USD Magazine Fall 2009

[ e t c . ] Development: Creating Sus- tainable Justice is the theme of the keynote address of the 20th Annual Social Issues Con- ference, which will be held on campus from Oct. 1-8. Medical anthropologist and physician Paul Farmer will give the key- note address, which also kicks off the 2009-2010 Joan B. Kroc Distinguished Lecture Series. Farmer has dedicated his life to treating some of the world’s poorest populations and has helped raise the standard of

[ r e a w a k e n i n g ]

THESE ARE THE DAYS Nat ional Alumni Board pres ident aims to br idge past , present

The National Science Foun- dation recently awarded a grant of nearly $900,000 to USD. A collaborative effort between the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholar- ship Program award is designed to encourage students majoring in mathematics or science to become high school teachers in underserved areas of San Diego and Southern California. College of Arts and Sciences Dean Mary Boyd is co-editor of a new book, Broadening Partici- pation in Undergraduate Research: Fostering Excellence and Enhancing the Impact. At a National Press Club event in Washington, D.C., this summer, she took part in a panel discus- sion about the importance of broadening student’s involve- ment in research. Rewarding faculty who make the effort to include students in their research efforts is a win-win, says Boyd, who points out that students from her college have co-written articles in top-line journals, which acts as an incen- tive for professors to get behind such mentoring efforts. Charles Pope will serve as interim director of USD’s Trans- Border Institute for the 2009-10 school year. David Shirk, TBI director since July 2003, is on sabbatical; he recently accepted a one-year fellowship to the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washing- ton, D.C. He’ll be one of 24 fel- lows in residence; the class is comprised of scholars and practi- tioners from throughout the world who focus on national and world affairs. Shirk returns to USD and his TBI post in fall 2010.

by Kelly Knufken

A

lumni may vividly recall what a fabulous time they had as students at the

she says. “It’s very cool.” USD is practically in her blood, with both of Bennett’s parents and four of her five siblings also having attended the university. They’re also founding members of The Immaculata. “I grew up at USD. I look at the pride, the tradi- tions,” she reflects. “It’s that home that you can always go back to.” Having received her education at the University of San Diego influences Bennett all the time. “It’s an approach as to how you conduct yourself,”she says.“They encourage you to be entrepreneur- ial, investing in yourself and others.” For many alumni, attending USD was the first major decision they made in their life.“Most folks choose the university; they don’t just hap- pen to end up there. The private uni- versity experience is about more one-on-one attention,”she says.“It’s about adopting the values and tradi- tions of a Catholic university.” Bennett has been involved in the Alumni Board since 2003. “I believe in the direction it’s going in, and I believe I can help make a difference.”

University of San Diego, but Jose- phine Bennett wants to make sure they know what’s so great about USD now. “They have a very good percep- tion of the university,”says Bennett ’81.“They think of it fondly, but they don’t always connect back.” As the new president of USD’s National Alumni Board, she’s uni- quely positioned to help reawaken that bond. She wants to remind alumni that USD is a dynamic cam- pus that is always changing and growing, not least because of climbing school rankings and a growing international focus. “The more accomplished the university becomes, the more valu- able your diploma is,”says Bennett, a vice president and senior rela- tionship manager with U.S. Bank. She touts a recent alumni gath- ering in France, another coming up in October in Mexico City and another in November in Japan. “We have gone from local to truly international at this point,”

health care in undeveloped areas of the world. His work is the subject of Tracy Kidder’s 2003 book, Mountains Beyond Mountains. To learn more go to www.sandiego.edu/csl. A sold-out crowd of more than 400 enjoyed tasting wines from more than 20 USD-affiliat- ed wineries at USD’s first annual Wine Classic, which was held in late July. The event featured wines from vintners such as Charles Krug, Joseph Phelps and Caymus Vineyards. “We are extremely grateful to all the participating wineries and the tremendous turnout by USD alumni, staff and friends in the San Diego community,” said director of alumni relations Martin Kaplan. “It was a wonder- ful event, and we raised over $20,000 for the Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund to support much-needed scholarships for USD students.” New members of the USD National Alumni Board have been named. Joining the 25-member board are Bob O’Connell ’82, (’92 M.Ed.), Genevieve Knych-Rohan ’86, Noreen Ippolito ’90, Kelly Morrison-Pop ’96, Philip (Boo) Purcell ’00, Heather Manly ’02 (’05 M.Ed.), Sioma Waisburd ’03 and Rhett Buttle ’07. Josephine Bennett ’81 is the association’s new president (see adjacent story on this page).

LUIS GARCIA

MARSHALL WILLIAMS

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