Here's your USD News Connect — where each week the University of San Diego public affairs 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 Research: The Nonprofit Institute to Release Report Focused on Local Nonprofit Sector
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While 93% of San Diegans believe nonprofits services are important to their communities, decreases in funding across all major revenue sources are placing new pressure on the county’s more than 13,000 organizations. On Wednesday (2/11), The Nonprofit Institute at USD will release its 2025 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Report, providing a data-driven look at how these economic pressures are impacting the nonprofit sector. Laura Deitrick, executive director of The Nonprofit Institute, is available to speak about the report’s findings and how local donors, policymakers and community members can safeguard the essential services San Diegans rely on most.
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Viral AI Caricature Trend Raises New Privacy Concerns
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A viral ChatGPT caricature trend is prompting users to upload photos and personal details to create AI images, which is raising privacy and security concerns. Experts warn this data can be stored, reused or exposed in ways users don’t expect. Nikolas Behar, adjunct professor of cybersecurity, can explain what happens to your data, the risks of oversharing and how to protect yourself.
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Black History Month Marks its 100th Year
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Toyo Aboderin, assistant professor of history and Africana Studies, can share more background on the history of Black History Month. In addition, Aboderin's research lies at the intersections of race, gender and media, specifically as it relates to Black representation on TV and film, including Black relationships we see on screen. Aboderin can discuss this research and how it relates to Black History today.
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* Please note that times of availability will vary according to professors' schedules.
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At the Edge of It All Podcast:
How the Brain Makes Sense of the World Through Emotion
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Monica Thieu, assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience, Cognition, and Behavior at USD, joined "At the Edge of It All" to discuss how the brain makes sense of the world through emotion. She shares what first sparked her curiosity about the brain and talks about her work on how the brain processes fast-moving emotional information, like panic or joy, and how mathematical models of the brain could change our understanding of depression and PTSD. Listen here.
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Office of Public Affairs
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