Learning Through History: Mary Anne Mendoza’s Impact at CPP
For Mary Anne Mendoza, an associate professor of political science, teaching isn’t just about explaining history; it’s about helping students understand how the past continues to shape their lives.
As a first-generation college student, Mendoza didn’t originally plan to study political science. What started as an uncertain choice eventually turned into a passion after taking classes and realizing how important it is to understand where political systems come from.
“I didn’t actually choose it,” Mendoza said. “But once I started taking the course, I realized how much I liked it.”
Now teaching in the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences at CPP, Mendoza focuses their work on how history—especially colonialism—continues to shape communities today. Her research, including the book project, “Educated into Violence: The Colonial Origins of Separatist Rebellion,” examines how education systems created during colonial rule continue to influence conflict in places like the Philippines and Myanmar.
As a Filipino American, this work is also personal. Mendoza wants students to understand that history isn’t just something found in textbooks, it directly affects people’s lives and communities.
In the classroom, Mendoza brings Cal Poly Pomona’s “Learn by Doing” philosophy to life by showing students how research actually works. Students engage with real historical documents and are encouraged to connect what they’re learning to present-day global issues.
That commitment to student growth extends well beyond the classroom.
Mendoza is also the faculty advisor for Barkada, CPP’s Pilipinx-American student organization, where they mentor students through leadership development, cultural programming and community building. This year, Barkada was named the university’s Club of the Year, recognizing the organization’s sustained impact on campus. That same period also marked the group’s 36th annual Pilipinx-American Culture Night (PACN), a long-standing, student-led tradition celebrating Filipino culture, identity and performance.
Moments like these reflect the supportive environment Mendoza helps cultivate—one where students are encouraged to excel academically, grow as leaders, and celebrate their identities.
One of the most impactful ways Mendoza supports student development is through the Model Organization of American States (MOAS) conference in Washington, D.C., where they serve as faculty advisor for the Cal Poly Pomona delegation. In this role, Mendoza provides guidance and oversight throughout the academic year, helping students prepare to thoughtfully and accurately represent their assigned countries on an international stage.
Under Mendoza’s mentorship, students engage in extensive research on their delegation’s political history, foreign policy priorities, and current global challenges. In past years, CPP students have represented countries such as Canada, and this year, the team took on the role of Chile. Mendoza works closely with the group as they refine policy positions, practice formal diplomatic procedures and learn how to navigate complex international discussions with professionalism and confidence.
At the conference, students step into the role of international delegates, debating and defending policy proposals alongside peers from universities across the country. They participate in sessions held inside the actual MOAS building, using formal diplomatic language in the same space where global leaders convene.
“They’re not just learning,” Mendoza said. “They’re doing.”
Beyond the academic preparation, Mendoza views MOAS as a transformative experience—one that allows students to see themselves as capable contributors in global and professional spaces they may not have previously imagined.
To learn more and stay updated about Barkada, Model OAS, and our Political Science department, follow @cppbarkada, @calpoly.moas, and @cpp_pls on Instagram.
Hero image and headshot courtesy of CPP alum Gin Abejero
