Word from Widney


Dear Fellow Trojans,

On September 15, our alma mater will break ground on the largest economic development project in the history of South Los Angeles -- USC Village -- and you are invited to join us for this historic event (Click here [CODE: GROUNDBREAKING] or call 213-740-1744 to RSVP). Combining academic, recreational and retail space with student housing to create a fully integrated living and learning community, USC Village will transform the cultural, educational and physical landscape of both the university and the surrounding area. It will spur economic growth, create thousands of jobs and create an open and welcoming environment for Trojans of all ages and backgrounds, their friends and families, and local residents. More...





Alumni Headlines
A Gift for Top Scholars
The Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation, chaired by USC Trustee Kathleen Leavey McCarthy '57, has donated $30 million to USC to create the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation Honors Hall at the new USC Village. Leavey Honors Hall will integrate USC's undergraduate scholarship and honors programs to establish a community of exceptional scholars.



Honoring a Founding Father
On August 29, USC President C. L. Max Nikias unveiled a statue of the man whose perseverance and vision led to the founding of USC in 1880: Judge Robert Maclay Widney. The legendary civic leader believed that a great university was essential for Los Angeles to become a major center of learning, commerce and culture.



Weekenders 2014
Pack your bags and join us for our upcoming Weekender in Tucson (October 10-12), as the Trojans take on the Wildcats! And visit the new USC Game Day website for important information about enhancing your home game-day experience.




USC Global Conversation: Defining Future Reality
Get a glimpse into our digital future at the 2014 USC Global Conversation, featuring USC Provost and Senior Vice President Elizabeth Garrett, keynote speaker and music industry innovator Jimmy Iovine and cutting-edge USC faculty researchers, in New York City on October 15.



A Letter to the USC Community
USC President C. L. Max Nikias outlines the enhanced safety measures that are currently being implemented on campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods in this letter to the USC community.




Reunion Weekend 2014
Calling all undergrads from the classes of 1964, 1974, 1984, 1989, 1994 and 2004: Online registration is now open for Reunion Weekend–October 17-18. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to reconnect with your classmates and the Trojan Family; rediscover what USC means to you; and reunite for your reunion!



Homecoming 2014
Join 80,000 USC alumni, family and friends on October 18 to experience the ultimate Trojan Family get-together and come to Alumni Park for great food, an open bar and special entertainment at the USC Alumni Association's 2nd annual all-alumni Homecoming tailgate party.



Meet the 2014 Provost Postdoctoral Scholars
Now in its third year, the Provost's Postdoctoral Scholars Program in the Humanities is welcoming a new cohort of six outstanding scholars to the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The 2014 scholars were selected from more than 930 applicants from 13 fields in the humanities.



Alumni Authors: New Titles
Check out the latest from our alumni authors, including two novels that made the Huffington Post's list of "Best Books for Fall 2014"––The Betrayers by David Bezmozgis MFA '90 and The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami MA '94, PhD '97. And listen to Stephan Eirik Clark '02, PhD '10 (pictured) discuss his novel, Sweetness #9, on NPR's Fresh Air.







Trojan Alum-inaries


Peter Gould
Frederick J. Ryan Jr.
Dana Walden

Peter Gould MFA '90, a co-executive producer on Breaking Bad, won the Emmy Award for Best Dramatic Series.

Frederick J. Ryan Jr. '77, JD '80, has been named the publisher of The Washington Post.

Dana Walden '86 has been named the co-chairman and co-CEO of Fox Television Group, a new entity combining both the FOX Broadcasting Company and 20th Century FOX Television.





Young Alumni Spotlight
A fun pastime filming ski trips turned into a dream career for Caleb Farro '11, who coordinates extreme sports shoots throughout the world for GoPro. As part of the company's media team, Farro has traveled to such remote places as Tonga in the South Pacific, where he taped three deep-sea divers swimming with whales.





Alma Matters
Dauterive Hall opens new era for social sciences research
Building will house researchers in health, economics, human behavior and policy.

USC teams with UCLA and Caltech on federally funded innovation hub
Multimillion-dollar grant from National Science Foundation will support translation of scientific and engineering research into technology for the marketplace.

USC Marshall to recruit ambassadors for 2015 world's fair
The USC Marshall School of Business has been selected to help shape the U.S. presence at Expo Milano 2015, the latest incarnation of the historic world's fair.

No. 2 USC swamps no. 5 Pacific and Redlands In San Diego
Trojans reign supreme again in an NCAA championship rematch against the Tigers for a 4-0 start to 2014.