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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USD Breaks Ground on New Shiley STEM Initiative Building, Transforming USD’s STEM Education and Research
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The USD community celebrates the groundbreaking of the new Shiley STEM Initiative building today alongside the building’s namesake Darlene Marcos Shiley, a philanthropist and Chair Emerita of USD’s Board of Trustees, and her late husband Donald. Mrs. Shiley announced the lead gift of $75 million in 2024 to make the building a reality. The 70,000 square foot, three-story facility will expand USD’s commitment to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and research on campus – with a goal of being one of the top programs nationally for STEM research and education. A press release and video news release will be provided this afternoon.
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University of San Diego to Celebrate Law, Graduate and Undergraduate Students During Commencement Ceremonies This Weekend
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The University of San Diego will host its 2026 commencement ceremonies this Friday through Sunday. This year, more than 3,500 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and law students will be recognized for their academic achievements during six ceremonies held at the university’s Jenny Craig Pavilion. The graduating class has secured coveted positions at some of the world's leading companies, like Google, Goldman Sachs and Walt Disney Imagineering and have also embraced the spirit of community engagement by joining organizations like Harmonium and YMCA. If you would like to attend a ceremony, please RSVP to press@sandiego.edu. And, if you’re looking to profile a graduating student, please find a list of story ideas here.
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Students Reduce Waste During Move-Out Week Through Up-Cycling Initiative
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Last year, a group of USD students developed an initiative called EcoExit that worked to tackle the waste generated while students move out of their dorms. Through the program, students were able to put dorm items like rugs, lamps and household items into donation pods throughout campus, instead of in a landfill. In the program’s first year, students were able to divert 4.3 tons of student dorm items from ending up in the trash. These items were kept in pods until move-in weekend when the students organized a makeshift thrift store where students could “shop” for items for their dorms for free. Due to the success of last year’s initiative, students have doubled the amount of donation pods on campus this year. Students are available for interviews.
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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: Rethinking Borders Through Design and Teaching the Next Generation About Border Environments
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In this episode of At the Edge of It All, Adriana Cuéllar, associate professor of architecture at USD, shares her journey into architecture and her focus on border regions as sites of design and research. She discusses the origins of the Border Design Lab and its work in the Tijuana River watershed, including sewage contamination and its impact on communities. She also reflects on creating a children’s book to inspire environmental awareness, emphasizing education as a tool for cross-border understanding and long-term change.
Listen on Apple Podcasts here.
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University of San Diego
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