TRADITION Fall 2005 &I NNOVATION Haden on Giving couple of years ago, I cele- brated my 50th birthday with family and a group of longtime friends. My TRADITION daughter — a graduate Aof Georgetown University — pointed &INNOV ATION out that most of the people at the party were USC alumni. She told me that even though her college experi- ence was a good one, it was clear that she would never have the same type of relationship with her alma mater. There was something about that moment that solidified my under- standing of the special connection that USC gradu- ates share. This so-called Trojan Family is a living, Tradition & Innovation breathing entity that bonds alumni USC College launches $400 million initiative from all over the world to this great Pat Haden institution. It is important for today’s n September, Dean Joseph Aoun announced a major initiative for USC actively seek to get ahead of the students to build a lifelong connection College that aims to meet “intensified competition for the best students and curve — we must lead the search for with USC College, and our job as faculty.” He said the initiative “will build on the rich base of the proud tradi- excellence. We must rethink the way alumni, friends, parents and support- tions of the university coupled with innovations that take us into the future.” we attend to our core missions of ers is to ensure that this happens. The Tradition & Innovation initiative aims to gener- USC College formally launched Iate $400 million in new funding by the time it is concluded the Tradition & Innovation fund-rais- in 2010. ing initiative on September 13, 2005, Funds raised by the initiative are crucial to the realization with a celebration at the new of the College’s ambitious plan to become one of the Molecular & Computational Biology nation’s best colleges within a private research university Building. I am chair of the steering within a decade, Aoun said. committee, which is made up of some Heading up the College’s steering committee for the ini- of the College’s most distinguished tiative is Pat Haden — alumnus (’75, English, magna cum laude, Phi Beta teaching and research.” leaders. We mean to raise $400 million Kappa), football quarterback for three Rose Bowl appearances and two national The explosive growth of knowl- over five years to support outstanding championships, USC trustee and member of the College Board of Councilors. edge and rapid changes in industries students and faculty, research for the In many ways, USC College is stronger than ever, Haden noted. “Our goal,” and the workforce that have accom- future, innovative academic programs he said, “is to continue the ascent that USC has made in the last decade.” panied it call for a more dynamic and institutional partnerships. While recognizing the untold success of USC during its 125-year history, approach to education. “We must pre- Our goal is to continue the tremen- Aoun said the College must keep pace with ever-quickening developments in pare students for a lifetime of dous ascent that has defined USC in society and academe. “We cannot rest on our laurels,” he said, “and we must continued on page 3 continued on page 2 Tradition & Innovation VOLUME 6 NUMBER 2 Educational Innovative Academic Faculty Research Shaping Mission Partnerships Environment Excellence with Impact Southern PAGE 4 PAGE 8 PAGE 10 PAGE 12 PAGE 18 California PA GE 24 PHOTOS BY PHIL CHANNING; HADEN PHOTO COURTESY OF PAT HADEN; YEAST CELLS COURTESY OF S. FORSBURG LAB; HISTORICAL PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN position the College as the leader in the study of visual history, an increas- ingly important medium for recording Maintaining Momentum the history of humanity. This extraordinary opportunity is just one example of the unique and “ innovative partnerships that can be he very words speak for themselves: education, attract and retain excellent created through the Tradition & Tradition. A sense of the past, faculty, and lead the pioneering Innovation initiative — and must be such as a university with deep roots changes that drive modern society. sustained in the coming years to move in the 19th century. Innovation. The realization of partnerships with forward and achieve our ambitious TThis is a university on the cutting edge of renowned institutions like the goal. contemporary culture. And then, Huntington Library and Getty The success of the Tradition & Initiative. Let’s begin something anew. Museum is one of the ways that the Innovation fund-raising initiative lies Dean Joseph Aoun All of these terms together evoke a College will remain on the cutting with all of you: USC College’s faculty, sense that the College is now reaching a edge. students, alumni, parents and friends. new plateau.” You might have read by now about educational purpose for this genera- I am grateful for your continued —USC University Professor Kevin Starr the Survivors of the Shoah Visual tion and for future generations who involvement