February 29, 2016
Last month, the USC community came together to celebrate a significant milestone in the construction of USC Village, as workers raised the project’s landmark spire to its new home atop Leavey Honors Hall, marking the halfway point in construction. Among our special guests were USC trustees, Kathleen Leavey McCarthy and Bill McMorrow, as well as United States Representative Karen Bass and Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price. The $700 million residential-retail project—which will bring the first Trader Joe’s to the area—is the largest in USC’s history, and will create housing for 2,700 students, making the university fully residential. The project also employs 3,200 construction workers, all of whom are working tirelessly to keep it on schedule and under budget. The new spire reaches 145 feet above ground: when lit at night, it will be a beautiful visual landmark for passengers flying in to LAX.
Women in game design
Also last month, the Los Angeles Times published an excellent story on USC’s top-ranked graduate program in video game design, pointing out that women now outnumber men in the program. The in-depth story noted that The Princeton Review named USC as “the nation’s top place to study game design,” and highlighted the pioneering work of several of our students. “We live in a culture where the first impulse is to have a male main character, to assume a male gaze on the screen,” said Professor Tracy Fullerton. “That’s got to change. Young women need characters to have as role models.”
Warrior-Scholar program
A different kind of innovative USC program was the focus of a report by our local NBC affiliate: USC’s Warrior-Scholar Project, a weeklong academic “boot camp” that prepares veterans for their return to an academic environment. “The more we can do for our heroes who serve all of us, the better for everyone,” said Vice Provost Mark Todd, who oversees USC’s veterans programs. One participant, Sarah Serrano, praised the program’s effectiveness: “I tell people—even though it sounds cheesy—it changed my life. It really did.” In the program, she and her classmates engaged in intellectual discussion concerning liberty and democracy, carefully analyzing Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America.
USC Viterbi successes
Our Viterbi School of Engineering recently announced a string of tremendously impressive successes. Last month I shared the wonderful news that University Professor Mark Humayun, who has joint appointments at our Keck School of Medicine and USC Viterbi, was receiving the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Obama, and USC Trustee Andrew Viterbi received the illustrious Charles Draper Prize from the National Academy of Engineering. Additionally, three professors—P. Daniel Dapkus, Scott Fraser, and Andreas Molisch—were inducted into the National Academy of Inventors, and Professor Nora Ayanian received a National Science Foundation Career Award, recognizing her pioneering work in multi-robot coordination. Adding to these distinctions, a number of our alumni were included among Forbes “30 Under 30” list, garnering attention for their dynamic, highly imaginative projects.
USC ranked third in fundraising
I am pleased to share that USC once again retained its spot among our nation’s top fundraising universities, ranking third, behind only Stanford and Harvard. The USC community raised more than $653 million last year, including a $50 million gift from Mark and Mary Stevens for neuroscience research; a $25 million gift from Rick and Tina Caruso to treat children with hearing disorders; and a $20 million gift from the Gehr Foundation to fight blood cancers. I share the news of this ranking with tremendous gratitude, as it reflects our campaign’s exceptional momentum and the dedication of our entire Trojan Family. It is this same determination—this redoubling of efforts—that will ensure our campaign’s ultimate success, particularly during the crucial final stretch.
With this in mind, I would like to acknowledge the stellar support of our trustees. In the last month, Trustee Stanley Gold, and his wife Ilene, built on their philanthropic legacy at USC, having pledged $2.5 million for a scholarship program that will attract the nation’s top students to our Gould School of Law. Without question, the Golds understand the transformative power of education. “Scholarships are critical to the success of high-achieving students who may come from modest beginnings, just as I did,” Stanley Gold told a reporter.
New Role at USC for Pat Haden
In advancing USC’s campaign, one of our most charismatic leaders has been Pat Haden, who recently announced his intention to retire from his role as athletic director, effective June 30. He will remain at USC for another year, guiding the renovation of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, our nation’s most venerable stadium and the longstanding home of Trojan football. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Haden has brought his distinct blend of integrity, energy, wisdom, and character to his work, and we extend our deepest gratitude and sincere admiration in return. In this same spirit of warmth, Niki joins me in sending you our best regards.
Yours truly,
C. L. Max Nikias
President