Office of Media Relations at the University of San Diego
February 22, 2022 | View in web browser
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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.*
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New Report on the CaliBaja Regional Economy
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The Ahlers Center for International Business at the University of San Diego has released a report that provides an in-depth analysis of the characteristics, dynamics, and impacts of the CaliBaja regional economy. The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce partnered with USD for this research to help inform policy and influence economic growth within the CaliBaja region. David Shirk, department chair and professor of political science and international relations, is available to speak about the report’s findings and what more is needed to enable the CaliBaja region to contribute to the growth of U.S.-Mexico production and trade in the coming decades.
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STEAM Academy Supports Black Students in STEM, Honoring the Legacy of Black History Month
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Black or African American college students only accounted for 9% of bachelor’s degrees in science or engineering in 2016, according to an NSF study. But, leaders like Dr. Joi Spencer, Interim Dean of the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, are trying to change that statistic. Dr. Spencer is one of the founders of The STEAM Academy, a week-long STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) educational experience for middle and high school students – with a goal to make STEAM learning accessible to everyone. Dr. Spencer can share her work at The STEAM Academy, how educators/STEM-professionals can make STEM careers more inclusive and strides being made for black students interested in STEM careers.
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The State of Urban Neighborhoods: New Dashboard Tracks Issues that Affect Neighborhood Quality of Life in San Diego Urban Communities
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The Nonprofit Institute, through the leadership of RISE San Diego, is piloting a new dashboard “The State of Urban Neighborhoods (SUNRISE)” to identify and track issues, like civic engagement, public health, poverty rates and employment, that influence the wellness of San Diego's urban communities. Some of the data found low income, urban communities that initially experienced disproportionately high rates of Covid-19 are now some of the most vaccinated in the county. These same neighborhoods, compared with the rest of San Diego County, have an annual wage gap of $37,000 and growing. One key opportunity for addressing neighborhood-level disparities is greater community engagement at the ballot box. Across the county, 71% of residents participated in the last general election, compared with 57% in the urban neighborhoods studied. This new dashboard is part of The Nonprofit Institute’s broader San Diego Regional Quality of Life Dashboard which annually tracks key environmental and economic indicators in San Diego and was recently updated in 2021. A researcher from the report is available to discuss the findings.
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* Please note that times of availability will vary according to professors' schedules.
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USD Partners with The San Diego Public Library for Virtual Black History Month Discussion with Author Heather McGhee
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As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, the University of San Diego and the San Diego Public Library present The Sum of Us: an evening with Heather McGhee. McGhee will discuss the ramifications of racism and the ripple effect it has for everyone, not just people of color. She will address themes from her book The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. The event is February 28th at 6:30pm. It is free and open to the public, but registration is required. For details & registration, click here.
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Office of Media Relations
University of San Diego
5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110
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