USD Magazine Summer 2023

USD MAG

Summer 2023

ON A ROLL — LIVING LIFE IN FULL COLOR

Celebrating the renaissance of some of USD’s most resilient students.

DEAR TOREROS

Summer is a time for fun, family, vacations and so much more. For some, it means lazy days at the beach, a cross-country road trip or perhaps a camping excursion in the mountains. For many USD faculty members, the summer months are spent delving into research while making plans for an enlightening fall semester. At the same time, USD students hit the trail to help with facultyled research projects or head to the office to work with alumni as part of an internship or a summer job, while still others take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad.

If you are focused on the vacation component of summer, we have you covered. Our Traveling Toreros program provides fantastic opportunities for adventures with like-minded travelers during summer and beyond. From spiritual journeys such as walking the Camino de Santiago to exotic Tahitian cruises, we have the perfect itinerary planned for you. And who better to hang out with than your USD family?

For many alumni, parents, and incoming first-year students, this time of year means attending one of more than 20 Summer Send-Offs held around the country. Coordinated by Renda Quinn ’86 and the Office of Parent and Family Relations, these events provide the opportunity for incoming students to meet others from their area, learn more about what to expect at USD, and get answers to all their questions as they start on their path to becoming Toreros for life.

A number of those incoming students are part of a unique constituency — legacies. Family legacies have been an important part of the university for nearly our entire existence. As we approach our 75th anniversary, we can look back to find names that represent multiple generations of Toreros — names such as Stehly, Chucri, Alessio, Partynski and many more. For the fall of 2023, approximately 10% of our first-year class is made up of students who have another Torero in their family.

We are grateful for those strong connections within the Alumni Association, which continues to flourish and grow with and in support of the university. With more than 77,000 alumni living in San Diego and around the world, our staff and volunteers strive to live out our mission, which is to engage and enrich the Torero community for life.

Among those volunters, it is with sincere gratitude that we thank Vince Moiso ’95, whose term as president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors is expiring on June 30. Like many others, his is a family of multiple Toreros. Daughter Viviana will graduate in 2024, joining Vince and his wife, Shelby DePriest Moiso ’94, as USD alumni.

Vince’s tenure was marked by a commitment to strategic planning, including representing alumni on USD’s strategic planning task force. He also led the USD Alumni Association to further enhance strategic task forces based on four pillars of engagement — Communication, Experience, Philanthropy and Volunteerism. A Diversity,

Equity, and Inclusion Task Force also was formed during this time and has been incredibly active. We thank Vince and know that the Moiso family will remain very involved!

Taking over the helm in a twoyear term is Helen Kasperick Finneran, a member of the Class of 1981. She is part of a large Torero family herself. She and her husband, John Finneran III ’80, are parents of Dr. John Finneran IV ’08. In addition, five of Helen’s six siblings followed in her footsteps to Alcalá Park. She and her husband both retired after spending their entire careers with Lockheed Martin and now reside in Carlsbad. They have both been active USD volunteers for many years, supporting University Ministry, the Torero Football Club, and other USD projects. We’re excited to have Helen leading

the Alumni Association during a critical moment in USD’s history. I’ll end with a quick note of thanks to Julene Snyder, who helped make USD Magazine what it is today.

To all our alumni, parents, colleagues and friends, enjoy the summer. And enjoy being a part of this wonderful university. We hope you’ll join us at one of our many USD Alumni Association events around the country and throughout the world. Network with your fellow alumni. Hire a graduating senior or a fellow alumnus or alumna. And take time to visit our beautiful campus, perhaps for Homecoming and Family Weekend. It’s always a great day to be a Torero!

Charles Bass Senior Director of Alumni Relations

In Torero Spirit,

CHARLES BASS

New Alumni Association President Helen Kasperick Finneran ’81 with Past President Vince Moiso ’95.

STAFF BOX

[president]

James T. Harris III, DEd

[vice president, university advancement]

Richard P. Virgin

[associate vice president for university marketing and communications, university advancement]

Russell J. Yost ryost@sandiego.edu

[editor/senior director]

Julene Snyder

[senior creative director]

Barbara Ferguson barbaraf@sandiego.edu

[editorial advisory board]

Charles Bass

Sandie Ciallella ’87 (JD)

Minh-Ha Hoang ’96 (BBA), ’01 (MA)

Lynn Hijar Hoffman ’98 (BBA), ’06 (MS), ’18 (MS)

Michael Lovette-Colyer ’13 (PhD)

Kristin Scialabba ’21 (PhD)

Rich Yousko ’87 (BBA)

[usd magazine]

USD Magazine is published three times a year by the University of San Diego for its alumni, parents and friends. U.S. postage paid at San Diego, CA 92110. USD phone number: (619) 260-4600.

[class notes]

Class Notes may be edited for length and clarity. Photos must be high resolution, so adjust camera settings accordingly. Engagements, pregnancies, personal email addresses and telephone numbers cannot be published.

Please note that content for USD Magazine has a long lead time. Our current publishing schedule is as follows: Class Notes received between Feb. 1–May 30 appear in the Fall edition; those received June 1–Sept. 30 appear in the Spring edition; those received between Oct. 1–Jan. 31 appear in the Summer digital-only edition.

Email Class Notes to classnotes@sandiego.edu or mail them to the address below.

[mailing address]

USD Magazine Publications

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USD Magazine is printed with vegetable-based inks on paper certified in accordance with FSC® standards, which support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

[0723/Digital/PUB-23-3619]

CONTENTS

USD MAGAZINE

FEATURES

Leaders of Influence

Four USD leaders were recognized by the San Diego Business Journal in its 2023 list of the region’s “Top 50 Black Leaders of Influence,” celebrating individual achievements and USD’s collective effort toward equity and excellence. Honorees included: Senior Vice President and Provost Gail F. Baker, PhD; Vice President of Student Affairs Charlotte Johnson, JD; Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Regina Dixon-Reeves, PhD; and School of Leadership and Education Sciences Dean Kimberly White-Smith, EdD.

On a Roll — Living Life in Full Color

USD’s Torero Renaissance Scholars program supports students like Anita Duong ’23 (MA), who grew up as an unaccompanied minor and is now among the less than 1% of the nation’s foster youth who’ve earned a master’s degree. She’s not stopping there — and will soon pursue her PhD. The TRS program, established in 2010, provides support and resources to USD students who identify as former foster youth, who are emancipated or unaccompanied minors, who were in legal guardianships, or who are homeless or are at risk for becoming homeless.

TORERO NEWS

Becoming the Mission

A team of employees were part of Leaders in Mission Formation, a new way of onboarding employees and sharing what it means to work at a Catholic university.

Back to Her Beginnings

Jessica Garcia ’16, who’s earning a master’s in school counseling from the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, is getting hands-on experience from the guidance counselor who inspired her in high school.

Moving the Needle

In February, the campus proudly celebrated the 12 recipients of USD’s second annual Diversity and Inclusion Impact Awards, who are making a difference on campus.

A Time for Celebration

The Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering is 10 years old. USD celebrated the 10th anniversary in many ways — including an event on March 28, featuring miniature drone test flights, 3D print demonstrations, a 360-degree photo booth, raffles and a ceremonial cake cutting.

TORERO ATHLETICS

The Fire Inside is Ablaze

Solymar Colling’s athleticism, fiery competitive nature and storied work ethic were the foundation for her decorated amateur tennis career — and her on-court accomplishments at USD are as impressive as they are numerous.

CLASS NOTES

A Passion for Pancakes

Amory Fratoni ’15, the lead operations manager for a volunteer organization known as Pancakes Serving Up Hope, has learned that sometimes giving someone a warm meal — complete with buttery, syrupy goodness — is a way of also serving up hope to many who are homeless in San Diego.

You Can Turn Back Time

Former running back Jonah Hodges ’16, who was named a Football Championship Subdivision Second Team AllAmerican Running Back and Male Torero Athlete of the Year in 2016, says football taught him many important lessons in life — including the importance of timing and the value of waiting and being patient as well as what means to be a USD Man, someone who has his nose to the grindstone, is a hard worker and goes the extra mile for his teammates.

Beyond Just Staying Alive

Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science graduate

Anthonia “Tonia” Okoh ’17 (MSN), ’23 (DNP) was inspired to become a nurse after caring for her parents in her home country of Nigeria. When COVID-19 hit, she decided to get her doctorate and juggled her doctoral studies while working as an emergency room nurse and taking care of her three children during her husband’s deployments with the U.S. Navy.

ON THE COVER

Photo of Anita Duong ’23 (MA), by Maya (Alé) Delgado

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TORERO NEWS

[faith in action]

BECOMING THE MISSION

What does it mean to engage with USD’s Catholic identity?

by Julene Snyder

This spring, a select group of 11 University of San Diego staff and administrators made up the inaugural cohort of Mission Integration’s first Leaders in Mission Formation Program. The pilot program — described as an “opportunity for critical

conversations and discernment about what it means to work at an engaged and contemporary Catholic university” — included participants from across campus and from all faith backgrounds, including those who don’t identify with a particular faith tradition.

Over time, the way new employees have been onboarded, including learning what it means to work at a Catholic university, has evolved and shifted. However, this new program is meant to provide a much deeper dive.

“When I started being a part of orientation, along with

[Director for Mission] Mark Peters and [Vice President for Mission Integration] Michael Lovette-Colyer, people started coming to me afterward asking if we could get together and talk,” recalls Director of Mission Integration and Center for Christian Spirituality Erin Bishop. “They’d have questions like, ‘Do I belong here?’ and ‘Is this the place for me?’ and ‘How do I fit in?’ ”

So, in 2022, when LovetteColyer assumed his new role, he asked Bishop to establish a formation program that would

BARBARA FERGUSON

provide a broader, deeper sense of what it meant for people to engage with USD’s mission and Catholic identity, while respecting what Bishop describes as “people’s sense of their own personal mission.”

She knew that she wanted to attract key campus leaders to the program when she began that work. “When tensions arise — when there’s a renaming of Serra Hall, when there are student groups that want to distribute condoms on campus, when there’s a war going on — how does our Catholic identity surface?” she inquires.

She sees the program as an aid for staff to stockpile the resources they may need during the course of doing their jobs. For example, for a social media manager to parse current events and how they intersect with the views of the Catholic Church.

“While we realize that we have non-Catholics working here, even the Catholics who work here may not be the most equipped or resourced or studied in that world or reality,” Bishop explains. “We settled on a more engaging process of people recognizing what gifts they bring in and how they’re already doing good work.”

The program started with a full-day retreat in January to bond as a community. Bishop says the most impactful part of that day was choosing different places on campus and asking people to reflect on their experiences of those places.

While they visited the spots one might expect — Founders Chapel and The Immaculata come to mind — they also were taken to more tucked away locations. “We sent them to The Garden of the Sea, the pillars of faith statues near the Jenny Craig Pavilion and the Learning

Commons,” Bishop explains. “We asked them to think about how these places on campus speak about the Catholicism at USD. This idea that the university has a history and a purpose can be missed day to day when we’re running from meeting to meeting. This is a way to deepen our sense of what this place is about.”

Each participant was given three questions and asked to present their reflections about their experience to the group. The program’s subsequent monthly gatherings were focused on topics such as community, faith, the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, the liberal arts and how best to confront humanity’s urgent challenges.

Participant Matthew Yepez — who came to USD in June 2022 to take the helm as senior director of the Career Development Center — found the program edifying. “I think it helps me to better align with the mission, and to help my team members. We all want to know how best to help students to launch their lives and be successful,” he says.

He was particularly struck by roaming campus during the retreat. “It was powerful to pause and reflect on the history and its intricacies,” Yepez recalls. “I had a new appreciation for how special a place this is and was impressed by the concept that our Catholic identity means this is a welcoming place, even for those of us who aren’t practicing.”

Bishop echoes that sentiment. “Learning about the history of USD doesn’t mean we haven’t evolved from 30 years ago,” she notes. “We want people to think about what it means to them now and how they are a part of the story that has been written and is continuing to be written.”

YOUR ESTATE PLANNING RESOURCE ON CAMPUS

NOT SURE HOW TO BEGIN

[full circle]

BACK TO HER BEGINNINGS

Counseling student still learning at her high school alma mater

by Matthew Piechalak

Jessica Garcia felt a deep sense of nostalgia as she walked back into her high school for the first time in years — a fullcircle moment that she continues to relive each school day as she reports to her practicum site.

“I can’t believe where I am now,” says Garcia, a 2016 San Marcos High School graduate, currently earning a Master of Arts degree in school counseling at USD’s School of Leadership

and Education Sciences. She’s also completing a yearlong internship under the tutelage of her former high school counselor, Ruben Escobar. Now, he’s teaching Garcia what it takes to be a successful, caring and empathetic school counselor.

