The Viewbook
College of Liberal Arts
English
Scott Cody What are you doing now?I am a Summer Associate with The Broad Center for the Management of School Systems. My current position is a summer fellowship through Education Pioneers, an organization that places emerging leaders in education organizations to ensure a thriving public education system. Outside of this summer, I am a doctoral student at University of Pennsylvania studying Educational Leadership. My dissertation is researching the intersection of health and education, recognizing that students in urban and rural areas benefit both physically and academically from school-based health centers. How did your program of study at Cal Poly prepare you for your current role? Cal Poly taught me to write. This sounds simplistic, but by learning how to coherently and concisely express my thoughts, I was able to write grants as a Program Coordinator that brought in over $150,000 to take my eighth grade students from South Los Angeles to Washington, DC. My writing is also my strongest academic ability, which I credit for my admission to Harvard's master's program and Penn's doctoral program. Now as a doctoral student, it seems like all I do is write policy briefs and research papers. But Cal Poly was definitely my launching pad for where I am today. One other notable point about Cal Poly is that I felt fully supported as a student with a physical disability. For instance, Cal Poly's Disabled Student Services provided services for me my freshman year that allowed me to focus on my academics, instead of spending that time trying to navigate the terrain between the Business classes and the dorms. What did you do when you first graduated from Poly? I was actually working at Lampman and Smith part time while finishing school, and then transitioned into a full time engineering position after graduation. I have been here ever since. What did you do when you first graduated from Poly? I was a substitute teacher in South Los Angeles and worked for film festivals screening submissions. I found that I actually liked going to work in the classroom more than I liked the screening room. While I had every intention of becoming a film editor and writing on the side, I just loved teaching. The longer I was in the classroom, the more I recognized the impact I could have that would live beyond me. I ended up staying in the Florence neighborhood of LA for eight years as a teacher and literacy coach before to pursue my academic career. To this day, I still get emails and text messages from former students; it's the best job I've ever had. How long were you at Poly? I came to Poly in 1995 as a Business major. I minored in English, but with only three quarters left, I switched my major to English. It pushed my graduation date back a couple years, but I don't regret it for a minute. I graduated in 2001. Did you have any co-ops or internships while at Poly? Technically, no, but I was the General Manager for KCPR in 2000-2001. It taught me how difficult it is to motivate and organize a group of volunteer students, even those who were passionate about music and radio. What are your three strongest memories of Cal Poly? Next to switching majors, joining KCPR was the best decision I ever made. So my strongest memory is sitting in the master control room at all hours of the day or night playing music. Of course, my favorite show was "Shaken, Not Stirred," a lounge/cocktail hour I co-hosted as Tom Collins with my partner, Dr. Martin Rossi. My sophomore year, I was a Resident Advisor in Trinity Hall, which is where I met a few of my closest friends to this day. Being an RA was overwhelming, but in the end, a great experience. Finally, the coursework. I remember great professors in my department like Mark Roberts, Dr. Inchausti, Jimm Cushing, Dr. Rummel, Dr. Keesey, and Dr. Fitzhenry. This list goes on for a while... When you think of Cal Poly you immediately think of this...? The green hills above campus, KCPR, and (old) McCarthy's. What brought you to Cal Poly? I came to Open House and toured campus as a senior in high school, and I liked that it was a reputable university in a (back in 1995) small town. At the same time, it didn't feel like I was in the middle of nowhere; I was four hours from LA or San Francisco. Was your goal to stay locally after graduation? Can you talk about that? No, I had aspirations of becoming a filmmaker, and at that time, it meant moving to Los Angeles. While I love heading to visit San Luis Obispo on vacation, I've also come to realize that I really like working in big, metropolitan areas, so living in SLO wasn't as much an option. When you are not working, what do you find yourself usually doing? I like to travel, most often to see friends from Poly who are living all over the world. Most recently, I was in Tokyo visiting a friend of mine who was an RA with me at Trinity Hall. Other than that, I try to stay politically active in my community, working with local city politicians or advocacy groups. And I still love movies.
