January 31, 2018
At USC, the year is off to a wonderful start, as our students settle in to the spring semester. We were so thrilled to begin the year with an extraordinary addition to our campuses: the USC Norris Healthcare Center, which opened on our Health Sciences Campus. The spacious, light-filled center significantly enhances our patient and family experience, while it increases our number of operating rooms and helps Keck Medicine of USC serve the dramatic rise in patients it has seen in recent years. This beautiful facility fulfills the dream of two of USC’s most passionate and longstanding benefactors: Kenneth and Harlyne Norris. Although they have both passed away, their philanthropic vision continues in the hands of Harlyne’s daughter, Lisa Hansen, who now chairs the Norris Foundation. The Norris Healthcare Center is so thoughtfully designed; it will forever stand in testament to the Norrises’ enduring compassion, generosity, and forethought.
USC Village flourishes
On our University Park Campus, our students and the local community continue to embrace the USC Village, which increased our campus’ footprint by one-third. A number of new retailers have opened their doors—Wahlburgers and Trejo’s Tacos joined Target and Trader Joe’s—and students certainly enjoy eating, studying, and relaxing in the central piazza. It is truly a joy to see every chair filled in the afternoons! One publication, Building Design + Construction, highlighted the USC Village’s amenities in a superb, photo-filled story.
Also this month, Los Angeles’ mayor, Eric Garcetti, visited the USC Village, and I gave him a personal tour, pointing out the additions since he spoke at the opening gala last fall. Following our tour, we stopped by the community room, where USC graduate students were working with local high school students to make pieces of art to celebrate Black History Month in partnership with LA Commons. Their artwork will be displayed next month along Trousdale Parkway. It was indeed gratifying to share the USC Village’s success with the mayor!
Gubernatorial town hall at USC
On the subject of elected officials, the USC community was pleased to welcome the candidates who seek the governorship of California, as they engaged in a lively town hall discussion. The event—hosted jointly by the USC Unruh Institute for Politics and the Empowerment Congress, which was founded by USC alumnus and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas—drew an enthusiastic, large crowd to Bovard Auditorium. This was the first time these six candidates had come together as a group to debate issues that are vital for our state. In my welcoming remarks, I brought up an issue that is particularly important for the USC community: Cal Grants. Nearly 20 percent of USC students receive Cal Grants, and among our state’s private schools, USC has the most Cal Grant recipients. Whenever I have the opportunity, I press this point with our state’s governor, so I was indeed pleased to get a head start with these six contenders!
An inspiring Trojan story
On another note, I want to share a story that touched so many in our Trojan Family, and that Sports Illustrated brought to such vivid life. The magazine’s writer happened to meet Jan Moser Dyer, a USC alumna, on a flight to Chicago, as she made her way to a USC-Notre Dame football game. Ms. Moser Dyer shared with him her profound and longstanding passion for Trojan football, and what it has meant for her and her family over the decades. In recent years, as she bravely faced cancer, she developed a friendship with our head football coach, Clay Helton, whose own wife is a cancer survivor. The two now exchange text messages, having become each other’s cheerleader, either before a football game or before a doctor’s visit. I encourage you to read the story, as it truly reflects the power and love of our Trojan Family—as well as of our shared humanity.
Andrew Viterbi recognized
Last month, I shared the excellent news that USC Trustee Ming Hsieh was elected to the National Academy of Inventors, and this month I want add that a second trustee—the legendary Andrew J. Viterbi, namesake of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering—also was elected to the academy. A proud alumnus of USC, Dr. Viterbi invented the Viterbi algorithm, which revolutionized communications and enabled the exponential growth of wireless communications. Dr. Viterbi is truly an extraordinary human being—one who will forever remain a role model for USC students—and this honor could not be more deserved. The entire Trojan Family applauds him!
Yours truly,
C. L. Max Nikias
President