USD Magazine Spring 2026

SPRING 2026

BEAUTY, GOODNESS AND TRUTH

Reflecting USD’s enduring commitment to the dignity of all humanity, the sculpture Angels Unawares was dedicated on December 18, 2025.

LEARN MORE about the sculpture. sandiego.edu/ newscenter/102500

10 ROADS LESS TRAVELED Five remarkable students share what brought them to campus and how their experiences shaped who they are today.

Contents

On the Cover USD’s unique location in a binational region gives students direct access to explore the economic, ecological, political, spiritual and cultural connections on both sides of the border with Mexico. During a spring break trip to Tijuana, Briana Burton ’26 visited the colorful Mercado Hidalgo. On page 8, students on the University Ministry spring break retreat participate in a service project. Photos by Alé Delgado.

SPRING 2026

BEAUTY, GOODNESS AND TRUTH

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DEAR TOREROS

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Expanding Access AROUND ALCALÁ PARK 6 FAITH IN ACTION 16 AT THE EDGE OF IT ALL 29 GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES 30 TORERO ATHLETICS 32 TOREROS MAKING WAVES 36 IN MEMORIAM 46 LEADING WITH LOVE 48

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24 SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENCE LEADERS The partnership between USD and Ocean Discovery Institute is opening doors for local students.

18 ASKING BETTER QUESTIONS IN AN AGE

Broadening Impact OF EASY ANSWERS As artificial intelligence delivers responses on demand, USD faculty are focused on something more elusive: helping students develop the wisdom to ask better questions.

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Dear Toreros, M ary and I have a framed Bible verse that has hung in the front foyer of every home we have lived in for over 30 years. The verse is from Hebrews and reads: “Be not forgetful to welcome strangers for there some have entertained angels unaware.” It is a constant reminder to us that as Christians we are asked to always welcome the strangers in our midst and show compassion for those in need. The opening spread of this issue of the magazine features a detail of our campus’s newest sculpture, Angels Unawares . This special piece is not only a powerful reminder of our shared humanity but also of our mission as a contemporary Catholic university to take care of those around us, especially the most vulnerable. We were blessed to welcome artist Timothy Schmalz and San Diego Bishop Michael M. Pham for the dedication of Angels Unawares back in December. Bishop Pham began his seminary training at St. Francis Seminary right here at USD, and regularly speaks about how we are stronger when we are united with one another. In his opening message as the first bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Pham wrote: “The love of Christ means that we are all in it together. That is what love is about. How we treat one another is the reflection of our commitment to Christ’s love and justice for all people — for He came into the world to bear witness by His love, justice and peace.” In an era of conflict and division, I am hopeful that our Torero community can be a shining example to the world — in our interactions with others, the way we show up for our communities, the causes we support and the way we lead with compassion and love. The pages of this issue demonstrate how our students, faculty and alumni are living our mission and putting our core values into action. Let’s continue to work together and light the way forward in creating a more inclusive, sustainable and hopeful world.

[President] James T. Harris III, DEd [Vice President, University Advancement] Richard P. Virgin ’24 (PhD) [Associate VP for University Marketing and Communications, University Advancement] Russell J. Yost [Editors] Ben Peterson Matthew Piechalak [Contributing Writers] Steven Covella Elena Gomez Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA) Lissette Martinez ’03 (BA) Allyson Meyer ’16 (BA) ’21 (MBA) Patrick Simon Stacey Truver Marina Woods [University of San Diego Magazine] Published two times a year by the University of San Diego. U.S. postage paid at San Diego, CA 92110. Please note that content for University of San Diego Magazine has a long lead time. Toreros Making Waves will be reviewed and included based on deadlines for each issue. [Contact Us] University of San Diego 5998 Alcalá Park San Diego, CA 92110 (619) 260-4600 publications@sandiego.edu [Website] sandiego.edu [Be Blue, Go Green] University of San Diego Magazine is printed with vegetable-based inks on paper certified in accordance with FSC® standards, which support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests. Talya Sanders Cameran Zech [Design Team] Tricia Caparas

Peace, James T. Harris III, DEd President

President James T. Harris III, Most Reverend Bishop Michael M. Pham and Timothy Schmalz dedicate Angels Unawares in front of the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice in December 2025. The sculpture is a replica of a piece Schmalz created for the Vatican commissioned by the late Pope Francis.

