Good morning newsrooms!

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.*

New Research: Bots Are Outperforming Traders in Prediction Markets

New research from USD professor of finance Joshua Della Vedova shows everyday traders correctly pick the winning side of a trade more than half the time, but still lost $79 million overall on Polymarket, the world's largest prediction market. Meanwhile, bots picking at coin-flip rates walked away with $133 million in profits. The reason isn't who's right; it's who gets there first. He is available to talk about this research and what it implies for retail investor protection, market design, and how trading skill is measured. This research isn't just about who wins a bet; it reveals a fundamental shift in how information and money move in 2026.

Mental Health Awareness Month: Student Ambassador Program Connects Students with Wellness Resources

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, and USD's ongoing "Year of Wellness" campaign, we’re highlighting a student-led program at USD called the Student Wellness Ambassadors. This group is made up of students who help connect their peers to wellness and mental health resources across campus. Over the past year, 13 ambassadors, from first-years to graduate students, have spent time in classrooms, clubs, and campus events sharing information about what’s available, from fitness classes to counseling services. As mental health challenges continue to impact college students, this group plays an important role in helping others find support. Student Ambassadors and the Executive Director of the Wellness Center are available for interviews.

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.

For all media inquiries, email our team at

press@sandiego.edu.

* Please note that times of availability will vary according to professors' schedules.