Office of Media Relations at the University of San Diego
May 14, 2024 | View in web browser

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

May 14, 2024

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.*

University of San Diego Set to Celebrate Law and Graduate Students This Weekend During First Weekend of Commencement Ceremonies

The University of San Diego will hold in-person commencement ceremonies over two weekends beginning this Saturday, May 18. This year, more than 2,400 students will be graduating during five commencement ceremonies at USD’s Jenny Craig Pavilion. This weekend, School of Law students and graduate students from the School of Leadership and Education Sciences and Professional & Continuing Education will graduate on Saturday and Sunday. Please RSVP to press@sandiego.edu if you are planning on attending.

How Graduates Can Capitalize on Their Backgrounds

Over the coming weeks, thousands of San Diego college students will graduate and enter the workforce, some for the first time. Rhonda Harley is the Assistant Dean of Student Engagement and Inclusive Excellence at USD’s Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering. She works with students from all backgrounds and is a strong proponent of young people utilizing their cultural capital in the workplace. That means using the unique aspects of one’s culture or background – including perceived disadvantages – to one’s benefit, to achieve success. She’s available to talk about the idea of cultural capital, and the advice she has for graduating students. You can also listen to her podcast with us here.

Recipients of San Diego County’s Equity Impact Grants Announced

Ten local small grassroots organizations were recently selected to receive support grants through the County’s Equity Impact Grant program. The County's Office of Equity and Racial Justice partnered with The Nonprofit Institute (NPI) at USD to pilot the new program that will invest $2 million over two years into community-driven organizations/initiatives that address inequity. Novien Yarber, Senior Research Associate with NPI, can talk about the importance of this program, as well as the workshops, coaching and resources NPI will provide to the selected organizations

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

Celebrating the Graduating Class of 2024

Ana Lopez-Rodezno is graduating this weekend from the School of Leadership and Education Sciences with a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a Multiple Subjects Credential and a Bilingual Authorization.

Lopez-Rodezno was born in Honduras and moved to Los Angeles when she was five years old. When she started elementary school, she didn’t know English and was classified as an English language learner. In fourth grade, she had a teacher who took the time to help her grow her English skills. She says it was that experience that really made her want to become a teacher and have that same impact on students. Please let our team know if you would like to connect with Ana or other students for an interview.