WE WANT TO KNOW what you think of this issue. Complete a survey. sandiego.edu/usd-mag feedback

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PRESENTS

July 11, 2026 3-6 p.m. Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, Garden of the Sea Featuring wine tastings, gourmet food, live music and a silent auction, all in a beautiful venue! This unique, festival-style event is a fundraiser with net proceeds benefiting USD student scholarships.

Get your tickets today! USDWineClassic.com

AROUND ALCALÁ PARK

The Case for Canine Companions Leslie Hennessy ’78 (MBA), ’14 (PhD), ’22 (JD) wants to make law school less stressful. Between late nights at the library and long days at the courthouse, the It was a win-win, and a real-world example of two nonprofits, USD and Canine Companions, supporting each other. Hennessy ran the idea by a colleague, “The students named the dog, so he’s often like a star when he arrives,” Hennessy said. “And the other thing was, I did guest lectures where I’d come

with the dog, and teach students all the regulations that go with service dogs and all the different ways they may interact with that as practicing lawyers.” In 2025, Amicus was fully trained and ready to provide his services elsewhere. It was bittersweet for the School of Law, but he ended up getting paired with a client who works for Colorado’s 23rd Judicial District. Amicus found himself right at home in the courthouse again. Meanwhile, Hennessy’s project with her alma mater continues on. She’s working with a new dog at the law school. He’s learning about torts and civil procedure. And how to properly accept pets. His name is Docket.

who got her in touch with folks at the School of Law. Done deal. In fact, it was the first contract Hennessy wrote since graduating from the School of Law in 2022. Students were excited and, fittingly, named their incoming classmate Amicus, a play on amicus curiae , or “friend of the court.” And he’s been just that ever since. The golden Labrador met staff and students at about four months old, and over the next year or so, made countless visits to the school. He’d come by to relieve some stress around midterm and final exams, but he also helped teach some important legal lessons.

demands for law students can be mentally and emotionally draining. Having gone through the process herself, Hennessy could empathize, and she saw a valuable opportunity to help. Hennessy also teaches classes in nonprofit leadership at USD’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences, where she often talks about the importance of collaboration among nonprofits. Turning her words into action, she set out to create her own example of nonprofit collaboration. For many years, Hennessy has been involved with Canine Companions, a nonprofit that trains dogs to help people with disabilities. Most importantly, they provide the dogs and their support all free of charge. “I was drawn to the idea of working with dogs. I knew that the dogs were really important to people with disabilities, but then when I got to see what the dogs actually do and how they create independence for people, I was hooked,” Hennessy said. “I thought maybe I’d raise one dog, and I just haven’t stopped.” Hennessy saw the USD School of Law as a great training ground for future Canine Companions. While the dogs learn the ins and outs of becoming service animals, they could also provide emotional support to law students, helping to lighten their mood.

Triple USD alumna Leslie A. Hennessy, PhD, with Canine Companion trainee Docket.

LEARN MORE about Canine Companions and the people they serve. canine.org

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CELEBRATING 25 YEARS CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

In 1999, a group of faculty members and a School of Leadership and Education Sciences graduate student identified the need for a dedicated center to uplift USD’s commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Today, the Center for Educational Excellence (CEE) is guided by a cross-campus advisory board of faculty and a dedicated team of staff members who serve faculty across all academic disciplines and schools. Through workshops, confidential consultations, guest speakers, communities of practice, a biweekly e-newsletter and other engagement opportunities, the CEE creates spaces for faculty learning, sharing and growth. “As a close-knit Catholic university committed to the liberal arts, it is essential that we explore practices to enhance teaching and support student learning,” said CEE Director Regina Dixon-Reeves, PhD. “The CEE creates a community of educators who support the personal and professional needs of faculty members and help set them up for success in the classroom and beyond.”