as we maintain the cre- History Foundation becoming a part must learn about the atrocities of the ativity and commitment that will Historian Kevin Starr’s observation of USC College in January. This part- Holocaust and genocide. move us toward our goal of becoming aptly captures what makes USC nership between the College, with its Our partnership with the Shoah one of the best and most relevant col- College unique in comparison to peer deep commitment to fostering Foundation will provide the building leges in the nation. academic institutions. The College research for the common good, and blocks on which to develop ground- has been the intellectual core of USC the Shoah Foundation, which holds breaking approaches to the study of since its inception 125 years ago, and the most extensive visual history history and culture, while preserving today we are shaping the most inno- archive in the world, is unique in one of the most important collection vative teaching and research higher education. of testimonials of our time. The new Joseph Aoun paradigms on the globe. We have Steven Spielberg established the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Dean of USC College charted our own path, undeterred by Shoah Foundation to preserve testi- Visual History and Education will Anna H. Bing Professor the confines of previous academic monies of survivors and other conventions. witnesses to the Holocaust. USC is Today, we must embark on a new committed to the preservation of this course to further the momentum collection, the largest of its kind, LEADING THE WAY we’ve been building over the last few which is comprised of 52,000 audio- years. visual testimonies in 32 languages. The Tradition & Innovation fund- When the Shoah Foundation Initiative Set in Motion raising initiative — the feature of this becomes part of the College, it will special edition of the USC College continue to pursue its mission of over- magazine — will allow us to continue coming intolerance. These profound Gala honors inaugural recipients of Dean’s Medallion to offer our students an outstanding visual testimonies have a tremendous n Haden on Giving dents the skills they need to be suc- Sept. continued from page 1 cessful throughout a life that may 13, include multiple careers. USC the last decade. We need to educate USC is now a seven-day-a-week OPresident Steven students in novel ways, to create new campus. Students today need more B. Sample, USC research paradigms and to attract top- resources and access to new technolo- College Dean notch students and faculty. We can gy than those 20 years ago. Access to Joseph Aoun and never be satisfied to rest on our lau- multimedia and other technologies USC Trustee rels. We must always be looking for demand innovation in faculty teaching Patrick C. Haden the next big thing in order to create a methods. The new challenges and formally launched distinct signature for ourselves. opportunities have energized our fac- USC College’s In my role as chair, I frequently tell ulty members, who have shown true largest-ever fund- fellow alumni and colleagues that at creativity in designing new advanced raising initiative, the core the Tradition & Innovation and general education courses. Tradition & initiative seeks to raise consciousness USC College’s connection to the Innovation, at a From left: Patrick Haden, USC President Steven B. Sample, Dana about USC College. The key is to Southern California community has gala banquet on Dornsife, David Dornsife and Dean Joseph Aoun at the Sept. 13 Tradition & Innovation kick-off celebration. The Dornsifes received continue the climb to new heights always made us distinctive. We have the University the inaugural Dean’s Medallion for Commitment to Innovation. without losing the magical quality that the responsibility of remaining a con- Park campus. makes USC College one of a kind — stant influence to the people In its quest to become one of the alumni, parents and benefactors who the Trojan Family spirit. surrounding our campuses. Our best colleges within a private research have helped propel the College to Every great academic institution research programs will directly affect university, USC College plans to raise excellence. The 2005 awards went to must have an exceptional liberal arts the betterment of humankind. $400 million by 2010. MaryLou and George Boone, Lois and college. USC College’s uniqueness lies As supporters of USC College, the “We are launching the Tradition & Robert Erburu, and Dana and David in the fact that it offers both the advan- participation of every friend and sup- Innovation initiative at a time when Dornsife. tages of a major research institution porter is integral to the success of this the role of a successful college within “The inaugural recipients of the and, with its dedication to education, very important fund-raising initiative a research university is rapidly evolv- Dean’s Medallion have exhibited the benefits of a smaller college.