Journalism
Allison Mahavier What are you doing now? I just accepted a position to a company called the Backplane. Backplane aims to connect people around interests, affinities, and movements. Our goal is to become the place where you can interact in a meaningful, authentic manner, with people who share the same passions as yourself. My position is that of a Community Manager. As a Community Manager for Backplane, it is my responsibility to act as the liaison between the company, our clients, and their consumers. I work closely with several branches of the company, including product development, marketing, and customer service to guide clients through the process of building interaction and creating community on the web. I'm also responsible for the general welfare of these communities, using and testing the most innovative programs in existence to limit spam, police for offensive content, and nurture the community to both grow in size and interactivity. I am thrilled to begin work with such a dynamic, innovative company. How did your program of study at Cal Poly prepare you for your current role? Without a doubt, Cal Poly's mantra of "Learn by Doing" is what best prepared me for my role within the Backplane. My education within the Journalism department was based largely on working with real clients in the community who used the department for complimentary Public Relations services. I had the unique opportunity of working legitimate clients who had real expectations for the projects I created for them. Because of this, my education instilled in me the value of hard work, the importance of customer service, and being a quality team player. These skills, among the many others I gained from being a Journalism student, have helped me succeed in my position. What did you do when you first graduated from Poly? I immediately started my position as a Resource Development Coordinator with the Family Care Network upon graduating. I garnered incredible experience in social media, event planning and overall non-profit Public Relations strategies. During my time at the Family Care Network, I oversaw and managed three of the agency's fundraisers, the most significant being Miracle Miles for Kids, a 10k walk/run that had over 2,150 participants. I was also lucky enough to play a significant role in the strategic planning of the Family Care Network's social media usage and orchestrated multiple social media campaigns for the agency. I am grateful for the experiences and mentors I had at the Family Care Network and for the chance to learn about the local foster and high-needs children and families they serve. How long were you at Poly? I was at Cal Poly from September 2006-June 2010. Best four years of my life! Did you have any co-ops or internships while at Poly? I interned at the Family Care Network from January to June in 2010. Working at the Family Care Network was the ideal opportunity to combine my passion for Public Relations and my interest in being a part of the human services field. I was able to gain valuable foundation knowledge on non-profit Public Relations and how to manage successful events, as well as learning more about the issues involving Central Coast foster and high-needs children and families. What are your three strongest memories of Cal Poly? My strongest memory of Cal Poly was my study abroad experience to Valladolid, Spain. I studied abroad during fall of 2008 and had an absolute life-changing experience there. Having the chance to live abroad was a dream come true and since I was working towards a minor in Spanish, Valladolid seemed like the ideal fit since it was through Cal Poly and because it was in Spain. I fell in love with Spanish culture and made memories and friends that will last a lifetime. Another strong memory is of my freshmen year dorm experience. I lived in Sierra Madre and became close with the people in my tower. For the most part, everyone seemed to click and we had a lot of fun together. I greatly appreciate having a positive freshmen year experience because I know that it helped to shape what the rest of my college experience would be like. My final strongest memory of Cal Poly is of enjoying all the local activities in San Luis Obispo. It was easy to find fun things to do around town whether it be buying fresh local produce at the famous Farmers' Market on Thursday evenings, watching live music at SLO Brew, enjoying Taco Tuesday at The Cliffs, or trying out the plethora of sandwich and coffee shops in town. When you think of Cal Poly you immediately think of? When I think of Cal Poly, I immediately think of my study abroad experience in Valladolid, Spain. The three months I spent living in Spain made a significant impact in my life and I appreciate having had the opportunity to be a part of such an incredible program. One of my Spanish professors told us on the first day "Abra sus ojos y coma la cultura," telling us that during our time in Spain it was imperative that we open our eyes and absorb the culture. I took this mantra with me throughout my travels and carried it back with me to the States when I came home. Studying abroad made me value the differences and similarities our global community shares. What brought you to Cal Poly? I was born and raised in San Diego and was ready to be out of Southern California. The first time I visited Cal Poly I was only a junior in high school and loved the campus and surrounding community. Being that I had been surrounded by the beach my entire childhood, I was in complete awe of the rolling green hills of San Luis Obispo. It still offered the laid back, beachy community attitude that I knew and was comfortable with, but there was something about the San Luis Obispo area that made me feel like I had found another home away from home. With the combination of feeling like a SLOcal after visiting my senior year and recognizing the significance of a degree from Cal Poly, I knew I was in the right place. When you are not working, what do you find yourself usually doing? San Luis Obispo offers a plethora of opportunities for people interested in outdoor activities. I love running on the Bob Jones trail and ending in Avila Beach, wine tasting at one of the many incredible wineries in Paso Robles, going to the Avila Valley Barn, and exploring Big Sur. Since San Luis Obispo is equidistant between Los Angeles and San Francisco, weekend trips to either city are a great escape as well.