FROM OUTLAWED TO CELEBRATED The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) released a new set of stamps celebrating lowrider cars, a collaboration with community leaders, including USD’s Alberto López Pulido, PhD, professor of ethnic studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. He’s spent decades documenting Chicano and Latino culture, telling people’s stories and archiving history. Lowriders, he said, are an important part of that. “It started in the streets, and now it’s an integral part of American culture,” Pulido said. “It’s all about the artistic value that comes from culture and history. Lowriding is nothing short of what I like to call canvases on wheels. It’s an art form. It’s personal expression.” Dozens of lowriders lined the streets in Logan Heights in March, when Pulido and the USPS held a first issue ceremony for the new stamps. The event was the realization of Pulido’s life’s work. This corner of the culture, which meant so much to him, had been outlawed and derided for decades. Now it was being celebrated by hundreds of people and government officials on the lawn of a public library.

CEE PROGRAMMING AT A GLANCE (2024-25) 63 opportunities offered 532 participants 1,360 Your Teaching Toolkit subscriptions

At the Forefront of Research Innovation

USD is part of an important new initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation, that will help institutions oversee key facets of research. It’s called ResDataNexus, and it’s being developed in partnership with Elon University and Pepperdine University. The infrastructure and analytics model is designed to help emerging research institutions (ERIs) more effectively monitor research outputs, expenditures and grant activity. ERIs often face critical analytical and administrative challenges in tracking research activity, benchmarking performance, supporting faculty proposals and strategically planning for growth. By providing a robust toolset to capture and forecast research productivity and grant activities, ResDataNexus addresses those pain points directly by enabling institutions like USD to shift from reactive to proactive research planning. In leading the ResDataNexus initiative, USD stands at the forefront of a new wave of research capacity building for emerging research institutions. By leveraging data-driven decision-making, the university and its partner institutions are strengthening the foundation for research excellence.

“We’ve come a long way,” Pulido said.

LEARN MORE about the first ever lowrider stamps. sandiego.edu/ newscenter/122000

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AROUND ALCALÁ PARK

USD Welcomes New Provost In November, President James T. Harris III announced that James (Jim) Antony, PhD, would serve as USD’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs. Antony comes to USD from George Mason University, where he served as executive vice president and provost. Prior to that, he was dean of graduate education and postdoctoral affairs at UC San Diego. He has also held academic leadership roles at Harvard, Yale and the University of Washington. “I have long admired USD for its dual commitment to liberal arts undergraduate education and world-class graduate and professional programs,” Antony said. “I admire its mission-driven approach to serving students and the broader community, and I am inspired by the role it plays as an anchor institution across the greater border region.” Antony’s first day in the new role was March 1. # 2

A COMMUNITY ENGAGED UNIVERSITY USD was again selected as one of 237 U.S. colleges and universities to receive the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification, an elective designation that highlights an institution’s commitment to community engagement. The university first earned this designation when the program launched in 2006 and has held it ever since. “Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification is a mark of excellence for schools like USD that prioritize active collaboration with our public, private and nonprofit partners to address humanity's urgent challenges and serve the public good,” said USD President James T. Harris III, DEd. “As a Catholic university and an anchor institution, we are proud to serve as an operational host and assist other campuses in their journey of earning the Community Engagement designation while illustrating the tremendous impact institutions of higher education have in our communities.” As the first Catholic institution to host the CE classification, the Carnegie Foundation chose USD because of the university’s campuswide commitment to community service, its growth in U.S.-Mexico border engagement and its mission to confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. As host, USD will work with fellow Community Engagement institutions in collaboration on educational webinars and encourage other institutions to work toward earning the CE classification.

Study Abroad Participation Open Doors

LEARN MORE about how scholarships have opened the world to Toreros. youtube.com/ watch?v=IT9qKCvWv2g

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MAKING A LASTING IMPACT The Governor’s Office and the California State Legislature recently tapped the University of San Diego for $5.5 million in funding to continue its work with College Corps. The program provides eligible undergraduate students with $10,000 a year in exchange for 450 hours of community service in the areas of K-12 education, food insecurity, environmental stewardship and community health. Since its launch in 2022, College Corps has exploded in popularity. USD College Corps has enrolled 466 fellows, generating more than 184,000 hours of direct service across San Diego County. This new funding will support the enrollment of nearly 400 more students over the next three years. “This investment affirms what we have always believed to be true: When students are trusted with real responsibilities in real communities, they rise to the occasion,” said Alvin “Vinny” Seepaul, program director of USD College Corps.

