USD Magazine Fall 2016

[ e t c . ] Andrew Blum, PhD, as new execu- tive director of the Insitute for Peace and Justice. He was most recently the vice president of planning, learning and evaluation

at the United States Instiute of Peace, and has extensive experi- ence working on peacebuilding programs in such places as Sudan, South Sudan, Nigeria, Iraq, Azer- baijan, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Guy- ana and Turkey. After 15 years as director/interim director/deputy director, Dee Aker, PhD, will con- tinue to serve the school as advi- sor for strategic peacebuilding. The Steubenville San Diego Catholic Conference brought a capacity crowd of 5,000 young people to campus in late July. USD has hosted the conference each summer since 2012; the retreat weekend is a transforma- tional experience that is de- scribed as “evangelistic in nature and authentically Catholic.” Youth, young adults and leaders from 153 parishes and schools deepened their faith over the course of the weekend. The 2017 Steubenville Conference will take place July 28-30 at USD. Learn more at www.allforgod.com/ steubenville-san-diego. Our enhanced and expand- ed website, USD Magazine +, can be found online at www. sandiego.edu/usdmag. Beyond stories from our pages, find vid- eos, expanded Q&As, an archive of past issues and much more. Another great source of news about the university is the USD News Center: www.sandiego. edu/news. Updated frequently, visitors to the News Center will find stories about happenings on campus, faculty and student achievements, athletics and much more. During the academ- ic year, the News Center team puts out a newsletter twice a month; opt in to receive it by visiting the News Center and clicking on “subscribe to USD News” on the left-hand side.

Four University of San Di- ego baseball players were selected in the annual Major League Baseball draft in June, led by sophomore shortstop Bryson Brigman, a third-round selection by the Seattle Mari- ners. Other Toreros chosen were: junior first baseman Ryan Kirby (San Francisco Giants); senior right-handed pitcher Gary Cor- nish (New York Mets); and Taylor Kaczmarek, another senior right- handed pitcher (Kansas City Royals). Brigman’s selection marks the fourth straight year that USD has had a player taken among the first three rounds of the MLB Draft, following Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs), Connor Joe (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Kyle Holder (New York Yankees). The new executive director for USD’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences’ Non- profit and Philanthropic Institute (NPI) is Emily Young, PhD, who comes to USD from the San Diego Foundation. The NPI is dedicated to the advancement of the regional, national and international nonprofit and philanthropic sector and its leaders. “I look forward to join- ing an exceptional team that’s committed to making our world a better place for our children and grandchildren,” Young said. At the end of the 2015-16 academic year, the West Coast Conference announced the 15th annual WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, which recognizes stu- dent-athletes who have balanced athletic success with academic excellence. 123 University of San Diego athletes were named to this distinguished list.

While in some ways we’re savvier than ever before, thanks to all that technology, it turns out there’s much information that’s not getting through when it comes to women’s health. That’s where Associate Profes- sor of Nursing Kathy James DNSc, FNP, FAAN, steps in. Her research, done with USD Nursing Professor Cynthia Connelly PhD, FAAN, has shown that many women aren’t aware of the reproductive impli- cations of their food and activity choices. Heart disease, yes. But breast cancer? Endometrial can- cer? Pregnancy complications? That those and other health issues can also stem from being overweight may not be so widely known, James says. “I think it’s very important to educate the public. They seem to be well aware of the cardiovascu- lar benefits of weight control.” James, who owns three weight clinics, helps her patients see that the basics we’ve known about for years — taking a 30-minute walk, eating a rainbow of foods — are the key to getting back in shape. And, most of all, that it’s doable. “What I’m doing in my practice is surveying patients, then reviewing these risks so they’re better educated. I’m looking at ways to motivate my patients. I’m screening them so they can be aware and ask themselves, ‘Could I be at risk? Can I do something about this?’” Among her recent studies are

those on reducing diabetes risk by making lifestyle changes, helping women find their role as family leaders when it comes to healthy living and gaining understanding of how obesity can effect women’s fertility. “I think family health is very important. I always want to see what is going on in the home and encourage healthy living. I think the role the mother plays as role model is extremely important,” she says. James likes to share some “really achievable” goals that can help pre- vent diabetes without medication. “I don’t think people realize what control they have. If you make it too complicated, they throw their hands up and say, ‘I can’t do this.’” So she makes it simple: lots of colorful produce with some lean protein and some healthy fats. “If we make things too difficult, we tend to get con- fused,” she says. “A colorful diet is never going to hurt you.” As for practical advice, James says that her patients who have successfully lost weight have dis- covered that planning ahead — deciding what to eat and how to manage a busy day — coupled with stress management is key. And a 30-minute walk does more than burn calories. “Walk- ing is like your vitamin pill and an antidepressant; it’s about making time for yourself.”

www.sandiego.edu/watch/ food-pic

The Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies has named

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FALL 2016