“It was an honor that one of my own students felt we had a connection that was above and beyond — that it left a positive impact on her to where she

felt that she wanted to pursue the profession,” says Escobar, a counselor at San Marcos High for eight years.

School counselors deal with every situation that comes through their doors. “The ultimate goal is to help students navigate the educational system and to have better opportunities upon graduation,” he says.

The two have a lot in common. Both identify as first-generation

Mexican-Americans who understand the difficulties that English learners face in school. Escobar came to San Marcos High while Garcia was a junior, and guided her through the college application process.

“He was there to support me and help me seek out different leadership opportunities,” Garcia says.

Garcia attended school in the San Marcos Unified School District from kindergarten through high school. Both her parents emigrated to Southern California from Oaxaca, Mexico. Agricultural farm workers, they only had education through middle school.

“Education is something they really instilled in me,” Garcia says.

COURTESY OF JESSICA GARCIA

Garcia considers herself a quiet student, which made navigating high school a challenge. San Marcos High is the biggest high school in the county, with an average graduating class of more than 800 students. She says the school had a reputation of providing leadership opportunities for students with diverse backgrounds. But it was meeting Escobar that put her on a course for postsecondary success.

“Jessica was one of the first students I met when I came to San Marcos,” Escobar says. “She stood out to me as a motivated leader who wanted to go places.”

Escobar recognized Garcia as an ideal candidate to apply for the Reality Changers College Apps Academy, a City of San Diego program intended to help firstgeneration students get into twoand four-year institutions, through college life preparation and maximizing financial aid options. The academy was founded by Chris Yanov ’03 (MA), a USD Alumni Honors recipient in 2010.

“It meant the world to me that someone was willing to get to know me and advocate for why I would be able to succeed in a college system,” Garcia says.

Following graduation, Garcia and Escobar remained in contact. As her educational track moved toward a focus in school counseling, Escobar brought up the opportunity for her to return to her alma mater. Garcia met with all eight counselors at San Marcos High.

“Everybody loved that she was our student and now an alumna,” Escobar says. “Right off the bat, she had a certain poise and charisma. Everyone wanted to have her back.”

For Garcia, it was a special feeling to return home.

“I have always wanted to give back here in North County in the same way that support was given to me.”

SAVING THE WORLD TOGETHER

Sustainability summit teaches no idea is too small

by Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA)

One student says, “This is a clothespin. It’s really great for pinning clothes but it’s also good for finger hats.” Another responds, “That’s right, Sam!” with the timbre of a game show host. “This is also a great hair accessory for when your hair gets in your face!”

A classroom of 22 students toss several clothespins back and forth, saying, “That’s right, Sam!” and then pitching brilliant and quirky ways that an everyday clothespin can be used. Sound a bit silly? Sure.

But this game of “That’s Right, Sam!” is a way to promote fluid thinking in a group brainstorming session and to show that any idea, no matter how strange it may sound, is worth sharing.

These ideation sessions were a part of the inaugural Student Sustainability Summit coordinated by USD’s Office of Sustainability and supported by the Changemaker Hub and Environmental Integration Lab. The event was not only the first ever of its kind at USD, it was also student led.

“Sustainability should be important to students because we’re supposed to be the Changemakers of the future generations to come,” says Mahlia Flores, a junior and a marketing and communications assistant for the Office of Sustainability.

The Student Sustainability Summit — which was made up of 70 students — listened to Director of Sustainability John Alejandro and Sustainability Coordinator Savannah Robledo

give a presentation on the university’s Climate Action Plan. Afterward, students were asked to choose between four topics — water and land, food, transportation or consumerism — and come up with ideas for projects that could become a part of the Climate Action Plan and help the campus continue to grow even more sustainable.

Flores was one of several students who was trained to facilitate the breakout sessions. She oversaw the topic of consumerism. “Every individual step we take toward making and creating sustainable solutions will not only implement change on our campus, but will also change the greater society as a whole,” she says.

Students broke up into teams of four to co-create ideas. They then were asked to step back and select the idea they felt should be sent on to the administration and considered as part of the Climate Action Plan.

“I hope students’ takeaway is that their time and effort don’t go unnoticed,” says Flores.

Students had the opportunity to apply to become a part of the Design Lab, a collaboration between the Environmental Integration Lab and the Changemaker Hub.

“We’re approaching this in a mindful, intentional and genuine way for students to gain agency around what they can do to be a part of change,” says Director of Social Change and Student Engagement of the Changemaker Hub Juan Carlos Rivas, PhD.

Those who attended all sessions qualified to receive a $1,000 stipend for their time and efforts. In total, the Design Lab selected 15 motivated students to join their team and continue cultivating ideas that could be included in the Climate Action Plan.

sandiego.edu/summit23

MOVING THE NEEDLE

Center for Inclusion and Diversity hosts 2023 Impact Awards

by Matthew Piechalak

The University of San Diego’s Center for Inclusion and Diversity hosted its second annual Diversity and Inclusion Impact Awards Program and Luncheon in February 2023.

The program recognized 12 individuals who have “demonstrated sustained commitment to justice for communities historically marginalized for their race and ethnicity.” All university employees are eligible for the award.

“We are thrilled that the college and all schools are represented this year and we are proud to celebrate our colleagues’ sustained commitment to making USD a more diverse and inclusive community,” said Regina DixonReeves, PhD, vice provost for diversity, equity and inclusion and director at the Center for Inclusion and Diversity.

Sitting among family, friends and colleagues, the 12 recipients —

faculty members Jillian Tullis, PhD (College of Arts and Sciences);

Razel Milo, PhD (Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science);

Alison Sanchez, PhD (Knauss School of Business); Necla Tschirgi, PhD (Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies); Roy L. Brooks, JD (School of Law); Susan Lord, PhD (ShileyMarcos School of Engineering); and staff members Rebekka Jez, PhD (School of Leadership and Education Sciences); Hazel Claros,

MA (Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science); April Cash, MA (Knauss School of Business); Frances Laviscount, MS (Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies); Michael Chavez, JD (School of Law); and Elisa Lurkis, MA (pictured, Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering) — received their awards from USD President James T. Harris III, DEd, and Senior Vice President and Provost Gail F. Baker, PhD, along with Dixon-Reeves.

“There are so many people on this campus who are doing outstanding work on behalf of the University of San Diego and our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts,” Harris said during the event. “There is so much work to be done and there will always

be more that we can do. Each of these recipients is doing that work and, in the process, is inspiring the rest of us to follow their lead. They are undaunted. They are rolling up their sleeves. They are making changes — changes that move the needle. Changes that confront humanity’s most urgent challenges. Changes that our students, our prospective students and each one of us can see, and hear, and feel in our hearts and in our souls.”

“These are momentous times at USD as we forge our allegiance to underserved and underrepresented groups on our campus and in our community, to future generations of USD students and alumni, so every member of our community can thrive,” Provost Baker said to the audience, prior to recognizing the honorees.

The Impact Award was created in 2021 to honor and recognize the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) on campus. The award was established in response to an open letter written in 2020 by Black faculty members, and highlights the often underrecognized work by those who mentor members of the BIPOC community and contribute to cultural changes on campus and in the community.

The award is also part of The Horizon Project — a five-year plan led by President Harris in collaboration with partners across campus. The project is intended to help build a more inclusive campus community by setting specific strategic goals that touch on strengthening diversity, inclusion and social justice in a more diverse, multicultural and global world.

“Thanks to each of these recipients — and each of you here today,” said Harris. “Thank you for bringing The Horizon Project to life in your own ways through the work you do in the name of this university.”

Jay

Rice joins the Black Student Resource Commons

by Matthew Piechalak

AN INTENTIONAL DIALOGUE A

s the new director of the Black Student Resource Commons (BSRC), Joshua “Jay” Rice is ready to hit the ground running. “This is very specific work,” he says. “For me, serving Black students ultimately makes me happy. And the institution benefits because of [increased] recruitment and retention of these students.”

Rice joined USD in December of 2022 after serving as assistant director for the Black Resource Center at the University of California, San Diego. Prior to that, he worked in student housing until he realized that his work gravitated toward Black student experiences.

“I realized that those were the things that sustained me — it moved from being just a job to there being passion behind it. I realized that I wanted to focus the work on a day-to-day basis to be about Black students.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BSRC. It’s a space for advice and advocacy; a place for programs, events and services focused on the needs of USD’s Black community and a place to explore personal identity and shine a positive light on Black culture.

“We provide services that allow our students to develop academically and socially, and to explore their identity, which is extremely important, especially in understanding that we do exist at a predominately white institution,” Rice says. “The commons provides a physical space for students to study and to relax and take a break. It’s

an environment for intentional dialogue — one that really centers on Black experiences.”

Additionally, staff proactively works with other campus units to reach out to students who may be struggling. “We want to make sure we assist in setting students up for success, so we reach out to see how we can support those students and help them get back on sound footing.”

Other programs include the “Black And” series, which focuses on intersectionality and the weeklong Black Summer Immersion Program, aimed at helping Black students acclimate early to USD. “Sometimes our underrepresented student populations don’t have as much experience coming into an institution that allows for a sound and seamless transition. It’s about providing assistance.”

Additionally, the BSRC offers a peer mentor program for

first-year Black students. “There are a lot of conversations that are just better for students to have with their peers, because they’re able to provide a level of perspective that you might not get from the professional staff on campus. It adds a layer of validity to the advice.”

Rice is excited to grow the commons, and stresses that having dedicated resources for Black students at USD is paramount.

“Identity is such an important part of our lives. It doesn’t often come up in curriculum, but impacts the ways in which we learn and the ways we navigate the very spaces we are in,” he says. “Having a space that really centers Black student experiences also helps with inclusion, because it allows our students to see themselves reflected in the infrastructure of our institution, which is extremely important.”

BECOMING THE CHANGE

Violence, Inequality and Power Lab fellowship

by Matthew Piechalak

The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice’s Violence, Inequality and Power Lab (VIP Lab) will launch a new fellowship program intended to expand the breadth of work focusing on the relationships between power inequalities and violence.

“The fellowship program is an opportunity to create a space

for advancing the research, advancing the practice and fostering dialogue between practitioners and researchers with a very direct benefit to their own work and a broader benefit to the field overall,” says Rachel Locke, director of the VIP Lab.

The VIP Lab held a joint press conference with U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) in the Ministry

Center on Feb. 15 to officially announce the creation of the lab. In late 2022, Jacobs secured $580,000 in federal funding for the Kroc School initiative. Jacobs advocated for the program and helped secure the funding through Congress’ 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.

“Understanding the role inequality plays in perpetuating

the cycle of violence is key to building a more peaceful, just and equal society,” said Jacobs. “That’s why I was proud to secure federal funding to support the lab’s cutting-edge analysis, shape the broader field of study and invest in the next generation of research.”

USD President James T. Harris III, DEd, thanked Jacobs and spoke about the importance of the new fellowship.

The VIP Lab was established in January 2022 with an aim to “meet this moment by fostering collaborations that question the status quo, that use bridging language and that expand

ELENA GOMEZ

access to nuanced knowledge and discussion.”

“Violence, is in large part, representative of power relationships that serve certain individuals or populations at the expense of others, often through systems of structural exclusion that create cycles of harm,” Locke explained. “Yet, while the centrality of power inequalities is increasingly known to drive violence, research on the topic is sparse. The VIP Lab was established to help reverse this trend, investing in knowledge, learning and creative collaborations to shift harmful systems of power and reinforce systems of peace and justice.”

The new fellowship will create more opportunities for thinkers and practitioners to advance the dialogue around violence prevention, Locke says.

The program will recruit research fellows with specific backgrounds that make them experts in their field such as veterans, those with law enforcement backgrounds and people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system. The inaugural class will consist of eight fellows from around the world who will research topics related to violence against women, violence in communities and political violence.

“I’m excited to welcome each of you to our campus as we partner with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, who served as a scholar in residence at our Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, to share exciting news about expanding the work we’ll be doing through our Violence, Inequality and Power Lab,” Harris said.

“The work being done through the VIP Lab allows us to move past anecdotes and headlines to more fully and more accurately understand the scope and scale of urgent challenges and to become a part of the change this world so desperately needs.”

USD begins construction of new wellness center

by Mike Sauer

FAREWELL TO THE FIELD C

hilly evening temperatures and the threat of rain did little to dampen the energy and excitement of Toreros who attended a late February “Farewell to the Field” event at USD’s Valley Field.

Located adjacent to first- and second-year student housing in an area known as The Valley, the Valley Field is a popular campus outdoor space that’s been home to events ranging from intramural football games to employee picnics — and just about everything in between — since it was constructed more than three decades ago. The event marked the end of an era, as the space is being closed and redeveloped into the eagerly anticipated USD Wellness Center and Basketball Practice Center.