ANOTHER MILESTONE YEAR THE NEXT GENERATION OF STEM LEADERS USD’s AnchorSTEM program supports Rising Star students in STEM fields by providing faculty mentorship, research opportunities, community engagement and financial assistance to students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It’s a collaboration between the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences and community organizations. AnchorSTEM recognizes that the true success of its scholars goes beyond academic achievements. The program is designed to help students grow into confident, empowered individuals. This vision is evident in students from the first graduating cohort. Their testimonials highlight how AnchorSTEM has played a huge role in both their personal and academic journeys. Last year, the program celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of students, and this year, a second cohort will cross the stage at commencement. As these scholars embark on their professional paths, the program will continue to uplift the next generation of STEM leaders by fostering a sense of belonging, building students’ confidence in their STEM abilities and providing support every step of the way.

CALLING ALL ALUMNI From scholarships to wellness initiatives, you have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of our students.

Scan the code. Make your gift. Help a student.

For questions about giving, contact annualgiving@sandiego.edu.

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Together, they form a vital part of USD’s community — and these nontraditional students are an essential part of our intellectual life. USD supports every student with a holistic, wraparound approach — from academic advising and wellness services to identity-based resource centers and individualized coaching. Some nontraditional students need extra guidance to thrive, while others navigate campus independently, but every student benefits from the community and resources in place. The following students’ paths to USD are as varied as their ambitions. These stories capture their journeys to campus and reveal how they’re shaping their futures.

THERE’S MORE THAN ONE PATH THAT LEADS STUDENTS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO. IN FACT, MANY TOREROS ARRIVE AFTER JOURNEYS THAT LOOK NOTHING LIKE THE TYPICAL HIGH SCHOOL-TO-COLLEGE ROUTE. SOME HAVE LED TROOPS, RAISED CHILDREN OR BUILT CAREERS BEFORE EVER SETTING FOOT ON CAMPUS. OTHERS ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS, TRANSFERS, FORMER FOSTER YOUTH, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR NEURODIVERGENT LEARNERS.

By Talya Sanders

ROADS LESS TRAVELED 10 | University of San Diego Magazine

Hendricks helps create a real sense of belonging for fellow veterans navigating campus life, both through his job at the Military and Veterans Program Center and by leading marketing efforts for the Student Veteran Organization. He also joined the local chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., one of the Divine Nine historically Black fraternities and sororities. “I’ve had opportunities to work and volunteer in the community to give back. I’m the first brother at USD in the past five years, and it’s an amazing experience having older alumni call me up and help me reestablish our name here,” he said. Being a 30-year-old college student has given him perspective. He finds he communicates easily with professors and connects what he’s learning in his classes to his previous experiences. “I’ve lived many lives,” he said. “Going back to school at this point in my life, I tie what I’m learning in class to what I’ve seen in life. Especially as a psychology student, there are so many things I wish I knew earlier.” EMMA CHHENG On any given day, you’ll find Emma Chheng ’27 (BA) weaving through the University of San Diego campus walkways, heading to class, greeting friends along the way. She is, in nearly every way, a typical undergraduate junior: enjoying her business analytics coursework, nurturing friendships with her Pi Beta Phi sorority sisters and classmates, and planning for her future. The only difference is the wheelchair she uses to maneuver through life. Born in France to a Cambodian father and Thai mother, Chheng’s family came to the United States when she was in fourth grade with their sights set on an American education. During her high school years in Orange County, she was deeply involved in student government and community service. When it came time to find a college, she knew USD was the place for her after a visit to campus. “At other schools, you can get lost as a number. Here, everyone has an opportunity to thrive in their own way and go at their own pace,” said Chheng, who was drawn to USD’s small size. “I love that I know a lot of

in munitions systems — inspecting, warehousing and delivering bombs, missiles and ammunition in assignments that took him from Alaska to Turkey, Germany and Utah. Military service was part of his family history — his father in the Marine Corps, uncles in the Army and Navy. By choosing the Air Force, he “finished the set.” But his choice wasn’t just tradition, it was necessity. The day after his college acceptance letter arrived, his family learned they were being evicted. College would have to wait. Rather than add to the financial strain, Hendricks enlisted, determined to support his family and forge his own path to stability. After leaving the military and starting at San Diego City College, Hendricks initially pursued business before realizing his heart was elsewhere. “When I was a certified mental health trainer in the Air Force, I’d meet new airmen and airwomen adjusting to life in the military,” he said. “During our conversations, I could see them light up when I’d give them tools to work through their problems or emotions. It gave me a new sense of passion.” He’s now intent on becoming a clinical therapist for veterans and active-duty personnel. He also hopes to eventually contribute to research on psychedelic-assisted therapies for post traumatic stress disorder.

