We Seek Collaboration. We Solve Challenges. We Support our Community. We Spark Creation. We Spur Curiosity. We Shatter Conventions. We Secure Championships. We are Sustainability Conscious. We are Student Centered. We Are SC.
And here are our stories.
- Anita Sengupta is on a Mission to Decarbonize Aviation“I wholeheartedly believe that the best solutions are generated through the collaboration of a diverse workforce.”
- USC Price grad and Marine vet makes documentary on opioid crisis“Being in Los Angeles, I thought taking that policy paper, that white paper idea, and using it visually was really compelling to me. That’s why I got into production. I want the power of film to help solve some of these big problems.”
- South Korean dance star Aiki brings K-pop moves to USC Kaufman“We wanted to show USC Kaufman students what kind of dance moves are considered cool, hip and trendy [in K-pop] right now.”
- Eye Care Without Borders: Philanthropic Couple Gives USC Ophthalmology Residents Opportunity to Rotate in India“Once you start giving, it becomes a humbling and gratifying experience that motivates you to give even more and make a positive impact.”
- Alumna brings connection between domestic violence and traumatic brain injury to light in documentary“The link between these injuries and neurodegenerative diseases like CTE and dementia is an urgent research priority.”
- Professor Adam Zimmerman elected to American Law Institute“These kinds of innovations, which almost reimagine courts as administrative agencies and service providers, carry the potential to improve access to justice, but also carry new risks.”
- Professor bonds social work with dentistry“It was challenging at the start, but I believe we’re in a comfortable place now with room to continue to grow and develop. And I look forward, so much, to more collaboration throughout the years.”
- Key takeaways from climate communicator in residence Sylvia EarleThis is the moment. It would not be possible before, perhaps because we did not know what is now known, and if we wait much longer, we’re gonna lose the chance.
- Bridging cultural gulf and a generation gap, Green Beret veteran stands out in class“I’m going to school with these bright, awesome go-getters. But you can’t separate age from being a veteran and my experiences.”
- USC Rossier celebrates four new federal grants this fall“These grants show that our faculty are engaged in cutting edge research that has the potential to make major contributions to the field of education. We are extremely proud of those who have received these awards.”
- Professor Rob Kozinets delivers a new expanded playbook on influencer relations“I think it’s really eye-opening for students to see just how much diversity and variety there can be in these influencer campaigns…But in reality, there’s a lot more choice, variety and often many better ways to spend your money than that.”
- Buu Van Nygren EdD ’21 elected to Navajo Nation president“I’ve studied past leaders. I tried to learn from their mistakes and their successes … In order to win this election, you had to be very strategic and motivated.”
- Devon Kennard makes an impact“Annenberg gave me all the tools I needed in my toolbox when it comes to communicating…Some of the broadcasting classes helped me realize that I’m constantly selling myself, whether it’s an interview after a game or going to a networking event for business opportunities.”
- Mahdi Soltanolkotabi Receives NIH Director’s New Innovator Award for Reliable AI for MRISoltanolkotabi, the inaugural director of the USC Center on AI Foundations for Science, says his team is working on a new generation of algorithms to ensure this extra reliability.
- How a USC Filmmaker Helped Create a New Style of Journalism“It came out of my deciding that I had something to say and this was the way to say it, and it was something that meant something to me…I was slightly terrified that they might not like it. But I really knew what I was doing.”
- Alum’s Platform Brings the Farm Right to You“We learned a lot about breaking things down and trying to create solutions that were helpful and not just a bandaid.”
- USC trailblazer encourages others to live authentically“That comes with validation, feeling like people see your whole self and that I can share a more authentic version of myself with people.”
- Mark Hankins leans on Big Ten success to guide Trojan men’s golf program“At USC, you just have this unbelievable university where kids want to come and the education is sought after…USC has such an international footprint to where we can go out and recruit those kids at the highest level.”
- Urban Planning Master’s Graduate Provides Equitable Disaster Relief“I want to be doing all I can to be a policy advocate and a bridge builder for equitable disaster recovery so that low-income communities — the most vulnerable communities that are impacted by disaster — are able to have the tools to recover.”
- Single Mom Reignites Career in Politics and Public Service at USC Price“Everything I read about USC Price was perfectly aligned with what I wanted to do, and it seemed like it would give me the knowledge I needed to make bigger leaps forward.”
- New USC Thornton dean gets official Trojan welcome at installation ceremony“I believe that the USC Thornton School of Music is uniquely positioned to take advantage of all of this disruption and all these seismic shifts.”
- Travel Nurse Works to Increase Health Care Access, Address Medical Disparities With Online Master’s“I wanted to learn more about how I can improve our health care system and solve the issues I encounter every day at work.”
- USC Price students host podcast to prove that “Urban Planning Is Not Boring”“They’re asking the right questions, and I think a lot of it stems from their curiosity and their interests. I think it’s also a good way of making an impact on the field, so that’s why I’m a big fan of it.”
- Scott Fraser is an explorer through invention“In many labs, when people leave, they go from being a family member to being a competitor — the ‘enemy.’ We’ve tried to minimize that by encouraging scientists when they leave to take their project with them, if they want to.”
- USC Bovard College Graduate Makes Lasting Impact on LGBTQ+ Curriculum“It’s so important to remember that as things change, everyone is going to make mistakes…It isn’t about not making mistakes. It’s all about how we recover from them because mistakes are inevitable.”
- USC Price professor launches Hispanic Well-Being Initiative“It’s important to have cross-country comparisons because it allows us to get a better picture. We’re able to observe the whole population and understand their health better.”
- When he’s not helping students spin tales, he’s spinning records“Preparing for a set is almost the same as preparing for writing an essay. You’re auditioning ideas, you’re figuring out what goes in what order, you’re thinking about your audience or your reader.”