A collaboration between the Torero Program Board and Campus Recreation, the event had a carnival-like atmosphere where attendees were treated to an assortment of rides, food and music.

“Our main purpose was to throw a big party for the students in a place that has been a really important part of USD life for decades,” said Torero Program Board Vice-Chair Jasmine Hersh. “We were a bit nervous that it would just be Valley residents who would show up, but I was really happy to see juniors and seniors come back to celebrate and say goodbye. I know it was bittersweet for some people, but the overall vibe was really heartwarming and positive.”

Without a doubt, saying goodbye to the Valley Field — and its well-traveled neighbor, the Valley Stairs with its 70 grueling steps —

marks the end of an era at USD. And while they say that all good things must end … in this particular case, those good things are giving way to something great.

Slated for completion in August of 2024, the new Wellness Center will be USD’s state-ofthe-art nexus of health, wellness and community connection. Conveniently located, the threestory, 80,000-square-foot facility will sit near the main entrance of campus, at the crossroads between the academic area to the west and the residential and athletics areas to the east.

The center’s entrance and lobby will be located at street level, adjacent to the main campus entrance, parking structure, and Student Life Pavilion. This space will serve as the main thoroughfare to the center’s cardio and group fitness areas. The primary fitness area on the center’s third level will be the largest space on campus dedicated to exercise and physical well-being.

A wellness wing will be dedicated to supporting the mental and emotional resources needed for the challenges of college life and beyond. The fitness wing is the largest component of the Wellness Center. There, visitors will find extensive resources for a variety of physical exercises, activities and court-based sports, including the Basketball Practice Center.

Above all else, the Wellness Center is being built to provide students the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, and that, according to Associate Vice President for University Operations André Hutchinson, is reason enough to be excited about what’s to come.

“The facility was created with the idea that it can help optimize our students’ experiences; not just with their physical development, but also with their development as a whole person. That’s what we are committed to here at USD, and this facility will support that mission.”

[10th anniversary]

A TIME FOR CELEBRATION

The Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering Turns 10

by Matthew Piechalak

They are waiting to take a group photo with Donald’s wife, Darlene Marcos Shiley, the benefactress whose gift 10 years ago established the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at the University of San Diego. As she turns the corner into her self-proclaimed

“favorite space” inside the building, Shiley lights up at the sight of the young adults gathered in anticipation of her arrival.

“ ‘Shiley-Marcos!’ Oh my, those shirts are sensational,” she cries out joyfully to the students, wearing their

tops custom-made for this event — the 10th anniversary celebration of the school that carries her family’s name.

More students — and a few faculty members and staff — gather around the charismatic Shiley for an impromptu photoshoot.

Following the repetitive click of several cameras, she hangs around to learn more about the current students and to offer her appreciation for their dedication to pursuing engineering degrees at USD. She also references

AA group of smiling engineering students dressed uniformly in Torero Blue T-shirts gather below the entryway to Donald’s Garage, a workshop named after the late Donald P. Shiley, inventor of a revolutionary tilting disc artificial heart valve.

BARBARA FERGUSON

the revolutionary workshop they occupy.

“This is my favorite space,” Shiley tells the group, as she looks up in reverence at the space that features an array of machines students use to turn their ideas into prototypes.

The space tells the story of Donald’s Garage, which not only pays homage to Donald Shiley, who was known for tinkering in his garage, but also celebrates the great things that can happen anywhere Changemaking engineers find inspiration.

“I wish Donald was here to see all of you,” Shiley says, “because he would have liked it.”

The hallways, atriums and workshops of the Belanich Engineering Center are alive with festive music, excited chatter and even the light buzzing of miniature drones making test flights in the airspace above nearby workbenches as onlookers attempt to capture photographs on their smartphones.

The celebration also includes 3D print demonstrations, Raspberry Pi robots, a 360-degree photo booth, raffles and a ceremonial cake cutting in the west lobby, where Shiley reflects aloud on the significance of the occasion.

“I can’t tell you how thrilling it is to see all of you here and to know there are students in the labs working,” she says. “I’m so proud of all of you. Thank you for continuing to let me help you — and I can guarantee that we are going to have some really good things coming up for the ShileyMarcos School of Engineering.”

Shiley also offered advice on the importance of leaning into change.

“Don’t be afraid of change,” she says, referring to the circuitous path Donald took

early in life — from leaving Oregon State University to enlist in the U.S. Navy during World War II, to finishing first in his class following the war at the University of Portland. “That’s why they call us ‘Changemakers.’ ”

“Donald Shiley was somebody who saw a problem and wanted to confront humanity’s issues around heart health and cardiovascular issues and he created something that has saved thousands of lives,” says President James T. Harris III, DEd. “When you combine that with the philanthropy and the vision of Darlene Shiley, the two married together, they are both Changemakers in their own way.”

USD launched its engineering department in the fall semester of 1987 and celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of electrical engineering students in 1991. During the next 22 years, the department grew and added Industrial and Systems Engineering and Mechanical Engineering degree programs.

In 2013, Marcos-Shiley

that founded the ShileyMarcos School of Engineering and Chell Roberts, PhD, was hired as the founding dean of the school.

“It has been so fun and so great to see what has happened,” Roberts says, reflecting on the anniversary. “We started 10 years ago with just a handful of faculty members. Now, we have more than 45 full-time faculty members. We had enrolled maybe 200 students at the time and now we have more than 800 undergraduate students and about 350 graduate students. We now have five undergraduate degrees and six graduate degrees.”

The 21st century is the world of engineering, Roberts says, referring to things like robots, artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality.

“There is this incredible world coming at us — we are diving into it and embracing it,” he says. “It’s the engineers and the computer scientists that create that world, certainly with others, but they are the brains behind the creation of our

should care about the school. We are creating the future.”

Earlier this year, the ShileyMarcos School of Engineering was ranked 15th on U.S. News & World Report ’s list of Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs where doctorate is not offered. The general consensus among those pivotal in its growth is that the school will eventually attain the top spot.

“Our engineers are going out and changing the world — we’ve got everyone from astronauts to individuals serving in the Peace Corps,” Harris says. “We have Toreros all over the world who are Changemakers and we are so proud of every one of them.”

“We have come so far in such a short period of time because everyone is really working together,” says Shiley. “It would make my husband wildly happy to know that there are so many different kinds of engineers here and I think he would look around and say ‘this is a group that was able to do amazing things in 10 years and I can hardly wait to see

BARBARA FERGUSON

TORERO ATHLETICS

[indomitable]

THE FIRE INSIDE IS ABLAZE

Solymar Colling isn’t interested in average

by Mike Sauer

Back when she was just 6 years old, Solymar Colling’s father, Randal, sat his youngest daughter down for a chat that would, eventually, define her future.

The conversation centered around sports; specifically, which sport Colling liked playing the most.

“I loved tennis, and I loved it because my sisters were already playing at that time,” Colling recalls. “I knew I wanted to play with them, and to beat them. My dad told me I needed to pick one sport to focus on, so it was an easy decision for me.”

That decision has paid bigtime dividends since, as Colling’s

athleticism, fiery competitive nature and storied work ethic have served as the foundation for a decorated amateur tennis career. Now a redshirt senior at the University of San Diego, her on-court accomplishments while a member of the Torero women’s tennis team are as impressive

as they are numerous. One in particular that jumps off the page is her being only the sixth player in program history to be named as an All-American in singles — and as a first-year, no less.

Yet, when that amazing achievement is brought up, Colling shrugs her shoulders and smiles, opting instead to talk about the success the program as a whole has enjoyed over the last few years. “Honestly, the memory that really sticks out to me about my career at USD was this year, when we qualified for the ITA Indoor Championships,”

she says. “We hadn’t done that since I’d been here, and that field has the best programs in women’s tennis. I think we all were really excited about that.”

While Colling is buoyed by team success, she also knows — and loves — the fact that tennis is a predominately individual sport. There’s no one to blame for your errant forehand. Or double fault into the net. The successes and failures fall squarely on your shoulders. “I’m a really aggressive player by nature. I like to try and end points quickly and go for big shots. And I feel freer to take those chances when I’m playing singles, because I know it’s all on me.”

Becoming a successful tennis player requires a robust interpersonal toolkit. Perhaps chief among those skills is the ability to — as the saying goes — embrace the suck. The hours upon hours of on-court work refining both your strokes and serve; the early-morning workouts; the long car rides from tournament to tournament. The ability to put the time in to improve often separates good from great, something Colling knows all too well.

“Honestly, I love practicing. I love the work,” she says, with a grin, “I might love it too much.”

Her dedication to improving her game has not inhibited her ability to excel in the classroom.

Colling is a three-time recipient of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Scholar-Athlete Award and plans to pursue a career in real estate if she’s unable to pursue her primary goal of playing professional women’s tennis.

“Both of my parents are in commercial real estate, and I took an appraisal class that was life-changing,” she says. “I’m also studying to get my real estate license in addition to continuing to play tennis for USD, and training to play at the professional level after I’m finished at this level. It’s a lot … but I love it!”

GETTING TO KNOW … HARRISON KINGSLEY

CREDENTIALS: Kingsley has amassed an impressive set of laurels since transferring to USD in 2019. Perhaps most significant among them was his win at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, where he stopped a stellar field from some of the nation’s best golf programs. “Having to wait to see if I won or would be in a playoff … that was probably harder than the golf.” PUTTING WITH POPS: When it came to developing a love for the game of golf, Kingsley didn’t have to look far for inspiration. Dad David Kingsley gave Harrison his first club to swing at the tender age of 2, and the younger Kingsley was “all-in from day one. I remember waking up early in the mornings when I was young, jumping on his bed and begging him to take me to the practice range.” GRIN AND BEAR IT: Kinglsey’s hometown of Murrieta, California, has been a wellspring of golf talent for several decades. It’s also home to one of the most challenging courses in a state replete with them; Bear Creek Golf Club. “I started playing Bear Creek when I was in high school, and I remember thinking how hard it was after the first time I played it; like, I was really frustrated,” Kingsley recalls. “But learning how to play such a tough course helped me learn to stay focused and patient, which is critical if you want to play golf at the highest levels.” LIVING THE DREAM: And speaking of highest levels, Kingsley is hoping to continue pursuing his dream of playing professional golf after he graduates this spring. He got a small taste of what PGA tour life might be like when he qualified for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines last February. “Qualifying for the tour event at Torrey Pines was awesome, and I learned so much from the tour players while I was there.” — Mike Sauer

TOM CHRISTENSEN

Leaders of Infl uence

Four members of the University of San Diego’s leadership team were recognized for their work and for shaping the vision of USD’s future. They were part of the San Diego Business Journal’s 2023 list of the region’s “Top 50 Black Leaders of Influence.”

Among those honored were: Senior Vice President and Provost Gail F. Baker, PhD; Vice President of Student Affairs Charlotte Johnson, JD; Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Regina Dixon-Reeves, PhD; and School of Leadership and Education Sciences Dean Kimberly White-Smith, EdD, who called it “an immense honor.”

“This recognition not only celebrates individual achievement, but also the collective effort of our community toward equity and excellence. I want to thank the USD community, especially the faculty, staff and students of the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, for inspiring me with their focus on social justice and compassionate service,” said White-Smith who, since arriving at USD, has championed the Black InGenius Initiative (BiGI). The program explores thoughtful and innovative teaching techniques and provides a path to college for marginalized students.

Dixon-Reeves said she was humbled by the honor, and said as a first-generation student herself, and lifelong educator, she’s working to make USD a welcoming and inclusive place for students from all walks of life.

“As a community, we are committed to seeing and hearing people as they want to be seen and heard,” Dixon-Reeves said. “Using conflict resolution techniques to engage in difficult conversations while maintaining open lines of communication

and empowering every member of our community to safely and effectively intervene when they see something that contradicts our community values.”

Johnson has a long record of blazing a path forward for others. She is particularly proud to be in a position to do that in the realm of education.

“It is such a gift to serve as a person of influence in the higher education space given what educational opportunities have meant to Black people and other marginalized communities,” Johnson said.

“I am both proud and honored to receive this recognition for work that I care about so deeply, and to be included among a group of leaders who are advancing our communities through innovation, open hearts and the willingness to lift as we climb.”

“I am profoundly grateful for the transformative work of all the leaders who courageously devote their lives to open the doors of opportunity for others,” Baker added.

President James T. Harris III, DEd, says that each of the administrators who were recognized have played a key role in expanding the scope of the university’s mission, ensuring that USD remains at the forefront of Catholic higher education.