WINSTON HENDRICKS Winston Hendricks ’27 (BA) is proof that sometimes a happenstance 10-minute conversation can redirect your life. On a lunch break from his job at Nordstrom, he was drawn to drive up the hill toward a beautiful campus he had only admired from a distance. In the parking lot, he struck up a conversation with the man getting out of the car next to him. That chance encounter — with a university administrator who encouraged him to apply when the time was right — planted a seed. Months later, Hendricks transferred from San Diego City College to USD and took the next step toward his psychology career. Before college, Hendricks spent eight years in the U.S. Air Force, working

“ WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A UNIVERSITY, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IDEAS — ABOUT WHAT EACH OF US BRINGS TO THE TABLE. NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS BRING ENTIRELY NEW PERSPECTIVES, AND WHEN TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS LEARN ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER, IT OPENS UP A WHOLE NEW

WORLD FOR EVERYONE. THAT EXCHANGE BUILDS ALL OF OUR CAPACITY.”

Winston Hendricks

— BYRON HOWLETT, EDD, ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT LIFE

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people, who I’ve met in different ways, and we always have a reason to run into each other on campus.” The resources available to support students, including the Disability and Learning Difference Resource Center (DLDRC), have exceeded her expectations. “I can basically do everything my classmates do, but I need different resources. The DLDRC made sure I had a really smooth transition to college,” said Chheng, who has used a wheelchair since a spinal cord injury and surgery when she was less than a year old. She has long wanted to study abroad, but she wasn’t sure it was something she’d be able to do. With the support of the DLDRC and the USD Madrid Center, Chheng spent a “life-changing” semester abroad in Madrid this past fall. “It’s hard to be in a wheelchair in Europe, but the USD Madrid Center and the DLDRC made it possible for me to have an above-and-beyond experience,” she said. They mapped out a plan and addressed concerns before they became barriers, especially making sure she could participate in every aspect of their weekend travel seminars. “I got to travel to so many places that I never thought I’d be able to see,” she said. Back on campus and wrapping up her junior year, Chheng is now focusing on her future after graduation. She recently joined the Women in Business group and is exploring internships. “If I went to another school, I wouldn’t be as free to do all that I’ve been able to do,” she said. AZAD KURDI As the sun sets over Mission Bay, Azad Kurdi ’26 (MS) likes to visit a favorite bench on the western edge of campus, what he half jokingly calls the “secret spot.” From there, he can see the whole city, and it reminds him how different his view was just six years ago. Kurdi was born in northern Iraq as part of the Kurdish minority, and he grew up watching U.S. service members in his city — with a vision for a different future. “Seeing the U.S. military in Iraq was my inspiration,” he said. “I told myself, I’m going to learn English, and I’m going to go to America one day.”

Emma Chheng

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The veterans center plays a practical and personal role in his life — helping coordinate his VA education benefits and housing allowance, while also offering mentorship, networking lunches and a place to connect. “You can always knock on their door, and they’re there for you,” he said. That welcoming feeling extends across Alcalá Park. “At USD, the professors genuinely care, and every conversation feels meaningful. Even on days I don’t have class, I still want to be on campus,” he said. Kurdi hopes to convert a summer internship at American Express into a full time cybersecurity role after he graduates in December. After that, he wants to earn advanced certifications and eventually pursue a PhD. His long-term goal is to launch his own cyber consulting firm. “I don’t want to stop,” he said. “Even when I’m working full time, I want to keep learning.”