Music
Emma Levine What are you doing now? I'm currently studying musicology in the PhD program at UCSB. I work as a TA for UCSB's Music Appreciation course, so I lead weekly discussion sections for about 90 students, and I grade papers and assignments. I still drive up to SLO every other weekend to continue teaching piano lessons to 11 of my students who I've been teaching since my sophomore year at Cal Poly. How did your program of study at Cal Poly prepare you for your current role? The music program at Cal Poly definitely prepared me for life in grad school. The department is fairly small so each student receives a good amount of individualized attention from all the faculty members. The small classroom setting not only provides you with this opportunity, but it also instills in you a sense of accountability. It's virtually impossible to get lost in the crowd in the music department, and when your teachers invest so much time and effort in to your learning, you can't help but take pride in what you do. The quality of teaching within the department is exceptional, and I am proud to say that as a direct result I was one of the few students to pass the music theory and history portions of the UCSB entrance exams. What did you do when you first graduated from Poly? I began looking at graduate programs within the first few months of graduation and spent much of fall quarter submitting applications. Since I stayed in SLO during my year off I was able to perform with the Cal Poly Symphony, work with Festival Mozaic, teach piano lessons, and continue to give presentations in the music history courses at Cal Poly. Dr. Alyson McLamore, one of the history teachers, worked with me for the last two years on researching and fine-tuning my presentation and teaching skills. It is truthfully because of her that I now feel so prepared and comfortable in my role as a TA. Again, I don't think I would have had such amazing opportunities had I gone to a different school. How long were you at Poly? I somehow managed to graduate from Cal Poly in 4 years! What are your three strongest memories of Cal Poly? My strongest memory of Cal Poly has to be the time I spent with my friends, hanging out at the beach, going to farmer's market, hiking, and even studying together in the library. Another great memory would have to be presenting my senior lecture-recital. The recital consisted of a brief lecture on the history and evolution of the piano and its music, and performances on the harpsichord, a duet on an early forte-piano with my good friend and fellow music major, Paula Womble, and a final piece performed on a modern grand piano. When you think of Cal Poly you immediately think of this...? When I think of Cal Poly I immediately think of how happy I was during my four years at school! It sounds totally corny but it's so true. I don't think I've ever met anyone who has attended Cal Poly and has anything negative to say about it. What brought you to Cal Poly? I chose Cal Poly for many different reasons. I fell in love with San Luis Obispo the first time I ever visited. I loved the college-town feel, the weather, and the people. When I drove up for my audition the faculty and students were so welcoming. I loved the sense of community and it just felt like I was in the right place. I'll never forget this day during the summer of 2006 before I started school. I was walking around in the mall in Thousand Oaks wearing a Cal Poly SLO t-shirt. A guy approached me and said, "Hey! You go to Cal Poly too?" I told him that I wasn't a student yet, but that I was going to be starting in the fall. He said, "Oh man, you're gonna love it." And he was right. When you are not working, what do you find yourself usually doing? When I'm not working (which isn't very often in grad school) I love doing yoga, cooking, playing piano, and hanging out with friends in downtown Santa Barbara. I also drive up to SLO on the weekends to visit as often as I can.
Political Science
Austin Odell
What are you doing now?
I am the Transit Service Manager for the City of Santa Maria. I administer the public
transportation program for the City.
How did your program of study at Cal Poly prepare you for your current role?
