Office of Media Relations at the University of San Diego
April 18, 2023 | View in web browser

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

April 18, 2023

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.*

Exhibit at USD Sheds Light on Border Crossing Deaths in Southern California

Hundreds of people die crossing the U.S.-Mexico border every year. A new exhibit on display at USD looks to dig further into the issue and shed light on the dangers migrants face. It’s adapted from the collaborative “Hostile Terrain 94” project — and was organized at USD by anthropology professors Dr. Meghan Donnelly and Dr. Marni LaFleur. The display documents every border crossing death in Southern California since 1994. LaFleur can talk about the exhibit, which students helped put together, and what it tells us about migration and immigration policies.

New FBI Warning Urges People to Avoid Public USB Charging Stations Due to Cybersecurity Risk

The FBI recently tweeted that people should avoid using free USB charging stations at public places like airports or shopping centers because "bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices." Nikolas Behar, cybersecurity professor at USD, can discuss what this warning means for people and tips for when you need to charge your devices on the go.

Applications Due April 19th for Current 5th Grade Students (Rising 6th Graders) Interested in Applying for USD’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences College Access Initiative for Black Students in the San Diego Region

The School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) at USD recently received a $1.5 million grant from the San Diego Foundation to develop and launch the Black InGenius Initiative (BiGI) -- a college access and early literacy program that prepares students from rising 6th through 12th grade to successfully graduate from high school and be accepted at the University of San Diego or anywhere they choose. The program launches this fall 2023 and applications are due on April 19. USD will provide students with consistent academic support delivered by SOLES students and faculty trained in neurodivergent teaching. For students who have completed seven years of participation in BiGI and are accepted to USD, the university will meet 100 percent of the federally demonstrated financial need of the student with a personalized financial assistance package. Sean Green, Assistant Dean for Community Engagements in Spirituality, Mental Health and Catholic Education, is available to speak about BiGI, why this initiative is important, and why SOLES is dedicated to college access for underrepresented communities.

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 Media Relations Podcast Episode - The Science of Connecting With Customers

Andrea Godfrey Flynn, professor of marketing, is an expert at understanding the most effective ways to communicate with customers, but her research goes beyond business. She talked to "At the Edge of It All" about the delicate balance companies, advocacy groups, and politicians need to strike when trying to get their message out. Listen here.