Kurdi taught himself English through music and movies, and got a scholarship to American University in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. When the U.S. military returned to Iraq, he left college to work as a translator for U.S. forces fighting ISIS, using his Arabic, Kurdish and English language skills. That paved the way for him to immigrate to the U.S. in 2019. When he first arrived, the nonprofit No One Left Behind helped him settle into his new life. He soon enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving for four years as an infantryman, mostly at Camp Pendleton, with a tour in Japan. Today, he volunteers with No One Left Behind, supporting newly arrived Iraqi immigrants as they begin their own transitions. After finishing his undergraduate degree online, he knew a master’s in cybersecurity engineering was next — and he didn’t want to leave San Diego. Now

30, Kurdi brings his perspectives shaped by war, immigration and military service to his grad program and the larger USD community. “I think my life experience helps me a lot in grad school. I’ve worked in high-pressure environments, I’ve been in combat zones, I’ve had to adapt to new cultures and start over from scratch,” said Kurdi. “Because of that, in some situations I’m the mentor, but I’m always learning.” On campus, Kurdi has embraced a range of opportunities. Through USD Outdoor Adventures, he has gone camping and rock climbing — experiences he’d never tried before despite his love for outdoor activities. And he’s also a regular at Graduate Life’s biweekly bagel breakfasts. “I’ve made so many friends there,” he said. “Law students, MBAs, people from all over the world. We sit down, have coffee and just talk.”

Azad Kurdi

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“It’s added depth to my learning and hopefully helped my classmates see things in new ways,” she said. “We each bring our own lens to our classes, and it’s a very supportive environment.” She has also taken on the role of president of the Kroc Graduate Student Association this year. “I’ve been in leadership roles in other parts of my life, especially in my church, so I knew I could bring that experience into this position,” she said. “As president, I really wanted to help students feel more connected — to each other and to the faculty and deans, and there’s a genuine interest on all sides to do that. We started our informal Peace of Pizza on Wednesdays, and just sitting down to eat and talk without an agenda has made a difference. It’s social, but it opens the door to deeper conversations and real relationships.” Looking ahead, Burton hopes to continue teaching. “I realized I’m an educator at heart,” she said. “I want to take what I’ve learned here and find ways to teach it, whether through workshops, classes or community programs. Life is learning, and I’m not stopping anytime soon.” IVAN CHABAN A month after Russia invaded Ukraine, Ivan Chaban ’29 (BA) escaped death twice in one day. He was on his way back from a long, cold and dangerous walk in search of food because his large family, who lived in a rural village in Ukraine, had none. When they encountered Russian soldiers, Chaban was gravely wounded. He made his own tourniquet with his mother’s purse strap, nearly bleeding out before help came an hour later. Then, on the operating table, in order to save his life, surgeons had no choice but to amputate his leg without adequate anesthesia. He was 15 years old. “That day changed everything,” Chaban said. “I lost a lot. But I also gained something — the chance to come to America, to study here. I got to choose what kind of life I wanted.” Chaban came to the United States because a prosthetician in San Diego offered to build him a prosthetic leg at no cost. That first act of generosity became a pathway to a new life with new opportunities.

studying how to build peace, how to bring about change in nonviolent ways.” That curiosity led her to USD’s Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, where she is now earning her master’s in conflict management and resolution. Burton immediately found a community that not only encourages her to pursue her unique vision but also provides support to make it come to life. As part of her thesis, she designed a curriculum examining religion’s role in both conflict and peacebuilding, and along with Assistant Professor May Farid, DPhil, she’s now co-teaching that class at USD — creating opportunities for students to engage directly with leaders from five diverse faiths across San Diego. “I would have never dreamed that would be possible,” she said. “I saw a need, devised a solution, and the USD faculty helped me make it happen.” Burton’s life experience as a teacher and parent enriches her graduate studies.

HOLLY BURTON After a decade of teaching dance and helping children discover their own creative voices, Holly Burton ’26 (MS) found herself at a crossroads. A mother of five now-grown children and a seasoned dance specialist in Utah public elementary schools and universities, she had enjoyed blending movement with learning, teaching dance units on everything from science to math to social justice. Yet Burton realized there were questions she wanted to explore — about peace, religion and social conflict — that went far beyond the dance studio. “When my second-oldest son came out as gay, it changed my world, having grown up in a conservative religious community. It really opened my heart to all kinds of marginalized populations. I also realized there are still so many things I want to learn about,” she said. “I was drawn to

