FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF USC DANA AND DAVID DORNSIFE COLLEGE OF LETTERS, ARTS AND SCIENCES FALl 2016 / wINTEr 2017 MAGAZINE The Politics Issue OFHEARTBEAT A NATION USC Dornsife scholars examine the modern political landscape to get a read on the country’s pulse. CONTRIBUTOR DAVID SALO ’91 Head Coach for USC Men’s and Women’s Swimming According to David Salo, alumnus and 11-year USC head swim coach, the secret to great coaching is thinking like a scholar. Salo earned a Ph.D. in exercise physiology from USC Dornsife in 1991 and is the author of two books on his evidence- based approach to training swimmers. “Usually coaches say, ‘Do more and you’ll get faster,’ ” Salo said. “But based on my research, I disagree.” Salo’s record speaks for itself: He has led a number of swimmers to major championships. His protégé list includes Rio Olympic medalists Katinka Hosszu and Amanda Weir. (For a list of USC Dornsife students and alumni who won medals in Rio, see page 68.) Salo’s unique methodology is based on the premise of swimming for less time at a higher intensity — a strategy that has proven successful even for distance racers. However, Salo is adamant that he will never employ a coaching strategy without data to back it up. “It’s the lesson of a Ph.D.,” he said. “You have to justify what you tell your athletes to do. You have to be ana- lytical and never spout out ideas you can’t defend.” PHOTO BY PETER ZhAOYU ZhoU PORTRAIT COURTESY OF DAVID SALO 2 fall 2016 / winter 2017 Educating Enlightened Electors 2 From the Dean This November, American voters will participate in one of the most important Contents 4 presidential elections of our time. At its core, the word “election” is defined New Lifeleader installed;Line IAS cele- intERIM ASsistant DEan foR COMMUNICation as “the right, power or privilege of making a choice.” As a scientist and an educator, brates 11 years; Olympians made Mira Zimet I am drawn to this lesser-known meaning of the word, which divorces it from better through bioengineering; EXECUtivE diRECtoR of PUBliCations / ART diRECtoR conventional politics and links it to the idea that the power to make informed L.A.’s role in sci-fi explored. Dan Knapp decisions is our most valuable privilege. EditoR-IN-CHIEF 5 soCial DORnsifE Darrin S. Joy Alumnus finds a higher purpose WRITERS AND EDITORS underground. Susan Bell Michelle Boston 6 FROM THE HEART of USC Laura Paisley Researcher links genes to feelings; DESIGNERS USC Dornsife welcomes its 22nd Letty Avila dean; Writing course links students Matthew Pla Savino with community. vidEogRAPHER and PHotogRAPHER Mike Glier 7 Curriculum COMMUNICations assistant Deann Webb 8 Archive ContRIBUTORs Emily Cavalcanti, Joanna Clay, Lynell George, Emily Gersema, 10 Profile Andrew Good, Lizzie Hedrick USC DORnsifE adMinistRation 13 Lexicon Amber Miller, Dean • Charles McKenna, Vice Dean for Natural Sciences • Peter C. Mancall, Vice Dean for the Humanities & Social Sciences • Steven 14 In The Field Lamy, Vice Dean for Academic Programs • Donal Manahan, Vice Dean for Students • George Sanchez, Vice Dean for Diversity & Strategic Initiatives • THE PolitiCS issUE 22 Stephen Mackey, Chief Operating Officer & Senior Associate Dean • Eddie Our World Sartin, Senior Associate Dean for Advancement • Kathleen Speer, Senior 24 62 Associate Dean Legacy USC DORnsifE BoaRD of COUNCiloRS Make ’Em Laugh 63 DORnsifE faMILY Jana Waring Greer, Chair • Robert Alvarado • William Barkett • Leslie When it comes to politics, a dose of comedy can offer some relief from all of the posturing, polarization and Alumnus still busts a move; Berger • Robert D. Beyer • Susan Casden • Richard S. Flores • Shane news oversaturation. But can humor also influence our political ideologies? By Michelle Boston Religious leader comes out as Foley • Lisa Goldman • Pierre Habis • Yossie Hollander • Janice Bryant social activist; Dornsife athletes Howroyd • Martin Irani • Dan James • Stephen G. Johnson • Suzanne 32 excel at Rio Olympics. Nora Johnson • Peter YS Kim • Yoon Kim • Samuel King • Arthur Lev • At USC Dornsife, students interact with renowned experts from every possible field Robert Osher • Gerald Papazian • Lawrence Piro • Kelly Porter • Michael of study. The classes students take afford them opportunities to discover which problems Reilly • Harry Robinson • Stephanie Booth Shafran • Carole Shammas • and challenges they feel strongly about and which approaches resonate most with their 63 ScientificPolitical advisers have counseled Science presidents at least as far back as Franklin D. Roosevelt. Still, many politicians Faculty News Glenn A. Sonnenberg • Kumarakulasingam “Suri” Suriyakumar interests and talents. Students passionate about arresting climate change might pursue and much of the public seem slow to trust them — a situation that needs a remedy, and soon. By Darrin