For James Floss (‘85, Theatre Arts, ‘91, M.F.A.), education has never been just about checking off required courses—it’s a playground for curiosity and creativity.

Now retired from teaching at Cal Poly Humboldt, Floss remains connected to Humboldt. But his most impactful contribution is the James M. Floss Theatre Arts Fund, which supports students majoring or minoring in Dance, Music, or Theatre Arts. Each year, $2,000 will be awarded to a student studying acting, directing, storytelling, and other performing arts.

Floss is eager to see how recipients use the funds. Whether they pursue new projects, travel, or develop their artistic talents, he hopes the scholarship helps them find their own creative spark.

“For me, theater arts jazzed my life,” he says. “I want to see what excites these students—what ideas they bring to the table.”

The inspiration for this gift came from his own experience as a scholarship recipient. “I got the John Van Duzer Scholarship when I was a student, and it made a tremendous difference to me,” he recalls. “That validation of ‘Hey, they see me as having a creative vision’ was a heady experience. I hope my scholarship will provide that same encouragement to students today.”

As a Theatre Arts major at Cal Poly Humboldt in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, Floss took full advantage of the University’s diverse offerings. From clowning to stage combat, calligraphy to life drawing, he saw the course catalog as a smorgasbord of possibilities.

“I was not a serious student,” Floss admits with a chuckle. “I was having a lot of fun.”

His time at Humboldt ignited a lifelong passion for performance and storytelling. Though he initially started as a pre-med student at the University of Buffalo in New York, a failed calculus exam and a dead calculator battery changed his trajectory. He packed his belongings into a Mustang Fastback and drove west until he hit the California coast, ultimately finding his home at Cal Poly Humboldt.

Floss's love for performance evolved into a dedication to teaching. While still an undergraduate, he began leading a one-unit course in the oral interpretation of children’s literature. This experience launched a 34-year teaching career at Humboldt, primarily in public speaking, oral interpretation, and acting. He also took his expertise abroad, leading storytelling workshops for aspiring teachers in Oaxaca, Mexico, where he stretched his Spanish-speaking skills to their limits.

After earning his Master of Fine Arts in Directing from Humboldt, Floss found deep fulfillment in directing.

“As an actor, you step into someone else’s shoes. But as a director, you shape the whole message you put out into the world,” Floss says. His experiences in theater—playing roles like Stephen Hawking like figures—taught him empathy and broadened his perspective.

“I really do think I’m a better human being because of my involvement in theatre arts,” he says.

Beyond the stage, Floss and his wife, Annie Bolick-Floss (‘78, Education, ‘95, M.A. Social Sciences), have prioritized giving back to causes they care about, including animal welfare and education. With his gift, Floss hopes to inspire the next generation of Humboldt performers and storytellers. Just as he once found himself swept up in the magic of the theater program, he now helps others step into their own roles—both on and off the stage.

Join James Floss in helping students expand their creative potential. To learn about how you can give to help Cal Poly Humboldt students, visit giving.humboldt.edu, call (707) 826-5200, or email giving@humboldt.edu.

Photo: James Floss as Jimmy Jackin in a play called “Translations,” which played at Humboldt.