Joanna Clay
Joanna Clay is a writer and multimedia producer for USC News. She previously was a reporter for The Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times community news. Reach her at joannacl@usc.edu.
Stories by Joanna Clay:
Ben Kingsley reflects on Gandhi, other top projects at Spotlight@SDA event
The Oscar-winning actor looks back at a stellar career that once included work with 300,000 extras and a funeral carriage.
Much-lauded Earth Works exhibition finds beauty in a climatological disaster
Justin Brice Guariglia’s work, on display at the USC Fisher Museum of Art, captures gorgeous images of glaciers as they melt away forever.
After helping her children get into college, it’s mom’s turn to pursue a USC degree
Transfer student Margarita Lopez home-schooled eight kids. Now, at 58, she sets her sights on a psychology degree.
Transfer student Ethan Ward finds home (literally) at USC
A new Trojan at 36, he endured homelessness and more before settling in as a USC Annenberg student. Among private universities, USC ranks No. 1 for transfer students.
Ryan Bell’s winding road from adventist pastor to USC humanist chaplain
An atheist in USC’s Office of Religious Life, he helps secular students with their spiritual journey. He’s had a remarkable spiritual journey of his own.
Proud of yourself for taking home leftovers? Think again
Research shows that the sense of accomplishment — especially when it was a large portion — causes people to eat more afterward and exercise less.
First-generation student Anthony Llamas has come far: ‘It’s not any college; it’s USC’
Proud parents take a rare day off to share a milestone as their son moves in at college.
Sexual violence prevention and services make campuses safer
Brenda Ingram, who came to USC in July to oversee relationship and sexual violence prevention and services, wants to be part of a cultural sea change.
Josh Gad (Olaf from Frozen) inspires drama students with tales of career missteps
Actor shares stories with students, faculty and Dean David Bridel at first USC School of Dramatic Arts Spotlight@SDA event of the year.
From Away to Everlane, why are direct-to-consumer brands the hot retail trend?
USC experts explain what’s behind the sweeping switch from brick-and-mortars to online-only brands.
Maria Manjarrez brings firsthand experience to California Student Aid Commission
The USC junior wouldn’t be in college without financial aid. Now the governor has named her a post where she can help others in the same position.
The story behind USC sophomore’s recording of ‘Yellow’ from Crazy Rich Asians
Katherine Ho, a former contestant on The Voice, recorded the demo for hours while her parents coached her Mandarin dialect over the phone.
A game like no other: Healing Spaces targets Alzheimer’s, dementia patients
The game — alum Gabriela Gomes’ MFA thesis project — is a multisensory experience created to help adults suffering from neurodegenerative diseases to relax and connect with their caregiver.
Audio story: Does being a snob give you a leg up in life?
🔊 USC sociologist Kyla Thomas investigates how signaling certain personal likes and dislikes — particularly highbrow tastes and lowbrow tastes — affects how people perceive us.
Convocation ceremony starts new Trojans on their academic journey
Interim President Wanda M. Austin reminds incoming freshmen and transfer students that they are the “best of the best,” and thanks parents, too.
Veterans, active military get a taste of life at a top university
Warrior-Scholar Project is designed to encourage vets to consider top-ranked schools — and gives them skills to get in, too; USC is the only California partner.
USC’s Bravemind gives OC Fair attendees firsthand look at how VR can help with PTSD
A special VR installation at Heroes Hall from the USC Institute for Creative Technologies lets visitors experience what veterans see when they’re being treated.
From General Hospital to teaching gerontology: Soap star finds meaning as professor
“People always ask me if it’s too late to go back to school and I always say no,” says George Shannon.
Trojan takes passion for gaming and turns it into ‘the world’s first esports gym’
E-Coliseum co-founder Rustin Sotoodeh didn’t even see games as a career option until he crossed paths with a USC Marshall entrepreneurship expert.
Law, psychology expert helps the littlest witnesses have their day in court
🔊 Audio story: For 20 years, Thomas Lyon has been studying how to best interview child witnesses. Now he’s making a difference in their court cases, too.
Trojan Family celebrates USC 2018 commencement; more than 17,000 receive degrees
Featured speaker Siddhartha Mukherjee — famed oncologist and Pulitzer Prize winner — offers graduates a word of advice: listen.
USC Iovine and Young Academy celebrates its first graduating class, with help from will.i.am
The musician and entrepreneur joins in the celebration of 30 problem-solver students who break the traditional mold.
Graduating senior impacts L.A. families through CHLA research, USC outreach
Lured by the opportunity to do undergraduate research at USC, Kaushik Parvathaneni has thrived. Up next: a master’s and studying medicine.
Valedictorian Rose Campion brings love of music history to neighborhood schools
She helps youngsters see the impact of music — from Beyoncé to Beethoven to the music of Botswana — on their own communities.