S. Joy USC doRnsifE MagaZinE atmospheric science, nonprofit management or the history of environmental policy and 64 Faculty Canon Published twice a year by the USC Dornsife Office of Communication movements, while those hoping to combat disease might study biological sciences, eco- 36 at the University of Southern California. © 2016 USC Dornsife College. nomics or literature (such as Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain) and criticism (such as 66 Alumni and The diverse opinions expressed in USC Dornsife Magazine do not neces- Susan Sontag’s Illness as Metaphor). The liberal arts give students the capacity to serve as sarily represent the views of the editors, USC Dornsife administration global citizens, expanding their minds to think analytically, flexibly and with a driving Vietnamese Horror Story Student Canon or USC. USC Dornsife Magazine welcomes comments from its readers to America has always regarded the Vietnam War as its own personal horror story. USC Dornsife scholars examine sense of curiosity [email protected] or USC Dornsife Magazine, 1150 S. Olive St. the legacy of what even the Vietnamese still refer to as “The American War.” By Susan Bell 67 T2400, Los Angeles, CA 90015 At Columbia University, one of the most gratifying courses I taught was “Science, Alumni News Politics and Critical Thinking.” This seminar challenged students to pull headline stories 44 from the news and subject them to rigorous questioning using analytical tools practiced 71 Remembering ILLUS daily in the liberal arts and sciences. The key was not just to learn to draw one’s own ILLUS conclusions, but to seek the truth, whether it agreed with one’s opinions or not. As dean E Pluribus Unum 72 in MY OPinion T Five alumni build on their USC Dornsife experiences to launch careers in politics and public service, representing T RA Divided We Fall of USC Dornsife, I am honored to lead this community of current and future thinkers, RA T both their alma mater and their fellow citizens. By Susan Bell, Michelle Boston, Lynell George and Laura Paisley T I I O O with the hope that ultimately the elections our students make will generate a stronger, RIC BY N N BY LE more sustainable and more peaceful future. 56 on THE CovER Toward a more perfect union. tt H AR Amber Miller Y AVILA Take a closer look at the rhythms D M The Life of the Party of our nation’s political heart. Dean of USC Dornsife IA In a saga lasting more than 200 years, political parties in the United States have shifted, evolved and, more Anna H. Bing Dean’s Chair importantly, persisted. By Laura Paisley Illustration by Richard Mia. SOCial DORNSIFE YouTube Frontline Scholar: Justin Arana Augmented Reality Life Line NEWS AND EVENTS april 4.16.16 “Can’t believe I’m USC Dornsife Magazine getting honored by my G alma mater! A long way ALA offers a great digital experi- from all those Leavey photo ence using the Layar App. Library all-nighters!” C tweets actress and activist More than 600 guests gather O UR may at the Beverly Hilton Hotel to AMERICA FERRERA (B.A., interna- 5.22.16 T celebrate the 11th anniversary tional relations, ’13) hours before ESY of the USC InstitUTE of being honored at the 83rd Annual O F ARMEnian STUdiES. USC Alumni Awards. Alumna th and social work leader SUZANNE E USC DWORAK-PECK (B.A., psych- I 6.28.16 NS ology, ’65) is also recognized. Download THE FREE T I T JOHN Wilson, professor of spatial U LAYAR APP T E sciences and sociology, speaks at jun O the first-ever Esri science sympo- F THE Los AngELES PREss A R E sium aimed at connecting geogra- 6.26.16 ARANA ClUB recognizes USC DORNSIFE M phers and geographical information MAGAZINE with two awards at the ENIAN scientists with researchers in 58th Annual Southern California photo other fields. Journalism Awards, including the St U 7.1.16 D IES; HU top prize in the in-house or corp- C O USC and THE HUntington orate magazine category. UR T M LIBRARY, ART CollECtions, ESY find THis SYMBol ANI and BotaniCAL GARDEns july O T THROUGHOUT THE F JUS announce a renewed commit- IES ILLUS ment to their joint advanced MagaZinE, Hold SMART T research enterprises: THE USC- IN ARANA; G DEviCE ovER THE PagE T HUntington EaRLY ModERN RA and CliCK “SCan” STUDIES InstitUTE and the T I O HUntington-USC InstitUTE N BY O A DAY in THE LifE of USC DORnsifE on CalifoRnia and THE WEst. NZALES L august E Justin Arana ’05 was searching for purpose in his life when he traveled to Mozambique. There he encountered the country’s water crisis tt Y firsthand and founded the nonprofit organization Water Underground to address the multifaceted problem. Arana, a Frontline Scholar, A photo 8.8.16 VILA; is among the exceptional USC Dornsife faculty, students and alumni who are advancing human health, preserving and improving our 8.26.16 A The USC Biomechanics Research BY LA S environment, and strengthening our communities.