Office of Media Relations at the University of San Diego
December 7, 2021 | View in web browser

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

December 7, 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.*

Staying Healthy During the Holiday Season Amid COVID and the Flu

The holiday season is here along with concerns of the flu season and new COVID-19 variants. Michelle Kabakibi, clinical associate professor of nursing, can provide insight on how this holiday season compares to last year and tips for families to stay healthy this year.

Female USD Physics Professors Paving the Way for Women in STEM

In a field where women make up only 19% of physics faculty members, female physics professors Dr. Rae Robertson-Anderson and Dr. Maren Mossman are not only making big strides in physics research at the University of San Diego, but they're also working to encourage other female physicists to consider a career in STEM. Dr. Maren Mossman is an esteemed Luce Foundation Clare Boothe Luce Professor and is pioneering a new community mentorship program - Physics Identity - to empower female and underrepresented minority students to 'see themselves as scientists' and pursue careers in STEM.

Virgen de Guadalupe Kermés at USD on December 12

Our Lady of Guadalupe annual celebration is back at USD. The Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe Kermés will take place on Sunday, December 12th starting at 3 p.m. at Camino Plaza on the USD campus. The festival will feature an art walk, showcasing 20 local Mexican artists from across San Diego depicting the image of Guadalupe. A photography exhibit will also be on display with USD staff's sacred objects, along with their stories and family photos. Participants will also enjoy food and live music before the start of mass at the Immaculata. The event is free and open to the public, registration is required.

For all media inquiries, email our team at

press@sandiego.edu.

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

USD Spotlight

USD Board Chairman Don Knauss, Wife Ellie Donate $50 Million to USD’s School of Business

The University of San Diego has received one of the largest donations in the university’s history. USD Board Chairman Donald Knauss, the former CEO of Clorox, and his wife, Ellie, have generously invested more than $50 million to not only build the Knauss Center for Business Education, but also to name The Knauss School of Business. The Knauss Center for Business Education will open in Fall 2022. Learn more here.