- ‘Nowhere better than USC’: New provost given a Trojan welcome at installation ceremony“I see a place that’s at the very front edge of changing the world in which we live for the better — from finding treatments for Alzheimer’s, to innovations in AI, to defending our democracy, to expanding the frontiers of art.”
- Tackling Climate Change with the Help of “Coffee Filters for Molecules”“I love to do research with a reason. I’m passionate about the applications that we are targeting to make a difference and decrease the amount of energy we spend on separations. I’m really happy that I’ll be able to collaborate with experts in both areas to push forward the development of the next-generation membranes that can tackle these challenges.”
- “You’re Never Alone:” Leveraging Technology to Prevent Sexual Assault“We’re trying to prevent all the dangers that could come from being intoxicated and underage at a party, including sexual violence. All students need a way to stay connected and to instantly notify their friends any time they feel vulnerable.”
- Velina Hasu Houston has been carving out her place since she was a girl“With regard to openness and fairness, we must be active and intentional about how we teach, create and indeed live our lives to make sure that students feel comfortable in the room and to ensure equal access to all.”
- Erik Brink named USC senior vice president, finance, and chief financial officer“We have some pretty ambitious goals, and I think we’re doing great things for society. I feel like there’s currently such a spirit of optimism on our campuses, and I look forward to doing everything I can to make sure that my team and I support new developments…”
- Entrepreneur Turns to USC EMHA Program to Help Found Health Care Startup“Listen to yourself first and foremost. Realize that you can write your own story while at USC and take advantage of that. Whatever you choose to do, make sure that it’s something that aligns with you and that you’re following your success and your vision.”
- In Search of Community: An Unconventional Thinker Founds a Space for Creatives“We don’t know what’s going to happen in a few years. COVID showed us that. Now it’s more important than ever to find your people and spend time investing in the ones that matter. That’s the one constant.”
- USC Viterbi-Led Startup Science of Sport Connects Kids to STEM“We’re supporting schools and teachers and giving them the necessary resources to succeed in the classroom, like student activity books and STEM kits.”
- Chris Allen named chief financial officer of Keck Medicine of USC“Chris’ presence is a true source of pride for our entire leadership team, and we are confident that his strategic thinking and business acumen will propel our organization to even greater success.”
- ‘Game’ Changer: IYA Alum Turned PhD Student Explores the Influence of Video Games“[IYA] was that blend of the practice-based making of things, whether that’s designing or programming or actually making something with your hands, but there’s this central interest in information and knowledge and having some sort of impact on our society. I thought it would give me the space to explore myself, and it really did.”
- Gould education, global opportunity“You are more than a law degree…I am now positioning myself more broadly to work in AI, the metaverse, ‘smart cities’ and the Internet of Things, and it’s time to go even bigger. There’s constant growth possible from a legal education, and I’m glad I got it at Gould.”
- New communication major creates fan edits to bring people together“The difference between college and high school is no one’s holding your hand to tell you what to do…Obviously, there are people that guide you on the way, but you have a lot of accountability for your choices and goals.”
- Jennifer Cohen named USC director of athletics“USC is a national powerhouse in every measure of college athletics, and I look forward to honoring the Trojan heritage while working alongside the incredible USC Athletics team as we embrace both the opportunities and challenges of this complex moment.”
- Kaitlyn Yang, USC School of Cinematic Arts alum, encourages Trojans to constantly set new goals“Instead of being enamored with the USC brand, ask what you can accomplish as a Trojan. What’s your next goal? It’s all about collecting your own data, your own trials and errors, to accelerate your life forward.”
- USC Computer Science Student Makes Strides in Queer in AI Movement“Despite the setbacks that often happen, I am hopeful that the future generally gets better. I think it is becoming easier for marginalized communities to participate in AI in general, and I believe that the future will be even more inclusive.”
- USC appoints alumna Melissa Just as new dean of libraries“Not only are we responsible for collections, spaces and services — the things we are traditionally known for — we are now managing those functions in a constantly evolving environment.”
- Stem Cell PhD student Alma Zuniga Munoz wins USC’s first Gilliam Fellowship from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute“[My parents] are very supportive of school, which is great because a lot of families are very traditional, as in they expect a woman to get married, have children, take care of the house. But my parents wanted to break that cycle that they grew up in, and they wanted to empower me to chase whatever dream I had.”
- Undergraduate will use rare, prestigious Truman Scholarship to springboard career as civil rights attorney“I’m a firm believer in the potential of scholarship and shared knowledge as vehicles for change…Through my organizing work on the issues of school segregation, gun violence and civic engagement, I’ve come to recognize legal advocacy as an imperative avenue for justice.”
- USC Dornsife scholar Peggy Kamuf elected to the British Academy“I’m proud to be recognized by such a prestigious institution. I hope I’ll have the chance to take part in their activities and contribute my expertise.”
- USC student is youngest elected official in Los Angeles County“[Moving around] gave me a bunch of tools that have helped me get to where I am right now. It’s taught me how to meet new people, how to start conversations, how to be in new environments and speak with people for the first time.”
- USC Viterbi Student and Air Force Officer Makes Plans to Go to Space“It took me a long time to decide to go back to school because I wanted to be sure that I was really doing something that I loved. It’s all too easy to spend a significant portion of your life doing something you only sort-of like, but don’t truly don’t enjoy.”
- First-generation USC student models herself after those who helped her succeed“If I wasn’t involved in a college access program like NAI, I don’t think I’d be where I am today. Most of the students who went to my high school didn’t have those same kinds of resources to get to college.”
- From USC student to the U.S. Foreign Service“I realized there is so much more to this world that I want to see and learn about. And I loved living internationally. What career would help me advocate for others and continue learning about new cultures and lifestyles?”