“These women are true leaders,” he said. “They are holding true to USD’s commitment to academic excellence in an environment that is open, expansive and welcoming — and have called others to be the same. In countless ways, they’ve inspired not only our students, faculty and Torero family, but the San Diego community at large. I’m deeply honored to count each of these four trailblazing women among my most trusted colleagues.”

— By Steven Covella

Gail F. Baker, PhD Senior Vice President and Provost

Enjoy the Journey

Vital Life Experience

I grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and went to Catholic school and had an opportunity to take leadership roles in high school, being very interested in journalism, living through some real tumultuous times in Chicago and being really proud of our city’s heritage and history. All those things helped prepare me for the role I’m now in.

Greener Pastures

The University of San Diego attracted me to this role and I’m not sure I had previously spent any time in California. An opportunity to serve as provost of this university at this time in its history was very compelling. Even though I had lived in Florida for 11 years, you are always taken aback that you can be in March and the trees are green and the weather is nice. I was also impressed with USD’s commitment to its students, and the idea that through advancing academic excellence, we are helping to prepare innovative leaders dedicated to ethical conduct and compassionate service. When I hit campus, to see that it was not only a beautiful campus, but it also seemed like a calm campus, was nice. Then I met the students and it seemed like the place I needed to be at that point.

Words of Wisdom

My late sister, Linda, was the smartest person I have ever known and a very spiritual and centered individual who took her Catholicism seriously. I wanted to do everything she did. My other sister, Jackie, teaches me how to be resilient. She never gives up. But the best advice I have ever received came from my father. I’m a firstgeneration college graduate and he would tell me — this is old Boy Scout talk — “leave it better than you found it.” I keep coming back to that any time I have an opportunity … is it better in some way that I can tell?

Enjoy the Journey

I see these young adults always trying to get to their destination. When I give them advice, I tell them to enjoy the journey. What experiences do you have along the way? There is a process where you are meeting people, you are succeeding, you are failing, you are turning corners. All of that is important, rewarding and joyful. When you are young, you just want to get to the next thing. I would encourage our students to enjoy the journey.

Leading the Learning

The provost is responsible for all teaching and learning on campus — it’s the academic leadership role. So if it’s in the classroom and it involves teaching and learning, that is what the provost does. Anything that moves the campus forward is what the provost is responsible for. Student success is the most critical part and that is not just measured in graduation rates. Student success is trying to get them to enjoy the journey, connect with one another, connect with faculty members, connect with critical thinking, connect with lifetime learning. For us, success means that our students are making it through and they are experiencing great teachers, great learning, great classrooms and internships, and that we are educating the whole person. I think we do that better than anybody.

Celebrating Diversity

We want to make sure our faculty members of color here feel supported and we have diversity programs in place to help with that. What we are trying to do is build cohorts with faculty so that faculty of a specific discipline may be able to find another faculty member in a different discipline where they can connect and learn about each other and that’s across all lines. We try to connect faculty members, work with them and support them. What students get from that

is a feeling that this is their community. We are trying to pay attention to every individual who comes here. We are trying to hear their concerns and be responsive and we are trying to increase the numbers so there can be an opportunity to build community.

Leaning Into Her Faith

My faith supports me. We have had some tough times the past couple of years with COVID and the George Floyd murder. If I didn’t have faith that there is a bigger power, that there is a place we are trying to go, that there is worth in humanity, it would be impossible to get up every day and face the challenges, as we say, “humanity’s urgent challenges,” because you wouldn’t believe you can get it done. Faith has been there with me every step of the way. I believe that God respects all human beings, that we have to respect one another and that there are better days to come.

An Optimistic Future

I tell students that all the experiences they have — good, bad or otherwise — are preparing them for a future they do not know. While it seems like this is a dark time, and it is, I've also lived through other dark times and the students are the people who help lead us out and lead us into wherever it is we are going. Every experience you have you must absorb it, learn from it and you try to use it to improve the next experience. Don’t get marred if you can’t, think about where you are today and how you can use this to make tomorrow better.

The students give me hope. I see them every day and they are laughing and interacting and then they ask really tough questions and they care about the environment and humanity and diversity and respect and I think, “OK, if we can just get them ready, they’ll lead us out.”

— As told to Matthew Piechalak

Regina Dixon-Reeves, PhD Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director, Center for Inclusion and Diversity

Just Ask Questions

Everything is Beautiful

San Diego is really different from Chicago. I absolutely love Southern California. It’s so funny, because I had never noticed how gray it was in Chicago until I got here. I remember how blue the sky seemed the first time I was on campus. I never considered myself a person with seasonal affect disorder, but clearly I suffered from it because it is so bright here that it literally makes me happy.

Ask and You Shall Receive

As a first-generation college student, my mom was incredibly supportive. She always encouraged me to ask questions, to seek out help and to keep asking if I didn’t get the answers I needed. Her best advice was for me to always be willing to talk to people, to put myself out there and not only ask for help, but also ask for resources and then follow through on those resources. That was the best advice I could have received and is the same advice I give to young people now.

Doing the Right Things

Marquette University, where I earned my undergraduate degree, is a great Catholic, Jesuit university. There was a lot I didn’t necessarily take advantage of because I didn’t know to. That has fueled my passion for making sure young people know how they can get through school and fully engage in all its resources. I myself didn’t do an internship, didn’t study abroad, didn’t take advantage of career placement and career services the way I should have. Whenever I talk with young people, I encourage them to do those things because they’re important.

Leadership Alignment Is Key

At USD, there’s an incredible commitment by both the president and the provost to make diversity and inclusion paramount in their list of priorities for the university. This community is passionate about diversity,

equity and inclusion and is really engaging in individual and institutional change. Since I’ve been here, what’s really struck me is that I haven’t received much pushback from anybody.

Finding, Nurturing, Growing

I see my role as helping us to develop a common framework, a common language and a common vision for how we get where we want to be. I am trying to approach the work systematically and through best practices. We know from research that diversity equals excellence and that diversity equals a better environment for everyone. In order to have a more diverse community, we need to attract a more diverse applicant pool and give them an equal chance of being hired. But once we get them here, we also have to give them opportunities to grow, thrive and be successful.

Rigorous, Diverse and Strong

One of the things I’m most proud of is that over the past four years we’ve seen increasing enrollment of students of color across the board. And particularly in the last three years — especially since we stopped using ACT and standardized scores to admit undergrads — we’ve found that those students are competitive and that they are doing as well as any of the previous cohorts before them.

We’re Getting Better

This year’s strong and diverse applicant pool will hopefully counter people’s fears that the more students of color we admit, the less prestigious we will be. What we’re showing is that the more diverse we are, the better we are. These students are on track to continue to be retained and to graduate. That’s important because it shows that diversity really is our strength. It’s our academic strength and it’s our intellectual strength. Diversity of opinions, thoughts and experiences makes for a rigorous intellectual environment.

Coming Together

You can’t have community if people don’t know each other. It’s incredibly important to have small intimate gatherings as well as large communal spaces where people have an opportunity to meet and interact with people that they might not normally interact with. We work on programs that really allow us to share the various sides of who we are. It can’t just be science and math at the exclusion of the humanities and the social sciences. We are an interdisciplinary community.

Keeping the Faith

Even in contentious times we can find hope every time we look into one of the young people’s eyes that we meet here on campus. We find hope in the fact that we have students and faculty and staff who say, “I’ve lived through this pandemic and I’m still here. I was born for such a time as this!” That should give us hope. Every time we look at the accomplishments of our students and alumni, that should give us hope because we have contributed to someone who is going to be a Changemaker. I find hope when I look at our incredibly committed and impressive faculty and the work that they are doing and the issues they are tackling.

A Message of Love

Jesus himself was a social justice advocate. He spoke for people who were disenfranchised. It is His message of love that we extend to the people who come into our community. That gives me hope, because I feel that love from other people as well. So, I hope that we know that we are preparing people to go and engage in those ways. For myself, I absolutely love being at USD. I am so grateful that you all took a chance on me. There are other people who could have done this job. I am grateful to be in community with you, doing this work that I love.

— As told to Julene Snyder

Charlotte Johnson, JD Vice President, Student Affairs

Of Sound Advice

Times Are Changing

My parents grew up during segregation in the South and I was born in the midst of the Civil Rights movement. These two things had a profound influence on my own life journey. Having parents who were born and raised during the Jim Crow era and who started their family at the height of the Civil Rights Movement are forever a part of my DNA.

Treat Everyone With Respect

Growing up, I learned early on that everyone deserves respect. In the Catholic faith, there's an emphasis on self-reflection and being the best people we can be. Those are themes that have run throughout my life and they are principles I try to bring to my work. Treating people the way you want to be treated is a lesson that has been ingrained in me since I can remember.

The Power of an Education

My parents placed a huge emphasis on education. My grandmothers were domestics, my grandfathers were laborers, one was a stone mason and the other had little formal education. Now, in the three generations since my grandparents, we have lawyers, educators, physicians, business owners, accountants, engineers, you name it. I’ve seen how education transforms not only individuals, but also families and communities.

Finding Her Way to USD

The USD opening was presented to be a potential good fit. During my first interview, I thought there could be value alignment. Additionally, despite the fact that the interview was over Zoom, there was a certain warmth generated. I was invited to campus for the second-round interview and had an opportunity to meet people and get a feel for the community. I left that day believing it could be a really wonderful fit. I believed this position could provide

me the opportunity to be my full and authentic self, to incorporate all parts of me in the service of educating our students.

Leaning on Her Faith

Thanks to my parents and grandparents, I had a deep spiritual upbringing, a strong belief in the power of God — it’s a strength we can fall back on and use to propel ourselves forward and help others. Part of what faith and religion have meant for me is never giving up, having faith in yourself and having faith that things will work out according to God’s plan.

From Litigator to Student Affairs

Being a lawyer taught me to be strategic, to think from multiple perspectives, to be an effective communicator and to tell a story in ways that will influence, sway or compel people to take some action. I loved the intellectual stimulation. The part I didn’t get so much in my particular law practice was being radically compassionate. I had to shore that up, especially moving to student affairs and working with people who had dedicated their careers to supporting and helping students develop.

Leaving Doors Open

I had never thought about completely leaving the practice of law. Then I got a call from Saul Green. We were on a University of Michigan Law School committee together, and he told me the law school was looking for a new position called director of academic services. The law school dean asked people to put out feelers and I’m told my name kept coming up. When Saul called me, I said, “No, I’m not applying. Why would I ever go back to the law school as an administrator?” He said, “You may not want to do it now, but your name is already out there. Dust off your resume, write a cover letter and keep your name circulating because you may want to take that path later.”

Thriving at USD

I am blessed to have a team of people who are dedicated to student growth and development. Through the Thriving Student Model, we’re asking, systematically and strategically, how we not only help students succeed, but how we help them thrive. And what does thriving really mean in the 21st century at a contemporary Catholic institution like USD? We’ve divided the model into several categories — academic success, inclusive community, belonging, holistic wellness, experiential learning and, the thing I love the most, joy. We want to help students experience meaning and thriving in all categories. We don’t just ask how to help students, but how to help all students. In that sense, the model is anchored in inclusive excellence.

Thriving Student Model at Work

Nationally, the mental health of college students is a significant concern. At USD, we are increasing access to mental health services and support. One way we’re doing that is by expanding the diversity of counselors in the counseling center. We have Black, Latino and bilingual counselors. One counselor is both a USD alumnus and a veteran. We want students of all backgrounds to feel comfortable coming to the counseling center. That’s one example of how we think about inclusivity and how we serve a diverse population of students.

Students Are the Hope for the Future

Our students make me feel hopeful about the future. I love students at USD. They’re smart, they’re dedicated, they work hard and they care about each other and are strengthening their compassion. The culture of care we talk about at USD is real — and part of the reason it exists is because our students are heavily invested in community and in each other.

— As told to Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA)

Kimberly White-Smith, EdD Dean, School of Leadership and Education Sciences

Getting It Right

Home Is Where the Heart Is

I grew up in a nontraditional way. I was raised by Cleopatra and DC White, who were born in 1919 and 1917 and encountered America when segregation was at its height. Neither were college educated, but they had a strong belief in education. When coming up on retirement, they trained as foster parents and opened their home to children like me. Living with them was an amazing experience — I had an opportunity to see what it looked like to advocate for academic justice.

The Road to Berkeley

In high school, I began to see the challenges and obstacles faced by students who come from nontraditional households. I had an advisor who told me that people like me didn’t go to college — and she didn’t support me in trying. I lived in South Central Los Angeles and had a friend at an all-girls Catholic high school in Inglewood who was trained as a peer counselor and helped me fill out college applications. I was accepted into a few UCs, including Berkeley. I took those letters of acceptance back to my high school counselor and I said, “I understand if you don’t want to help me, but can you tell me this? Which of these places is the farthest away from here?” She said Berkeley was the farthest.

