mother, it is extremely important to me that I show my daughter that despite adversity, it is still possible to accomplish your goals.

As a transferring Cal Poly student, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies within two years.

When I was challenged with the task of becoming an orator in several of my classes and in representing the entire Liberal Studies department as a speaker in a student social that was sponsored by both the Liberal studies department as well as the Pride Center, I rose to the occasion with the support of my instructors. As a Liberal Studies student, I have been given the knowledge that is necessary to become a well-rounded, understanding, and contributing member of society.

- Xiomara Breslau, Liberal Studies alumni and English Department graduate student, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

I wanted to show my kids and prove to myself that you are never to old and even with medical conditions and a kidney transplant, you can accomplish whatever you put your mind and heart to.

I majored in Liberal Studies because I wanted to experience different aspects of learning, from ethnic studies to social issues, and I knew that if I majored in Liberal Studies I would be able to gather all of these experiences. I believe all of my Liberal Studies classes have been transformative, from my first class, to my last class, Liberal Studies Senior Capstone with Dr. Rodney Hume-Dawson.

I think I stand out from most Liberal Studies students as an older student who went back to school—I wanted to continue my education.

I was an older student who went back to school after about 31 years. I was also a dialysis patient for 8 years and a kidney transplant recipient. I wanted to go back to school to continue my education because I have always felt incomplete of not completing my college education, even though I did get my Associate degree in Electronic Engineering. Because my degree was not transferable, I had to start from ground zero in my Liberal Studies degree.

There were two Liberal Studies courses in particular that helped me in deciding what direction I wanted to pursue in my career, one was Liberal Studies Service Learning and the other was Arts Integration II. These two classes showed me how fulfilling it is to give to the community and to help those who are in need.

-Darryle Minor, senior Liberal Studies major

I am a 4^th year LS student and a transfer student from a junior college. I am graduating this fall as a first-generation college student with my Bachelors Degree.

I want to become an Elementary Teacher and start teaching K-2. I have done community service in my hometown, Westmorland, by tutoring students in an afterschool program. Some activities I like to do in my downtime are watching Netflix, playing tennis, and discovering new foods.

I know there is more I have yet to learn but being a Liberal Studies student has motivated me to learn and know more.

The most memorable experience for me was in Dr. Stovall’s Contemporary Art & the City course, where we had to create an art project for a simulation at the end of the semester. This project was the start of my undergraduate career and has given me the skills of thinking critically, open-mindedness, and thinking outside the box.

-Rubi Ledesma, senior Liberal Studies major

Discovering all of the amazing ways the arts can be used for empowerment and success in the classroom truly opened my eyes.

I chose to become an educator because I wanted to make a difference in the way children view learning. Upon graduation, I will be enrolling in a Masters of Education program with the aspiration of becoming an elementary school teacher. Currently, I run my own private tutoring business where I teach children, Pre-K through middle school, via virtual instruction.

My LS experiences through field work, leadership roles, and interdisciplinary study have prepared me well for the obstacles that teaching kids of all ages come with, especially in our ever-changing world today.

The Liberal Studies program has prepared me for a future as an educator through the exposure of different perspectives on teaching, especially in terms of interdisciplinary connection. Throughout my experience at CPP, I have been an active member of the Broncettes Dance Team, a student assistant, and an orientation leader for CEIS. These experiences helped me create a great connection to the campus community and shaped my leadership and problem-solving skills.

-Callie Arcand, senior Liberal Studies (Pre-Credential) major

Being a Liberal Studies student has transformed me into the future teacher that I want to be. From working on countless group projects in my LS classes, to working with other current and future teachers on service learning experiences, the people I have met in these classes are preparing me for my future. Experiences such as going to local elementary school to teach math to students are invaluable and have made my desire to pursue this career concrete.

I am a fourth year Liberal Studies student. Set to graduate next spring, I will be the first personal in my family to graduate from college, and I am beyond excited. After finishing this degree, I plan to go to graduate school to pursue my masters degree in early childhood education and my multiple subject teaching credential.

- Rebecca Alderson, fourth year Liberal Studies major