Office of Media Relations at the University of San Diego
September 14, 2021 | View in web browser

USD News Connect: Connecting Expert Voices to the Stories Impacting Our Community

September 14, 2021

Good morning newsrooms!

Here's your USD News Connect — where each week the University of San Diego media relations team offers expert voices to speak on stories impacting our community. If you're interested in the stories below, or need experts for any other topic you might be working on, don't hesitate to reach out to us at press@sandiego.edu.*

California Recall Election

Casey Dominguez, professor of political science and international relations, has some availability today to provide perspective on the California gubernatorial recall election.

Climate Change and its Effect on Wildfires

As several fires continue to burn in California, Governor Newsom tweeted that climate change is making wildfires more intense. At the same time, Cal Fire found 2020 was the largest wildfire season recorded in California's modern history. Darbi Berry, Director of Climate & Environmental Programs at The Nonprofit Institute at USD, can discuss how climate change is affecting fire conditions and what our environmental outlook looks like in San Diego County related to prospective fires.

The Slow Recovery of the Global Supply Chain and its Impact on Local Economies

The supply chain is working to recover after pandemic-related delays. For example, the car industry continues to see a short supply of microchips, raising car prices and stalling inventory. At the same time, shipping containers are backed up at local ports. Joel Sutherland, professor of practice in supply chain management, can share how supply chain issues like these could last into 2022 and how these delays can impact local economies.

How Zoom Calls Impact Our Mental Health

A study by The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) reported that 70% of surveyed plastic surgeons experienced some sort of uptick in consultations and procedures during the lockdown. Of those respondents, 83% attributed this increase to their clients wanting to look better on video calls. Carrie Tremble, Clinical Director of USD's Tele-mental Health Training Clinic and professor of practice, can provide insight into this trend from the psychological standpoint and how an increase in video calls could impact people’s self-esteem.

For all media inquiries, email our team at

press@sandiego.edu.

* Please note that times of availability will vary according to professors' schedules.

USD Expert Spotlight

Mark Chapman, Assistant Professor of Integrated Engineering

Professor Receives $1.8 Million Grant to Develop Futuristic Materials

Rae Anderson, chair and associate professor of biology and biophysics at USD, is the lead researcher for a project involving a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to design and create futuristic materials inspired by the biology of our cells. The team’s goal will be to create self-directed, programmable, and reconfigurable materials inspired by human cells-- that are capable of producing force and motion. This project could one day enable the future application of materials such as, self-healing infrastructures, self-regulating delivery vehicles, self-propulsive materials, micro-robotics, and programmable dynamic prosthetics.