The Heart Knows

I didn’t know anything about Berkeley, but I knew, in my heart, that’s where my parents saw me going. They passed away, but I kept them with me. My sister — Cleo and DC’s biological daughter — went with me. I packed a suitcase, got on a plane and we stayed in a dingy motel until we got the dorm situation sorted out. None of it was easy. That’s why it’s always inspiring to meet students who have diverse, nontraditional experiences as they come into higher education, because it says a lot about their journey, strength and what they overcame on their way to where they are today.

From Student to Teacher to Student

I had a tough time as an undergrad, but that’s when I learned the importance of finding mentors and finding curricula that sings to you. I was a psychology major and an African American Studies minor and had the opportunity to learn about our history and our contributions to the world. That’s when I began to understand the trajectory of my parents, what they went through and why they felt it was so important to give back to their community.

At Berkeley, I took a course taught by Dr. Bil Banks about the historical perspective of Black education in America. After grading one of our exams, Professor Banks passed them back to students, but I didn’t get mine. After class, I told him I didn’t get my exam. “That’s because I wanted to talk with you,” he said. “You got 100%. Have you ever thought about going into education?” He mentored me and encouraged me to apply to grad school. I got my master’s from Teachers College at Columbia University and went on to teach in elementary schools and continuation high schools. Then I decided to work for a nonprofit, recruiting people of color and training them to be exceptional teachers. That’s where I met Dr. Judy Johnson, who encouraged me to get my doctorate.

Inspired by Children

We already know the inequities that exist in the education system — I was tired of talking about the problems. So, I decided to research communities where schools were getting it right. I talked to teachers, families and principals. I realized the success of these schools was a function of good leaders. So, I studied leaders who produced high student achievement in schools that served minoritized communities. I was pregnant while collecting data. Once my daughter, Chloe, was born, she’d sit on my lap and I’d bounce her on my knee while typing my dissertation. Everything I was doing was about

my family. They were my inspiration. It made sense to me to bring her along so she could see mommy working. It made sense to read aloud to her while I was writing and to model to her what it was like to work in these spaces. Chloe was salutatorian of her class. She identifies as someone who has dyslexia, but she’s paving a way for herself in the education space and thinking about what her next steps will be.

Leadership and Education

In the School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES), we offer mental health and leadership programs. We have counseling and marriage and family therapy programs. We have a compendium of centers and institutes. We have a Catholic education program. We’re training people to work in student affairs, in nonprofit leadership and management and in pre-K to 12 schools. My vision is to develop an ecosystem where these programs, centers and institutes can work together to prepare SOLES graduates to better serve all students.

Looking Forward

I find hope in students who are earning their PhD in social justice, students who are in our leadership studies program or in our marriage and family therapy program, students who are earning their licenses and their credentials to become teachers in our schools. I find hope in people who are making affirmative choices to be part of what we’re doing in SOLES and trusting us to give them the tools they need to succeed in community environments that might present obstacles. I find hope in our students who are making midcareer changes to become education advocates. Cleo and DC taught me that education has the potential to build pathways. The work for us, within SOLES, is to reshape education to allow for honest conversation, to create concrete change for people who are oppressed, to provide tools for social mobility and to form a more humane society. — As told to Krystn Shrieve

Anita Duong grew up unaccompanied. She was unattended, unprotected. Abandoned. Alone. That was then. And this is now. Now, Duong ’23 (MA) is a scholarly success. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Diego State University and in 2021 graduated cum laude. Under her gown, she wore a black dress from Forever 21. Her commencement stole was purple and white, colors used to symbolize foster youth.

Living Life in Full Color

Celebrating the renaissance of some of USD’s most resilient students

Story by Krystn Shrieve

Photos by Maya (Alé) Delgado and Barbara Ferguson

This month, she walked across the stage again, this time at the Jenny Craig Pavilion, with a Master of Arts in higher education from USD’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES).

Kimberly White-Smith, EdD, dean of SOLES, is well aware of the obstacles students like Duong face, especially having been raised in the foster care system herself. [See her story on page 25.]

“When I meet students who’ve made it through the gauntlet, I’m excited and proud because I know what they’ve been through to get here,” she says. “I’m also aware it doesn’t have to be that hard. A program like Torero Renaissance Scholars (TRS) is one pillar that fills in the gaps and help us navigate educational systems.”

Another pillar is SOLES, which prepares teachers to address the needs of students who come from nontraditional households, learn differently or are neurocomplex.

“That’s why Anita’s presence is essential, why it’s vital that she’s represented in the higher education space and why it’s important that she’s earning a master’s degree from SOLES, which will help her better serve this community,” WhiteSmith says. “Just as I may be an inspiration to her, she too is serving as an inspiration to those who come behind her.”

After turning her tassel, Duong plans to earn her doctorate in higher education.

“My goal is not just to become an educator and a scholar but an

advocate for foster youth,” says Duong, who is among the less than 1% of the nation’s foster youth who’ve earned a master’s degree and now hopes to join White-Smith as one of the even fewer in the ranks to complete her doctorate. “I’ll champion other students, like me, who work so hard to overcome the disadvantages they face. I’ll represent those who are underrepresented. I want to give these students their chance, their opportunity to have their voices heard, to have their dreams fulfilled. I want them to have their own renaissance.”

During her time at USD, Duong was involved in Torero Renaissance Scholars, a program that provides support and resources to USD students from across the United States who identify as former foster youth, who are emancipated or unaccompanied minors, who were in legal guardianships, or who are homeless or are at risk for becoming homeless. [See the sidebar on page 31.]

The program was established at USD in 2010 by former Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Cynthia Avery, EdD. Avery spent time as a courtappointed special advocate and understood the struggles foster students often face in school.

“After arriving at USD, I asked what support systems were in place for former foster students and students who were homeless or on the verge of

becoming homeless,” she recalls. “I was told USD didn’t have students in those circumstances.”

But Avery knew of students on campus who were homeless, hungry and struggling to meet basic needs — all while attending classes and juggling life as a student.

Within a year or so, the FAFSA form — officially known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — added questions that allowed students to note whether they were foster students, unaccompanied minors, emancipated minors or homeless.

“That changed everything,” Avery says. “Now, the Office of Financial Aid can identify students whom we could invite to join the TRS program.”

Another major turning point was when TRS gained the attention of two anonymous donors, who generously gave a significant contribution to support the work of the program. They said their goal was to serve as catalysts for others and to provide students with opportunities they might not have otherwise had.

The TRS program started with three students and, this year, serves 15.

Duong is proud to be one of those scholars. Her own story was part of a generational trauma that began years prior.

Her grandmother grew up in Cambodia and survived genocide at the hands of the Communist regime known as

the Khmer Rouge, which came to power in the spring of 1975 after overthrowing the president of Cambodia. Over the next four years, the Khmer Rouge systematically killed more than 2 million people, including anyone thought to be an intellectual — doctors, lawyers, professors, teachers, those who spoke a foreign language, those who were leaders in the community and even those who looked scholarly simply because they wore glasses.

After living through that, Duong’s grandmother came to the United States when Duong’s mother was 5 years old. Life here had its own difficulties and her grandmother suffered abuse at the hands of her husband. Eventually, her grandmother found the courage to leave her husband, but subsequently struggled with depression and alcoholism.

Duong’s mother had no choice but to step up to care for her younger brother. That meant years later, having done her duty, the last thing she wanted to do when Duong was born was to be a mother.

She wanted to dress in fancy clothes. She wanted to drink. She wanted to party. She wanted to enjoy the freedoms she didn't have while growing up.

The last thing she wanted was to take care of a baby or to be tied down.

Duong has hazy memories of her mother and grandmother drinking together, with music blaring in the background. The

more they drank, the louder they'd crank the music. Before long, the women would yell at each other until Duong’s mother would inevitably storm out of the house, vowing never to return.

“Chaos would ensue,” Duong says. “They’d yell, argue and throw things. I’d hide in my grandma’s room and cry until it was over.”

Eventually, Duong’s mother fled to New York for a decade with her new husband. After that, Duong’s mother existed primarily in photographs.

Duong grew up with a fantasy she played over and over in her mind, of her mother picking her up from school the way other moms picked up friends and classmates.

In Duong’s mind, her mother drove a red Lexus. She wore a beautiful skirt and blouse with blue flowers and long, flared sleeves that billowed as she walked. Her hair was curled and her makeup was simple — light mascara and blush in a soft shade of pink.

“I imagined her walking to my lunch table and surprising me,” Duong recalls, with the trace of a smile on her lips. “She’d hold my left hand and I’d wave goodbye to my friends as we drove off.”

Duong’s father, originally from Vietnam, was in prison for shooting a man and was still serving his sentence when Duong was born. She was 8 years old when he was released. Duong resented him for leaving her alone with her mother, who abused her. But he was abusive too — slapping her across the face, slamming her head into a window, pushing her down and kicking her in the stomach.

He constantly shut her out of his room, where she couldn’t help but notice white powder on his desk. He even took her along on drug runs, leaving her in the car while he was buying or selling. One day — in a state of

paranoia fueled by cocaine — he nearly killed an elderly man in nearby Linda Vista, whom he was convinced was following him.

Soon, he was back in prison.

Duong spent her childhood bouncing around from one relative to another, until her welcome expired. Some were abusive. Some were merely inattentive. She carried her belongings in a blue, plastic laundry basket and had only one item she truly treasured — a toddler-sized yellow blanket with a brown bear holding three balloons — one red, one green and one blue. Bought

at a flea market, she carried it everywhere she went.

Eventually, Duong moved in full time with her grandmother.

“I call her mommy,” Duong says lovingly, of her grandmother. “She’s the true definition of resiliency. She survived the genocide. She came to a foreign place where she didn’t know the language. Her husband abused her and cheated on her and, eventually, she decided she was better off navigating alone.”

Grandmother and granddaughter lived together in a humble, two-bedroom home in City Heights. One

room belonged to Duong’s uncle. She and her grandmother shared the other room.

“My grandmother had a lot of regret with her own kids,” Duong says. “Now, she’s working hard to be a proper mother, through me, but I feel bad that she had the responsibility of raising me.”

Watching television shows and movies, Duong knew other families were different, but it wasn’t until she was filling out paperwork with a financial aid counselor during her senior year in high school — and the counselor checked the box indicating Duong was an

unaccompanied minor — that she truly understood just how different her life was.

Duong says, as a young girl, her uncle bought her a pink-and-purple Huffy bicycle, complete with decals of her favorite Disney princesses and colorful metallic tassels that would flutter from the handlebars as she rode against the wind. Her uncle took her and her cousin camping and to the roller rink.

“I’m so grateful to my uncle for helping to normalize my life and for giving me great memories,” Duong says, while gliding on her purple roller blades. “To this day, I still love roller skating. I feel so safe, so relaxed, so free.”

At first, Duong was reluctant, scared even, to go to college, to move away from her grandmother. But an AP teacher convinced her that it’s an important four years and encouraged her to live life for herself. So she applied to nearby SDSU. It wasn’t until she was an undergraduate student there that, for the first time in her life, Duong had her own bed, her own closet, her own desk, her own dresser drawers. Her side of the wall was covered with photos she printed at Walmart or took with a Polaroid camera. Her bed linens were coral pink with small, white flowers — which she bought herself using money from her financial aid disbursement. A teddy bear sat at the head of her bed.

“I had the choice to decorate everything myself. I could get creative,” Duong recalls. “I felt as though, for the first time, I was in control of my own life.”

It was as if her life was transformed from black-andwhite to full color. Duong was grateful to take control and has made the most of her life ever since.

As a graduate student at USD, Duong has spent two summers serving as a college seminar instructor for the USD TRiO Upward Bound program, which is geared toward promoting academic achievement among high school students, establishing not only a path toward college, but also representing low-income and first-generation students who are succeeding in higher education.

In her role, Duong has taught 50 high school students who identify as low-income or first-generation students. She facilitated workshops and cultural events to build community among the students and developed her lesson plans and materials to review everything from college admissions, financial aid and scholarships to college culture and even imposter syndrome, common among students who feel as though they don’t belong or deserve to be in college.

In the spring, she taught an undergraduate emerging

leaders course through SOLES — touching on topics such as values, identities, social justice, privilege and how to look at life as a Changemaker and find ways, big and small, to help humanity.

This summer, Duong plans to study abroad — in Spain and in London — learning about their K–12 educational systems.

As a child, Duong spent a long time feeling helpless, feeling like she had no one looking after her.

She was unattended, unprotected. Abandoned. Alone. That was then. And this is now.

