Office of Media Relations at the University of San Diego
July 29, 2025 | View in web browser

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

July 29, 2025

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.*

Vacation Rental Food Waste Tops $2.3 Billion a Year

A new study published in Waste Management finds that short-term vacation renters in the U.S. waste an estimated $2.3 billion worth of food each year. On average, travelers report leaving behind about $12 worth of uneaten food per night during their stays. Milena LaBarbiera, sustainability coordinator at USD, is available to share tips for travelers looking to reduce their food waste, as well as advice for hosts and property managers on how to encourage more sustainable behaviors in vacation rentals.

#1 in Resources for Women: USD MBA Program Makes Princeton Review's Top Lists

The Princeton Review has named USD’s Knauss School of Business’ on-campus MBA program to its list of Best Business Schools for 2025. The school was also included in two “Top 10” lists: #1 Greatest Resources for Women and #8 Best Green MBA. Nakeisha Lewis, Associate Dean of Strategy and Curriculum, is available to talk about why Knauss stands out when it comes to resources for women as well as how it prepares students for purpose-driven careers.

San Diego Book Festival Returning to USD

August 23, USD is partnering with KPBS for the San Diego Book Festival. The free event will bring major national and local authors to USD’s campus for a day of panels and a celebration of reading. Dean of USD’s College of Arts and Sciences, Noelle Norton, along with professors and authors Alejandro Meter, Amanda Petersen and Brian Clack, are available for interviews. They can talk about what to expect at the festival, and why it’s important to get people of all ages engaged with reading. You can register for the event here. *Interviews available in English and Spanish.

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

The Athletics Edge: Men's Tennis Player on Wimbledon Run

This week, we were joined by USD Men’s Tennis player Oliver Tarvet, who just returned to the U.S. after an impressive run at Wimbledon that culminated with a showdown on Centre Court against world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. Tarvet explained his mindset as he worked his way through qualifying upsets at Wimbledon, explained how he’s grown at USD, and talked about what’s next during his senior season. Listen here.