Chris Ah San (Illustration/Jacqui Oakley) Policy of Change

Trojan Goes Behind the Scenes at the L.A. Board of Supervisors

To help the community’s most vulnerable, Chris Ah San learns to navigate the world of policymaking.

Four future lawyers illustrate the range of backgrounds and cultures at USC Gould. | PHOTO BY MIKEL HEALEY Case Studies

Think You Know the Typical Law Student? Meet Four Who Break the Stereotypes

Four future lawyers illustrate the range of backgrounds and cultures at USC Gould.

Ready to revamp tradition, a USC Gould professor champions legal accessibility and affordability. | PHOTO COURTESY OF USC GOULD SCHOOL OF LAW Game Changer

A USC Gould Professor is Ready to Shake Up the Legal System

Gillian Hadfield champions legal accessibility and affordability.

A USC Gould alumna’s cold call launched her a career. | PHOTO BY PETER READ MILLER A New Playbook

A Trojan’s Journey From Intern to L.A. Raiders CEO

Her cold call to the NFL team got her in the door and on her way to a career in sports.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE HEADS OF STATE The High Ground

How Did American Politics Lose Its Civility?

Researchers look at the road to rudeness and chart a path to more respectful discourse.

Geoffrey Cowan / PHOTO BY BENJAMIN DUNN President Expert

Q&A: Why Presidential Primaries?

A preeminent media scholar traces how primary elections shaped modern American politics.

Photo by Matt Gainer Street Smart

Children Identify the Perils of Walking to School

An award-winning paper authored at USC Price reveals that students favor busy streets over low-key locations.

Photo by Steve Anderson Portrait of a Litigator

‘Woman in Gold’ Lawyer Talks Stolen Art

A USC Gould lecturer takes a stand at the intersection of history, law and art.

Photo by Buck Lewis Resourceful Resilience

Recycling E-Waste to Rebuild Lives

A public policy expert gives people—and digital debris—a second chance at life.

Service Call

Trojans Pursue Public Service in D.C.

Dedicated alumni make a difference in policy and government.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT GARCIA City Life

Long Beach Mayor Journeys From Classroom to City Hall

A USC Annenberg alum-turned-instructor brings his teaching skills to his job as mayor of the nation’s 36th-largest city.

Photo by Gus Ruelas Talk It Out

An Alumna Teaches the Art of Conflict Resolution

A former United Nations ombudsman has worked to combat some of humanity's greatest challenges.

Reverse osmosis filters used in water treatment plants. Photo by Denguy/Getty Images Climate Talk

Can Technology Beat the California Drought?

With California wilting during a drought that could last 20 years or longer, USC researchers wade through ways LA might tap a sustainable water supply.

Photo by Gus Ruelas Court Side

Life and Times of a Trojan Litigator

Longtime LA attorney remains a “perpetual cheerleader” for USC.

Illustration by Wayne Brezinka Legal Practice

Long Journey to Justice

The Post-Conviction Justice Project leads a nationwide movement for juveniles serving life sentences without parole.

Illustration by Josh Cochran To Live and Drive in LA

L.A.’s Roads Scholars

As Los Angeles builds public transit, USC’s policy and engineering minds predict how the city will commute.

M. Hashem Pesaran is an eminent economist who joined USC Dornsife in 2012. (Photo/Dietmar Quistorf) By the Numbers

Meet the Real-time Economist: M. Hashem Pesaran

This number-cruncher makes the so-called dismal science accessible.

(Photo / Kirk Mckoy/Los Angeles Times Via Getty Images) Migration Patterns

USC Immigration Expert on the Complex Ties Between Citizens and Noncitizens

An immigration law expert looks at the complex ties that connect citizens and noncitizens in America.

(Photo/ Michiko Tierney) The Builders

Innovative Real Estate Development Projects Tackle L.A.’s Challenges

When it comes to creating a more affordable, livable Southern California, Trojans are rising to the challenge.