Spring 2022

Hunter playing piano at Playa in Summer Lake, Oregon

In a Landscape concerts have taken place largely in Oregon and the West, but Noack hopes to expand his geographic boundaries. “I get so excited and want to go everywhere,” he says. (Photo/ Ed Schmidt) MOVING TO A DIFFERENT BEAT

Getting in Tune With Nature Around the West

USC alum and classical pianist Hunter Noack performs BYOS—bring your own Steinway—concerts at some of the most stunning outdoor sites in the U.S. The results? Pure magic.

The FAME Church of Los Angeles and the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement at the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture contributed VHS recordings of sermons by Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray capturing pivotal moments in U.S. life, including the acquittal of police officers who beat Rodney King. (Photo/Courtesy of USC University Archives) A MORE INCLUSIVE HISTORY

Voices From Oft-Overlooked Communities Enrich L.A.’s History

More than 15,000 documents that chronicle the lives of underrepresented communities in L.A. The materials are available to the public through several websites, including the USC Digital Libraries.

Class of 2021 students of Helenes yearbook photo

A century of service: The Helenes have a proud history of volunteering their time for the betterment of the university and the community. UNBROKEN BONDS

USC’s Helenes Mark a Century of Service, Spirit and Sisterhood

The group supports all manner of initiatives that improve life on campus and off, but its members also benefit, often establishing lifelong friendships that continue long after they have graduated.

Solar panels atop Galen Center are a big step in USC’s move toward sustainability. (USC Photo/Gus Ruelas) ASSIGNMENT EARTH

5 Ways USC Is Going Green

Little things can make a big difference — especially when they’re done on a grand scale. Check out these ways USC is working toward a sustainable tomorrow.

At Keck Medicine of USC, keeping both organ transplant recipients and their donors healthy is all part of the plan. (Illustration/Simone Noronha) Medical innovation

Living Donor Program From Keck Medicine of USC Is a Win-Win

The shortage of organs for transplants is an issue for patients. Living donors are one key. Another: Helping them get healthier to ensure successful outcomes for the donor and the patient.

Cities are getting hotter, and that means dire consequences for our physical and mental well-being— more so for some. Trojan experts respond with community collaboration, climate curricula and cooling strategies. (Illustration/Kathleen Fu) Throw Shade

Hot Enough for You? Why City Dwellers Say Yes—and What They Can Do About It

Cities are getting hotter, and that has dire consequences for our physical and mental well-being. The solutions? Community awareness and cooling strategies.

a large - scale tuna sculpture on a chopping board, composed out of recyclable, unrecyclable, and combustible mat erials: paper, cardboard, and plastics. It is being prepared, chopped, and consumed by anonymous, grey human hands coming off from the floor: one hand holding chopsticks, another holding forks

Untitled (2021) by Listy Gao ’25 portrays her concern over the dismal state of today’s oceans: overfishing, microplastics and waste pollution. The large-scale tuna is composed of recyclable, unrecyclable, and combustible materials: paper, cardboard, and plastics. (Photo courtesy of Listy Gao) Envisioning the Future

Art Reflects Two Worlds: One of Peril, One of Possibilities

Students from USC Roski School of Art and Design use their creative talents to reflect on nature, how it has endured, how it struggles, and most important, how humankind has used—and misused—it.

Illustration by Jason Holley of a jogger running in smog

An individual's risk can be a combination of several things, and chemical pollution are high on that list. (Illustration/Jason Holley) Think Clean

Research at USC is helping define the environment’s impact on the brain. Growing evidence links the long-term effects of dirty air to accelerated cognitive decline and dementia, and USC researchers hope to better understand environmental effects and gene-environment interactions on brain health.