“No child, no young person, should have to worry about whether their mom will come home at the end of the day or when they’ll eat next, or whether their mom or their grandma will be blasting music in a drunken rage,” Duong says. “They should be worried about playtime and whether they can occasionally get away with eating candy before dinner.”

Sometimes Duong still can’t believe how far she’s come.

“For so long I was so busy surviving — being anxious, being angry — that I forgot to set goals for my future,” Duong says. “But now, I am excited to look back and to know that I did it. Someday, I look forward to earning my PhD, being Dr. Duong, and making a difference to other students like me.”

THE RENAISSANCE WOMAN

Helping Torero Renaissance Scholars beat the odds

by Krystn Shrieve

After a period of darkness, a renaissance is a flicker of radiance, a warm glow, a new beginning, a rebirth.

It’s a time of light and enlightenment. It’s a chance for each of us to grow, learn, create, discover and explore. It’s a time to be inspired and to inspire others. It’s a time to be revived and renewed in a place of beauty, a place like USD, long recognized as one of the most beautiful campusess in the nation, a place that restores the body, invigorates the mind and soothes the soul.

That’s what a renaissance means to the University of San Diego.

So in 2010, when Cynthia Avery, EdD, USD’s then assistant vice president for student affairs, considered establishing a program to support Torero students who identify as former foster youth, who were emancipated minors, who were in legal guardianships, or who were homeless, or at the risk of becoming homeless, she thought long and hard about the name. Similar programs at other universities are known as guardian programs.

But at USD, the program Avery created is known as Torero Renaissance Scholars (TRS).

Prior to joining USD, Avery became a court-appointed special advocate, or CASA, and learned about the plight of foster youth in the education system and in higher education.

“I knew of students at USD who were sleeping in the Garden of the Sea. I knew of another student who was renting a U-Haul truck and living there. I knew we had to do something to help these students.”

Inspired by a 16-page essay called “The Star Thrower,” by Loren Eiseley, Avery created a one-to-one model where each student was paired with a single mentor. The mentor would help students navigate academic issues, personal issues, familial issues.

Her first mentors were Pauline Berryman Powell, assistant dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Patti Tarantino, a counselor in USD’s Office of Financial Aid. The program started with three students and has grown every year. This year, 15 students are enrolled in the program.

Since its inception, the TRS program has celebrated major successes. Nationwide, only 10% of foster youth attend college and, of them, only 3% actually graduate. At USD, however, the Torero Renaissance Scholars program has a graduation rate of 86%.

Avery has personally coached several students over the years. Her first student was Raechel Hill, who graduated from USD in 2019 and is currently earning her PhD in marine biodiversity from the University of California, Irvine.

“The TRS program was a great support to me during

my undergraduate education,” says Hill, who majored in environmental and ocean sciences and minored in biology. “Dr. Avery helped me get food when I needed it. She had my back during rough times — of which there were plenty — and the program overall let me know I wasn’t alone. Given that USD is perceived as such a wealthy school, being a foster youth really makes you feel like you don’t belong there at times. But TRS fixed that.”

According to the U.S. Children’s Bureau, there are

more than 407,000 foster care youth across the nation and that number changes every day. TRS mentors do what they can for each student. And they do it over and over again. One student at a time.

Avery retired from USD in 2023, but her program continues to make a difference.

“I would say the most poignant moment is attending commencement,” she says. “There’s something special about giving each of these students their stole and knowing they beat the odds.”

CLASS NOTES

[altruistic]

Alumna connects with the community over breakfast A PASSION FOR PANCAKES

Fby Matthew Piechalak or more than half a decade, freshly made pancakes have been a vehicle to community building for USD alumna Amory Fratoni ’15 (BA).

Fratoni is the lead operations supervisor for Pancakes Serving Up Hope, a volunteer organization that provides

hot breakfasts for people experiencing homelessness in San Diego. “The pancakes are the meal, but it’s way more than that,” Fratoni says. “It’s really about the community and the relationships you build — just talking to people can seriously change their day in a second.”

Fratoni, a senior payroll manager at Aya Healthcare, has met hundreds of people during her time serving flapjacks in a parking lot at K and 14th streets in San Diego’s East Village.

One specific encounter is top of mind when asked what validates her tireless efforts. A

woman named Stacy joined the pancake line week after week, but rarely spoke to anyone, Fratoni recalls. “She was always very quick to get her food. Every weekend, I would make a point to talk to her or just say hi. At the end of our sessions, the volunteers circle up and we have a conversation about that day. We often have folks we’re serving join the group.”

“One Saturday, she was in our circle,” Fratoni continues. “She thanked us and pointed specifically at me and said, ‘I want to thank you because

BARBARA FERGUSON

you have said hi to me every single day I’ve seen you.’ She then told me the story of how she had once overdosed on the sidewalk downtown and people just stepped over her and there was one person who actually stopped and got her help, so she appreciated that I went out of my way to say hi. Nobody should have to go through those experiences alone. This is bigger than pancakes. It’s bigger than me. It really does impact people’s lives.”

USD double alumnus Will Tate ’18 (CNP), ’19 (MS) founded Pancakes Serving Up Hope in 2014 with support from USD’s Changemaker Hub. Each Saturday, Tate, then an undergraduate, along with other volunteers — including USD students — would head downtown to flip pancakes for the local homeless community.

“Will is one of those unique people who just has the biggest heart for others,” Fratoni says.

Shortly after graduating, Fratoni joined Tate downtown. All it took was one experience and she was hooked. The two served as leaders for several years and when Tate moved away from San Diego, Fratoni took the reins.

“I became more and more involved, and before the pandemic, I can’t tell you a Saturday I missed in three years. Any given Saturday, we’d have upwards of 200 people come through the line.”

Everything changed in March 2020 with the pandemic. “We couldn’t go down there because it wasn’t safe, but we knew there was still a need,” Fratoni says.

Working with the Changemaker Hub’s Director of Social Change and Student Engagement

Juan Carlos Rivas, PhD, the group partnered with People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) San Diego to continue providing monthly meals for people experiencing homelessness. For the better part

of three years, the volunteers found creative — and safe — ways to stay involved. But the effort was reduced to meal delivery with no social interaction due to health and safety protocols.

Following the height of the pandemic, the group is back to their usual location. They began once a month and are currently operating twice per month.

“We’re in the process of rebuilding the community and making sure people know who we are and where we’re at. The first weekend back, I walked around downtown letting people know the pancake line was back and they were hopping on their bikes flying back up to the location.”

The process has returned to what it was before — upwards of 25 volunteers meet at USD and then head downtown. The setup includes two camper grills attached to two propane tanks, cast iron skillets, whisks, spatulas, a massive mixing bowl and a 25-pound bag of pancake mix. All the food is funded by donations.

“It’s an assembly line. We can cook 16 pancakes at a time and the next table is where you have the toppings like butter, syrup and chocolate chips. Around the holidays, I bring candy canes as well as candy on Halloween. We also give everyone a banana and a bottle of water.”

Moving forward, Fratoni hopes to get back to making the program a weekly initiative, but she also knows continued efforts will one day have to fall to the next generation of volunteers.

“Right when I was out of college, I had all the time in the world, but now I’m very busy,” she says. “In an ideal world, we would get back to every weekend. I would love to keep it going and that means getting a strong group of people on campus who can be reliable on weekends.”

www.pancakessuhope.org

1970s

[1975]

SUSAN REDELINGS (BA) writes, “My husband Bob and I welcomed our 11th grandchild this year. And our further luckiness includes that other lucky number, seven, as in 7x7 = 49 years of marriage!”

[1979]

JOSEPH LaRUSSA (BBA), ’09 (MA) recently received an award from Evangelical Catholic for Ad Extra service as a lay person in the secular community. This was the first award given at its inaugural conference, called Priest for an Apostolic Age. An active Catholic and native San Diegan, Joseph and his wife have three adult daughters and four grandsons. His program award biography notes that “He has a unique calling in the intersection of faith and business, working with Christian business owners and CEOs as an executive coach and peer advisory group chair.” It further notes his work with Saint Brigid Parish in San Diego. There, he facilitates a Connection to Christ group, a Whiskey and the Word men’s group, and recently served as rector for a Men’s Cursillo in Christianity weekend.

1980s

[1982]

ROBERT E. O’CONNELL III (BBA) has more than 35 years of multiline loss adjusting and loss control experience and currently is president of O’Connell International Arts, Inc. and managing partner of O’Connell International Advisors, Inc. He is an internationally recognized fine art expert within the insurance industry and the art world, with a Master of Arts degree in art history and professional licenses in claims handling and property and casualty brokerage, as well as surplus lines licenses. O’Connell International Advisors, Inc., represents fine art museums, dealers and collectors with their insurance needs, valuation and claims preparation. He frequently publishes and lectures to the insurance industry as well as the fine art world. His companies, OIA Productions, Inc., and Skipping

Stone Entertainment, have produced and financed television programs and documentary films on fine art-related subjects such as The Farnsworth House, The Art Detectives and Monumental Myths In 2020, he published his first novel, The Art of Spies , and in 2022 published the prequel, The Art of Spies: Prodigal Son . He is currently writing a sequel, The Art of Spies:

Last Judgment

DAN TRIGOBOFF (JD) has joined the faculty of St. Augustine’s University, a historically Black college in Raleigh, North Carolina. A longtime journalist, he covered law for the Los Angeles Daily Journal , Legal Times, American Lawyer Media , The ABA Journal and other publications, and covered media as senior editor at Broadcasting & Cable magazine. He earned a PhD in communication, rhetoric and digital media at North Carolina State University, and has taught at North Carolina State, Elon University and Methodist University. “I just turned 69 and have thought about retiring but I’m just not ready to do it,” he says. He lives in Eastover, North Carolina, with his wife, Debra Kohlman ’83 (BSN), a nurse practitioner at Duke University Medical Center. They have two adult children and recently celebrated their 38th anniversary.

[1984]

STEVE GAUVIN (BBA) writes, “I’ve retired after 38 years of sales in electronics industry, the last 26.5 years at Arrow Electronics. Enjoying life and the many blessings given to us. Our youngest daughter is a junior transfer student now at USD. Our middle daughter is finishing up law school on the East Coast and our oldest daughter is a nurse in Austin. I’m trying to get my bride of 28 years to join me in retirement. Life is grand!”

[1985]

GREG GIULIANO (BA), ’88 (MA) published his third book in June of 2022. He writes, “ The Next Normal: Transform Your Leadership, Your Team, and Your Organization quickly shot to No. 1 on Amazon.” He says that he and his family relocated to Portland, Oregon, a few years ago, though he still misses Alcalá Park and America’s Finest City.

[security]

YOU CAN TURN BACK TIME

Former running back Jonah Hodges ’16 (BA) knows that timing is everything

by Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA)

Former running back

Jonah Hodges ’16 (BA) knows that timing is everything.

The success of running backs depends on their ability to wait for a play to develop and to look for lanes to sprint through. This is also a metaphor for Jonah Hodges’ life.

His first lesson in waiting came as a child growing up in

Santa Cruz, California. Hodges wanted to play Pop Warner football, but his parents weren’t exactly on board.

“I remember begging my dad and mom,” Hodges laughs. “They didn’t want me to do it because of safety concerns, so I played all the other sports.”

That included flag football. After a few seasons of the non-

contact sport —and a bit of patience — Hodges convinced his parents to let him play Pop Warner football in middle school. From that moment on, he made it his life’s goal to play in the National Football League.

Hodges was initially recruited by the University of San Diego during his senior year of high school, but as a cornerback.

He wanted to continue his career as a running back and committed to the University of California, Berkeley. After two years with the Golden Bears, Hodges considered transferring.

“I wasn’t getting much playing time, so I looked at transferring and USD popped up again,” he says. “It was a different coach and they were looking for a

running back, so I decided to transfer. It was one of the best decisions of my life.”

Hodges saw his lane open up and came to USD in 2014, where he played for the Toreros for two years under head coach Dale Lindsey. He earned several prestigious titles, including Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)

Second Team All-American Running Back and Male Torero

Athlete of the Year in 2016.

Beyond the well-deserved accolades, Hodges distinctly remembers the first-round FCS playoff game against California Polytechnic State University.

“We lost to Cal Poly earlier that season, so that game was about getting revenge.”

And revenge he got. Hodges touched the ball 42 times for 208 total yards — including 37 receiving — and three touchdowns. He also set the pace of the game by running for a 45-yard gain on the game’s first play. USD shocked Cal Poly fans by winning, 35–21, making it the Toreros’ first-ever playoff victory.

Hodges says he was proud to be a part of a great team, but the glue was Coach Lindsey.

“He taught us about the ‘USD Man,’ which is a man that has his nose to the grindstone, is a hard worker and goes the extra mile for his teammates.”