I hate to say it, and undergraduates are probably tired of hearing, but I have to say "Learn by Doing." My experience at
Cal Poly provided me the necessary skills and foundation that I apply every day at work. My job is demanding which requires
me to knowledgeable in many disciplines ranging from bus operations, to finance, to legislation on local, state and federal
levels.
What did you do when you first graduated from Poly?
The economy was on a down turn (sounds familiar), so I continued with my education. I earned my Masters in Public
Administration. I also had an internship at a transit authority.
How long were you at Poly?
I attended Cal Poly from Summer 1985 through Spring 1988.
Did you have any co-ops or internships while at Poly?
Yes. During my participation in the London Study Program, I had an internship at Peace through NATO in London.
It was a great experience.
If you could describe your co-op/internship experience, what was the biggest thing that made
an impression on you?
My internship made two impressions. The first impression is that Peace through NATO an organization that was purpose that
was for bigger than me. In those days, the Cold War was ever so present and NATO had a greater role of maintaining the
balance of power. The second impression is the introduction into the office culture, which is far different that the dorm
and class. The "NATO experience" was a great environment to development professional conduct for the office.
What are your three strongest memories of Cal Poly?
Reputation of Cal Poly
Life long friends
London study 1986, seeing U2 in Dublin, Ireland
What brought you to Cal Poly?
The reputation of Cal Poly
Was your goal to stay locally after graduation? Can you talk about that?
No. Soon after I got married, my wonderful wife and spent a weekend in SLO. That was her first time in SLO. We went to
Farmers Market, rode our bikes to Avila, and enjoyed several wineries. From that time, we both wanted to move to SLO.
The main obstacle, of course, is work. In 2000, our dream came true. We have been enjoying living in Pismo Beach.
When you are not working, what do you find yourself usually doing?
We enjoy running, bicycling, wine tasting, and outrigger canoeing. We also enjoy traveling.
Psychology
Brian Nosek What are you doing now?I am a professor in Psychology at the University of Virginia (http://briannosek.com/). I direct a research network called Project Implicit (https://implicit.harvard.edu) that investigates implicit social cognition - thoughts and feelings that exist outside of conscious awareness or conscious control. You can try out some of our methods at our website. How did your program of study at Cal Poly prepare you for your current role? I started in Computer Engineering. In my 4th year diversified and wound up graduating with a Psychology major and minors in Computer Science and Women's Studies. All three degrees have been very relevant to my scientific career. I study how implicit biases influence behavior. This research is technologically intensive – I have a staff of computer scientists in my laboratory in addition the PhD students that are pursuing psychological science. My women's studies background prepared me to pursue my research interests in stereotyping, equality, and social justice. My psychology training made me a good scientist. What did you do when you first graduated from Poly? I went to Yale to get a PhD in Psychology. How long were you at Poly? Five and a half years. I did not want to leave. I tried to stay one more quarter to finish a statistics minor, but my parents said "enough is enough!" They knew if they let me continue, I would keep finding excuses to stay. Did you have any co-ops or internships while at Poly? No, I did a research track with Prof. Shawn Burn in Psychology. She (and many others in the department) inspired me to pursue my career, and modeled how to do it well. What are your three strongest memories of Cal Poly? (1) Meeting many peers and faculty that I admired. (2) Developing friendships with many of them that helped me figure out what kind of person I wanted to be. And, (3) being a complete and total failure on the dating scene. When you think of Cal Poly you immediately think of this...? Did I mention not being good at dating? Can we stop talking about this? What brought you to Cal Poly? I applied because it is a renowned public university and because the engineering programs in particular are so good. I attended because, after visiting, I knew that I would love being there. It was my best decision ever. One ahead of "marrying my wife." Please don't tell her! (If you are her, sorry dear! At least you are ahead of "buying an iPad" (cause that's pretty awesome, right?) Was your goal to stay locally after graduation? Can you talk about that? No. While I love San Luis Obispo, staying and getting a PhD in Psychology are not compatible. I had to go elsewhere. When you are not working, what do you find yourself usually doing? I have two kids: 4.5 (Haven) and 2 (Joni). My life these days is either working or playing with them. Not much else!
