A very nontraditional career path: From the military to entertainment to business
Trojan Robbi Spencer has made the most of her diverse experience by combining her business background with her interest in psychology.
Trojan works to increase affordable housing in the Heartland
Air Force veteran’s business partner — his daughter — suggested he go back to school. USC was the right fit.
Corporations once existed to benefit the public — so, what happened?
In the 1980s, making shareholders rich became the priority. USC Gould’s Dorothy Lund notes. That’s unlikely to change, unless …
Exemplary Trojans Honored at 2022 USC Alumni Awards
At the 88th annual Alumni Awards gala in April, the Trojan Family celebrated notable leaders who showcase the best of the Trojan spirit. The 2022 USC alumni awards recipients were recognized for bringing distinction to the university.
‘Life is what you bake it,’ says lawyer turned baking mogul
Vallery Lomas left her career as a lawyer to focus on baking — and won the Great American Baking Show. Now she’s an acclaimed cookbook author.
Driven to advance health care, nonprofit director graduates with online MBA
COMMENCEMENT 2022: USC’s reputation drew Olivia Stroud to the university’s online MBA program.
Former Trojan offensive lineman has been driven to succeed from childhood — on and off the field
COMMENCEMENT 2022: Frank Martin II is a busy guy: He’s accumulated three USC degrees in six years, all while being a spokesman for Athletics’ Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Now he’s moving on to the world of venture capital.
Grad’s startup gives second life to students’ collegiate gear
COMMENCEMENT 2022: USC Viterbi graduate Patricia Garcia is winning accolades for her company that allows students to thrift their logo clothing and other branded items.
President Folt encourages business sustainability class to ‘engage people’s hearts’
The president — a biologist — notes that diverse perspectives are key to creating a more sustainable future, whether students come from backgrounds in business, engineering or the arts.
They met on their first day at USC; now they’re Army officers and run a near-million-dollar startup
COMMENCEMENT 2022: This month, Brian Femminella and Lucy Schafer will receive their diplomas, become military officers and continue to work on their music therapy app.
USC Marshall doctoral student looks at the intersection of politics, startups and corporate activism
COMMENCEMENT 2022: Hooding ceremony is bittersweet for Maurice J. Murphy, who wishes his mentor had lived to see what he’s accomplished.
Trojan interns turned full timers: Alums now oversee student hires
Lauren Cole, Isabella Dake and Anastasia Zavodnick mentor their own interns and turn to the USC School of Dramatic Arts’ Professional Development Center and the Trojan Family to hire students.
Incorporating sustainability in a business curriculum? USC Marshall is doing it
EARTH WEEK: Today’s business students want more sustainability content in their studies. Learn how USC’s business school is meeting the demand.
Lax regulation of U.S. cannabis market could have unexpected consequences
USC Schaeffer Center Senior Fellow Rosalie Liccardo Pacula warns of potential impact to public health.
After the Clippers inspire a career change, Trojan goes online to up her game
Natalie Wong had planned for career in marketing, but the basketball team gave her an opportunity in HR. She loved it, but knew she needed to change her game plan.
Is space travel just for billionaires? USC Price student aims to make the cosmos inclusive
Britt Adkins is working to ensure that the future of human development beyond Earth isn’t just for the elite — and she’s got more than a few ideas about what life may be like for people in space.
Dessert entrepreneur and USC alumnus bakes up sweet success
Zac Coughlin, who earned his bachelor’s degree in communication in 2021 at USC Annenberg, has gone on to become one of the few Black bakers in Los Angeles.
Football player, investor, author: Devon Kennard makes an impact
Now a player for the Arizona Cardinals, the USC Annenberg alum is leaving his mark in fields such as real estate to philanthropy.
How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine complicates green energy efforts in U.S. and Europe
USC Marshall’s Shon Hiatt, an expert in agribusiness and global energy, answers questions about how the war will impact prices, clean energy efforts and more.
Alum looks to electricity to revolutionize the rails
While he was an MBA student, Alex Peiffer and his co-founders came up with the idea of the autonomous Intramotev. Now they’re on the verge of rolling out the sleek, futuristic vehicle.
Alumnus’ billion-dollar software company for the trade industries is inspired by his blue-collar dad
Vahe Kuzoyan built software for his father’s plumbing business. That sparked the idea for ServiceTitan, a company now valued at nearly $10 billion.
USC faculty members win DARPA grant to study new ways of protecting financial data
The $1 million grant will fund work by Srivatsan Ravi and Pedro Szekely of the USC Information Sciences Institute and USC Marshall’s Larry Harris.
Cars, beer and cryptocurrency: Super Bowl ads set the stage for marketing to millions
When Super Bowl LVI kicks off Sunday, millions of Americans will be tuning in. But this is about more than just the Rams and Bengals. For marketers, it’s about potential sales.
Economist Matthew Kahn says human ingenuity is key to living with climate change
The USC Dornsife professor explains how market capitalism will help us adapt to the growing challenges unleashed by a warming planet.