That mentality helped carry Hodges through the ups and downs of life after graduation.

He wasn’t selected during the NFL draft, but received an invitation to take part in the Detroit Lions’ minicamp. In the end, Hodges didn’t make the roster.

Shortly after, he was signed to the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. He fractured his ankle during a game against the Toronto Argonauts, ending his stint in the league.

As he sat in limbo, he received an unexpected call.

The Asahi Beer Silver Stars, a team in Japan’s X League, wanted Hodges as a running back. He was recommended to them by former Torero quarterback Mason Mills, who played for the Silver Stars from 2015 to 2016.

Hodges took the job, moved overseas and played for two years. By 2019, he was ready to hang up his cleats and begin a new venture in e-commerce.

Toward the end of 2019, Hodges and a few of his friends from high school started a wholesale e-commerce business. Most of their sales now come through the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program.

Having an FBA account allows businesses to add their products to Amazon's Marketplace and prepare the products for transportation to an Amazon fulfillment center. From there, Amazon packs and ships the order to the customer and handles returns.

The small start-up between high school friends quickly evolved as the demand for online shopping increased at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

The company, Prime Retail Solution, has expanded to two warehouses in Orange County, California, and employs five warehouse employees and eight remote workers. Prime Retail Solution processes about 1,000 orders each day, entirely fulfilled by its own warehouses or by Amazon.

“USD definitely had a big impact on my entrepreneurship journey, especially as a studentathlete,” says Hodges. “Although it’s a totally different feeling, I still have very much the same mindset toward business as I did toward sports. I’ve carried the same leadership aspect I had from USD into leading a team of employees.”

MICHAEL SMYTH (BBA), ’91 (JD) writes, “In January 2022, after being elected to the position by my fellow judges, I began a two-year term as presiding judge of the San Diego Superior Court. My son, Fred, is a third-year at USD’s School of Law.”

[1989]

KAREN CADIERO-KAPLAN (BA) completed an elementary education certification in 1990. “I retired from San Diego State University in 2017, where I was a professor and department chair of Dual Language and English Learner Education. Since retiring, I founded the Wisdom Collective, which is a space to nurture authentic voices and to tap into our collective wisdom for healing, personal growth and transformation.”

MELISSA CLIFFORD (BSN) says, “I’m enjoying retirement in New Mexico. Doing a lot of traveling every year.”

JOEL G. SELIK (LLM) has been appointed to the State Bar of Nevada’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility.

1990s

[1990]

CATHY BORGMAN (BA) joined LPL Financial as vice president of distribution. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, Bob, and two kids, Rachel and Michael.

CHRISTINE LATHAM (PhD) was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. The purpose of the academy is to create and execute evidence-based and policy-related initiatives to advance health care. Dr. Latham is the lead of the Acute and Critical Care Expert Panel Group of the academy, working to secure sustainable funding for clinical placements and preceptors for nursing students.

CHRISTOPHE ROSENSTIEL (BBA), ’94 (MBA) writes that five years ago he created a new bike brand, KIFFY.

[1991]

CHRIS (HESTER) JANSSEN (BA) received her master’s in counseling psychology from Loyola Marymount University. She then received a

coaching credential and now works as a board-certified coach. Chris writes, “I just published my first book, Living All In: How to Show Up for the Life You Want,” and says that it’s available on Amazon. Find her Amazon profile online as well as her website. She adds, “Go Toreros!”

HELEN KELLY (BA) has been living in the Seattle area since 2012. “Raising two kids plus an Italian exchange student this semester,” she says. “Currently planning our annual USD reunion with seven of us from around the country. Always a highlight to connect with my besties from USD!”

[1992]

JoANN VALLESE (BA), ’94 (MEd) writes, “I am currently the assistant director of scholar-athlete development at USD. I am so grateful to be ‘home!’ ”

[1994]

MARJORIE McCABE (JD) writes, “I retired from the Navajo Nation government after 21 years of service. I earned my Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous peoples law and completed an unpublished manuscript, a biography of William McCabe, First 29 Navajo Code Talker Proud grandmother.”

JACK YEH (JD) was named the Century City Bar Association’s 2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year. Additionally, he was named to Los Angeles Business Journal ’s 2022 list of minority leaders of influence and was named to Benchmark’s 2022 list of California Stars.

[1996]

ENEDILIA MEDINA (BA) provided this update: “It has been a year of transition and accomplishments. My son, Diego Castillo, graduated from high school and is a freshman at USD. I began the school year as an assistant principal in Alvord Unified School District and my husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary this October.”

[1997]

JEFFREY PICKERING (MA) has worked in philanthropy since graduating from USD. “I am currently the CEO of a community foundation in a coastal resort and agricultural community in Florida and am privileged to

COURTESY OF JONAH HODGES

[security]

BEYOND JUST STAYING ALIVE

Family loss inspired doctoral nursing student’s journey

by Elena Gomez

Anthonia “Tonia” Okoh finished her final semester as a full-time Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student this spring at USD’s Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science. Taking a full-time doctoral course load would be enough for many students, but Okoh has been juggling the program while

working as an emergency nurse and taking care of her three children during her husband’s deployments with the U.S. Navy.

The drive that pushes her through these challenges is personal. It’s rooted in her desire to help others after dealing with her family’s unfortunate medical experiences.

“I don’t want what happened to my parents to happen to someone else. At the end of the day, if I have the knowledge, maybe I’ll be able to save someone’s life,” she says.

While at home in Nigeria, Okoh got her first introduction to patient care by helping her mother take care of her father after he had a stroke.

Shortly after that, her mom was misdiagnosed and passed away just two days after undergoing surgery. These tragic memories have stayed with Okoh, and ultimately encouraged her to transition from a career in computer science to nursing.

After moving to the U.S. to be closer to her husband — who is currently deployed on

the USS Miguel Keith ESB-5 Gold — she applied to USD’s Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN) in 2015 and was accepted.

“It was rough. It’s an accelerated program,” she says.

And while the work was fastpaced and intense, one of the most difficult parts was thinking about her mom. She remembers getting teary-eyed in the back of the classroom, reflecting upon how the knowledge she was gaining could have, possibly, saved her mom. At one point in the program, she had to face these memories head-on during a class exercise where students were encouraged to share something about themselves.

Before this, Okoh hadn’t talked openly about her mom’s passing eight years prior — even to her siblings and husband. That day, it all changed.

“A huge load of weight was lifted off of me so I could give myself to nursing and serve the people I’m supposed to be taking care of, as if they were my own family members,” she shares. “I couldn’t take care of my parents back then because I lacked the knowledge or my siblings lacked the knowledge. When I see my patients — what I’m doing for them, I’m doing for my parents — I will take care of them to the best of my abilities.”

After graduating from the MEPN program in 2017, Okoh got a job as an emergency nurse. But, a few years later, she felt the urge for her next life challenge when COVID hit. “We were losing a lot of nurses. I said to myself, ‘What’s next? I’ve grown from being a novice in the nursing field,” she said.

So, she decided to apply to USD’s Doctor of Nursing Practice in Emergency Care program and started in the fall of 2020, after considering other school programs — many devoid

of clinical simulations. Not only has the program helped her as a nurse, most importantly, it’s encouraged her to look at the role of the patient-nurse rapport. One exercise, in particular, helped Okoh: the simulation training, an experience where nursing students are paired with an actor who acts like a real patient.

As an ER nurse, she was trained to keep her patients alive without much time for anything else. So, it was no surprise that, during her simulation exercise, she was yelling out commands and keeping patients’ appointments short — like she would in the ER. After the exercise, the actor shared that while Okoh obviously knew what she was doing, as a patient, they didn’t feel any connection to her.

“I read that and I was heartbroken. I thought I did well. I thought that’s what was needed,” she recalls. “Getting that feedback, I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is how a patient perceives me if I’m at clinical or at work, someone who is devoid of emotions. She’s just treating their symptoms, medicating them and discharging or admitting them.’ There is really not enough time to connect deeply with patients in an ER setting,” she notes.

This was a full-circle moment for Okoh — teaching her the importance of building rapport with her patients, in the same way she wanted someone to connect with her own family when they were in the hospital. Now that she’s graduated, she’s looking to continue her work in the emergency department with a new sense of commitment to ensuring the delivery of patient-centered care. And even, possibly one day, bringing her nursing education back home to Nigeria.

serve as a trusted advisor to some of the country’s most generous philanthropists,” he writes. He is married to Stephanie Brooks Pickering, a native of Palm Springs, California, and father to Colin, Olivia and Grant. In October of 2022, his book, Better at the Broken Places, was released. “It tells my story of healing, of pursuing justice for myself, and of my continued efforts on statute of limitations reform to affect change in the systems that continue to protect child sex abusers from prosecution,” he says.

[1998]

TODD JASNOW (JD) was recently promoted to senior corporate counsel with CoStar Group’s in-house counsel department.

[1999]

KRISTINA (SCHELBERT)

BROWN (MA) is the editor in chief of The Journal of Feminist Family Therapy

2000s

[2000]

TONYA CROSS (BBA), ’04 (JD) was promoted to executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Lytx.

KATHLEEN HUGHART (MA) writes, “Since 2000, I have been an active participant in government issues, such as nuclear weapons reduction and investigations of the Pentagon. I visited Cuba five times and advocated for ending the U.S. embargo against the country. I was news editor for the Ventura County & Coast Reporter in 1993 and taught at bilingual SpanishEnglish elementary schools in Ventura County. I have a bilingual certificate of competence in Spanish-English.”

[2002]

ADRIAN BARBOUR (MSGL) writes, “Attended FT while employed by General Dynamics’ information technology division in San Diego.”

BRANDIE SINHA (BA), ’06 (MS) moved from Hong Kong to Dubai.

[2003]

VICTOR RAMOS (BBA) was recently promoted to assistant

general counsel at Sikich LLP, a top -10 accounting and consulting firm, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

[2004]

JARED SMITH (BS/BA) was promoted to principal at Fish & Richardson in January 2023. He was recognized for his pro bono service by the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program in 2018 with its Pro Bono Publico Award (i.e., lawyer of the year). Before joining Fish, he was a senior systems engineer at Raytheon and then Northrop Grumman for a total of eight years. He helped develop the Ship Self Defense System for U.S. aircraft carriers and the IP-based communications system for the U.S. Navy’s Triton unmanned aerial vehicle. In 2015, he received his JD cum laude from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where he was a staff editor of the Hastings Science & Technology Law Journal . Jared earned a Master of Science in systems architecture and engineering from the University of Southern California.

[2006]

CAPT. ALEXANDER NICHOLS (BA) is a licensed master of vessels up to 3000GT [gross tonnage], with Cayman Islands endorsement. He is currently sailing as the chief officer on a 220-foot superyacht in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

ILEANA (RODRIGUEZ)

OVALLE (MA) was named Google’s head of global procurement responsibility strategy and operations. In this role, she leads strategy and operations for Google’s environmental, social impact and governance, which includes meeting Google’s net zero and supplier diversity goals by driving responsibility, inclusivity and sustainability for Google and its supplier partners. She remains engaged in the nonprofit sector, where her volunteer leadership includes serving as vice chair of Balboa Park’s Museum of Us and as a cabinet member of the Ocean Discovery Institute.

[2007]

IROQUOIS (ANDERSON)

JOHNSON (BA) reports that she got a new job that came with a promotion working in the medical device industry in regulatory affairs.

BARBARA FERGUSON

VISITING SAN DIEGO

BARTELL HOTELS

University of San Diego has formed a partnership with Bartell Hotels. Richard Bartell, a School of Law alumnus, has opened the doors of his eight premier hotels to the USD community. The USD–Bartell Hotels partnership means you receive a special rate when you book your stay at one of the conveniently located Bartell Hotels in San Diego. A portion of the room cost comes back to USD to support student scholarships, promote university events and marketing efforts and create community awareness about the partnership.

To take advantage of these special rates and USD family amenities, visit bartellhotels.com/ usdpartnership or call 800.345.9995 to book your stay at any of the Bartell Hotels.

“

We’re opening our doors to you and contributing to USD every time you visit.

Richard Bartell ’75 School of Law

ROBERT JONES (BS/BA) writes, “I started a company that helps clients build income streams outside their day jobs by leveraging the power of online marketplaces such as Amazon and Walmart.”

PATRICIA RANGEL-PEREZ (MA) writes, “I was promoted this year to lead/supervisor at my place of employment.”

[2008]

JOAN BAUMGARDNER (BA) writes, “My husband, Brett, and I welcomed our first daughter, Brooke, in 2021, and are expecting our second daughter in 2023. We recently moved to Grass Valley, California, for more space and peace and quiet.”

CLAUDIA LLAMAS (BA) is working as a mental health clinician.

[2009]

NADIA ANWAR (BBA) says she has two boys, 6-year-old Rehan and 3-year-old Ammar. “Just started a new job six months ago with an international law firm, based in their New York office, but they have a San Diego office as well. Hope to be back in San Diego soon for a visit!”

CHELSEA SORICH (MA) is an elementary school counselor in San Diego’s North County.

2010s

[2010]

BRIDGET HARRISON (JD) married Avery Harrison ’11 (JD) in April of 2014. The couple lives in north Tustin with their two sons.

[2011]

KATIE (LEPORE) BALATBAT (BACC), ’11 (MS), ’16 (JD) married Richard Balatbat at the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. Katie is an estate planning and tax attorney in San Diego and Richard is an engineer.

KRISTAL MORRELLO (MA) reports that after she finished her master’s degree in counseling, specializing in clinical mental health, she returned home to Las Vegas. There, she worked several years in the counseling field providing counseling and working for juvenile parole. That experience

led her to decide to specialize in a career working with kids. “I decided to go back to school in 2019; I’m in my final year of my EdS degree to become a school psychologist. I’m looking forward to meeting other alumni, especially those in the school system!”

SHAYLA (HOHEISEL) PERRIER (BA) recently had her second baby and has more than 120,000 subscribers on her motherhood YouTube channel, Hey Shayla .

ROBERT RISCHE (JD) is serving as legislative director and counsel to U.S. Representative James R. Baird of Indiana.

ELIZABETH TRESP (JD), ’14 (LLM) was recently selected as Super Lawyers Rising Star for the sixth year in a row (20182023), in addition to numerous other accolades as an attorney and business owner. She is the principal attorney at Tresp Law, APC and Tresp, Day & Associates, Inc. She practices in the areas of estate planning, international and domestic asset protection, trust and probate litigation, probate administration and trust administration. She adds, “Just 45 years young, I am a mother of three who, in my mid-30s, embarked on a second career. After obtaining my Juris Doctor and an LLM in Taxation from the USD School of Law, I opened my own estate planning and litigation law firm with offices in Solana Beach and Pacific Beach.” In the years that followed, she grew Tresp Law, APC from a solo practice to a multimillion-dollar annual law firm with more than 20 employees and thousands of clients throughout the U.S. and abroad. In 2019, she acquired the nationally recognized asset protection law firm of Day & Associates, Inc., which has operated continuously and successfully in Solana Beach, California, since 1992. Today, she is the owner and principal attorney of both firms and owns two businesses in Wyoming, as well as holding extensive real estate investments from coast to coast. “USD School of Law gave me the skills and knowledge to go forward, conquer and pursue my dreams,” she says. “With all the connections and relationships made, I can integrate my professional and personal networks together.

[2012]

COLETTE CUSTIN BEVARD (BA) got married in October of 2022 in Chicago “among the company of dear friends and family.” She also celebrated her first year as director of information technology at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

MICHELLE HEMESATH (JD) writes that in 2022, she opened a firm with her partner, Ikuta Hemesath LLP. “We focus on plaintiff medical malpractice. Over the first six months of our practice, we have secured over $11 million in settlements.”

DIANNE McCAFFERTY (MSN) has relocated back to San Diego County to work as a clinical informatics specialist at Sharp Grossmont Hospital.

[2013]

SOFIA LOPEZ BACTOL (BA) writes, “Mar Bactol ’13 (BBA) and I are overjoyed to announce that we are married! We celebrated our marriage in Seattle on July 2, 2022, surrounded by many of our USD friends. We are forever grateful to USD for bringing us together 10 years ago. We currently live in Seattle where I serve as the director of diversity, equity and inclusion at a local high school.”

BIANCA BRUNO (BA) recently joined the trade publication, Beer Business Daily, as an editor, where she covers the ins and outs of the beer business, including litigation, legislation and lobbying efforts. She landed the role after working for more than six years as the San Diego reporter and podcast host for national legal news outlet, Courthouse News

LUKE LAUER (BA) writes, “I started my own digital marketing agency in 2021!”

[2014]

SHEENA BISH TANG (BBA) married fellow alumnus Robert Tang ’15 (BBA) in October of 2018. The couple met at USD in 2011.

COURTNEY (OCHI) NORIEGA (BA), ’21 (MEd) writes that she married Andrew Noriega ’14

(BAcc) ’15 (MAcc) on July 9, 2022, at Founders Chapel. “We met as first-years back in 2010 at USD in a community group led by our resident minister in the Valley. We were joined by many of our USD classmates and an ‘Olé’ chant ensued after a group photo.”

AFARIN DADKHAH TEHRANI (MA) has been working in human rights advocacy and humanitarian operations since graduating from USD.

[2015]

RON MCCULLOUGH (MBA) says “I am currently the CSO of Intrigue Health, a disrupter in the diagnostics as a service space. Additionally, I serve as chief of a scientific advisory board for a stealth health care start-up as well as various consulting roles in health care.”

[2016]

ERIN KUMAGAI (BACC) recently got married to a fellow USD alumnus.

MIA (MCGOVERN) O’NEILL (BA) provided this update: “I met my (now) husband at USD in 2012. Ten years later, we’re married, have a baby boy, and just bought our first house together! So thankful to USD for bringing us together!”

TORRI SHERLIN (JD) was recently promoted to shareholder at Baron and Budd P.C.

ANDREW THOMPSON (JD) joined the law firm of Dunn DeSantis Walt & Kendrick as partner of the firm in January 2023. A fifth-generation San Diego attorney — starting with his great-great-grandfather, Adam Thompson, in 1905 — Thompson continues his family’s legacy and joined the business group of Dunn DeSantis Walt & Kendrick in 2016. His practice is focused on mergers and acquisitions, start-ups, general corporate governance and contract negotiation, as well as other business and real estate transactions. Having started and run his own small businesses prior to becoming an attorney, Thompson is uniquely qualified to guide clients through their start-up legal planning and structuring, growth, maintenance and longterm exit strategies.

I couldn’t be anymore grateful for all that USD has prepared me for.”

HUSANI WHITLOCK (MA) is a school counselor with the Poway Unified School District.

[2017]

ALEXIS (DACHS) COUCH (BA) married Gary Couch ’17 (BS/BA) in September of 2022 in Santa Barbara, California. The couple started dating in 2015 while students at USD and since then have continued to love living in San Diego.

JOCELINE NAVARRO (BA) reports that she “got married in September at Founder’s Hall surrounded by family, friends and USD alumni!”

[2018]

INDIRA GALVEZ (BA) is a senior strategy associate at EMC Research.

CRYSTAL GAMACHE (JD) writes, “Just got a job at Gonzaga as a law professor.”

MIRANDA MAHER (BA) received her Master of Science in industrial-organizational psychology from Illinois State University in 2020.

“I currently work on a team of I-O psychologists at a large food distribution company, U.S. Foods, where we design and implement talent programs for 30,000+ employees,” she writes.

ROSS MARTIN (BBA) was recently transferred to a software engineer position at his current employer without having a computer science degree. He adds, “My daughter, River, was born on April 14, 2022.”

JUSTIN SHIELDS (JD)

provided this update: “I recently completed the second of two guest lectures for USD Professor Ralph Folsom’s international business transactions class. The lectures discuss the application of the Section 301 China Tariffs and Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Tariffs, along with how various customs programs offer businesses opportunities to mitigate the tariff impacts. This is the third year I have delivered these lectures. I am currently a senior global trade Advisor with Ernst & Young, LLP located outside of Washington, D.C.”

CELINE SINGLETARY (BBA) writes, “I’m currently doing my MBA at USD!”

KYRA THRUSH (BA) reports that she finished her PhD in computational biology and bioinformatics and moved back to San Diego.

[2019]

DeZELL LATHON (BA) is finishing an MFA at Loyola Marymount University for directing and creative producing for film and television. He writes that he’s, “also working full-time on a Netflix film apart of the production office.”

2020s

[2020]

TYLER ARDEN (BBA) was recently promoted to associate on BlackRock’s Retirement Marketing team and moved to San Francisco.

ILA FOSKETT (BBA) is a recent Newport Beach resident working remotely in tech for a growing ecommerce software company based in Irvine, California. “Brand marketing is my niche and working from home definitely has its perks,” she writes.

MELANIE PACKER (BBA)

provided this update: “I joined the JP Morgan Chase firm in 2022 as part of the company’s financial technology/advertising/offers and shopping team. Since I graduated, I have had three beautiful babies. I have two 1-year-olds (boy/girl twins), and a 2-year-old daughter. I got married in the summer 2021 to my wonderful husband and I plan on going back to school for an MBA in the spring of 2024.”

MICHAEL R. RUIZ (MA) reports, “I’m currently the lead planner for the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center based out of Honolulu. Our mission is to train all joint forces including foreign countries in an archipelago environment. More than 6,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines will take part in this 10 - day exercise, which will span all the Hawaiian Islands. My job is to synchronize all stakeholders to produce a safe training event. I

have worked for U.S. Army Pacific since graduating from USD.”

[2021]

OLIVIA HAYS (BA) is a firstyear student in the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program at Colorado State University.

JAVIER LUNA (MBA) is working at Eurofins Discovery as a global project manager.

SHUSHANNA TEVANYAN (MA) writes, “I took a monitoring and evaluation course at the Kroc School of Peace Studies, which — together with the professor's encouragement and support — has greatly influenced my career choice. When I returned to my home country of Armenia in 2021, I got a job in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs as monitoring and evaluation expert. A year later, I was promoted to advisor for coordinating monitoring and evaluation functions. I actively participate in the monitoring and evaluations of programs and projects in the social protection sphere and also collaborate with international development partners in the areas of data collection, analysis and strategy development. At the same time, the Social and Cultural Narratives Lab (an Armenian NGO) has trusted me with the responsibility of being the manager of a project about women and war. I coordinated publishing four booklets on the role of women during and after war, as well as airing eight podcast episodes featuring activist women, including peacebuilders and diplomats.”

[2022]

DANIEL ALVAREZ (MBA) writes, “I graduated from the MBA program in January of 2022, got married at USD on Sept. 23, 2022, and got a new job that same month. Big year!”

BLAKE BEASLEY (BA) recently started working for the NFL Network’s headquarters in Inglewood as a production assistant.

DANIEL ALVAREZ MENDOZA (MBA) got married in October 2022 at USD.

JAREK MORGAN (BA) has accepted his first position as a development coordinator.

JEREMY RUETH (BBA) accepted an offer to join Epic Systems in Madison, Wisconsin, as a project manager and began the position in April 2023.

In Memoriam

MICHAEL BURR (BA) passed away on March 13, 2021.

LOREN REZNOWSKI ’88 (MA) passed away in Tucson, Arizona, in August of 2022.

EDWARD DAVID STARKEY died at the age of 80 on Dec. 15, 2022, from complications related to a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He served as university librarian from 1988 to 2011. There, he led the automation of Copley Library, served on the President’s Advisory Council and participated in the creation of the San Diego Circuit and the Catholic Research Resources Alliance, which is a library consortia which allow researchers to access information resources across participating institutions. In addition, he taught religious studies courses throughout his time at USD and would often greet passing students, faculty members and staff with a smile and a wave. He is survived by his wife, Paulette, son Brendan ’93 (BA) and daughter Eliane ’11 (BA).

HECTOR ROBERTS ’97 (BA) died on Feb. 23, 2023. Growing up in San Diego, he was a precocious child who loved to read and excelled in school and at tennis and baseball. During his time at USD, he continued developing his great love of literature — both in English and Spanish. He spent his career as an artist, theater manager, production manager and operations manager. He was a creative, sensitive, passionate spirit. He loved music, was a fan of Mexico’s national soccer team and the Chargers, as well as the Minnesota Lynx.

The University of San Diego Alumni Association invites you and your friends to join wine aficionados from across the country to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of USD’s Wine Classic!

Saturday, July 15 • 3-6 p.m.

Enjoy tastes from more than 20 alumni-owned/affiliated wineries, gourmet food and live entertainment.

This exceptional wine-tasting event is San Diego’s can’t miss event of the summer! Thanks to your generous support, this signature fundraising event has raised more than $850,000 for student scholarships at the University of San Diego.

Tickets are now available at usdwineclassic.com.

This event will sell out! Be sure to get your tickets early.

PRESENTED BY

RESERVE SPONSORS

VINTAGE SPONSORS

MARCO ’84 AND KIMBERLY ’87 ALESSIO MALITZLAW, INC. (JEANNE MALITZ ’85)

Sponsorships are available today! Contact Derek Legg, Director of Corporate and Community Partnerships, at dlegg@sandiego.edu.

JOHN ’ 80 AND HELEN ’ 81 (KASPERICK) FINNERAN