Holly Burton

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Ivan Chaban

navigating financial and university systems, connections to paid summer internships and year-round housing — including free winter and summer break housing. In addition, the DLDRC helps him with classroom accommodations, coordination around his medical needs and physical access across campus. Chaban has thrown himself into campus life: competing in adaptive triathlons, working at the Student Health Center, participating in student organizations and exploring creative pursuits like theater. His calendar is full, and his ambitions are endless. He’s studying international relations, hoping to work in diplomacy or humanitarian policy. In the short term, he’s aiming for an internship with the International Rescue Committee. In the longer term, he wants to start an international school. “As someone from a poor family, someone who had no food at home many times in my life, it’s incredible that I now have a happy life and I’m getting my education,” Chaban said. “I want to open doors for children who are capable of thriving and changing the world.”

He arrived speaking almost no English. Members of the local Ukrainian diaspora took him in and cared for him, while the rest of his family remained in Ukraine. Through a connection with Rotary International, he met a woman who became his guardian — someone he now calls “Mom.” She enrolled Chaban in Torrey Pines High School’s Multilingual Learner Program, and in a short time, he was fluent in English. Through the Challenge Athletes Foundation, he received prosthetics that enabled him to join the track team and become an award-winning athlete. He learned to surf along the California coast and to rock climb. All the while, he

managed high school classes, immigration paperwork and the ongoing physical realities of using a prosthetic limb. When he was exploring colleges, a Rotary member who’s also a USD scholarship donor opened Ivan’s eyes to the possibilities of a private, four-year university. He chose the University of San Diego for its size and support services. “I wanted a place where people would know my name,” he said. “When I visited USD, it felt like home. Now that I’m here, I’m even happier than I expected.” Thanks to the Torero Renaissance Scholars program, which supports students who have experienced foster care or housing instability, Chaban receives guidance

“

PEOPLE OFTEN FOCUS ON STRUGGLES AND SACRIFICES, BUT THESE STUDENTS ARRIVE AT USD ACCOMPLISHED AND DRIVEN. I’M INSPIRED BY WHAT THEY’VE ALREADY DONE AND ENERGIZED BY HOW THEY ENRICH THIS COMMUNITY. THEY’RE CHANGING THE GAME FOR ALL OF US.”

— OPHELIA AUGUSTINE, RETENTION SPECIALIST IN TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

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FAITH IN ACTION

University Ministry’s Coffee House: Where Real Life Meets Faith

Inside the Monsignor Dillabough Ministry Center, a senior economics and theology double major, Grant Sobek ’26, stood at a microphone and spoke to a packed room of his peers. He wasn’t there to give a speech on a class project or to lead a University Ministry meeting. He was there to do something less formal: talk to students about how he’s navigating life and all its busyness. In the middle of his five-minute speech, Sobek played a video of his grandfather sharing a simple message on his 91st birthday: “This has been a life worth living, and I’ve loved every minute of it.” Sobek reflected on his grandfather’s words and shared how that simple message has allowed him to look at sad and disappointing days with a shift in perspective — being grateful that he got to experience them in the first place. Sobek is one of several students who have been invited to deliver a vulnerable, raw message with students at Coffee House, a once a-semester evening event organized by University

pace, and it’s really intriguing to me and powerful that people continue to want to come back to a space like that.” Rob ’88 and Aida ’89 MacKay brought the idea of Coffee House to Michael Lovette-Colyer ’13 (PhD), vice president of Mission Integration, in 2022 after the alumni couple had seen a similar concept at Boston College. The MacKays also shared that if Mission Integration was open to the idea, they would be interested in funding the programming. “What resonated with us was the power of storytelling — sharing personal experiences of faith in a way that feels approachable and nonintimidating. We believe stories stay with people far longer than lectures. Our vision was to create a low-pressure, welcoming environment, and we felt that a coffeehouse setting — with music, coffee and food — would help bring that vision to life,” shared Rob MacKay. From there, Christian Santa Maria, director of University Ministry, shared the concept of Coffee House to a group of student leaders with a vision of creating a “front porch ministry,” where students didn’t have to pay to attend and could experience deep conversations about life, the “messiness of spirituality” and, most importantly, learn from their peers that the journey of faith isn’t about perfection. The first Coffee House event kicked off in fall 2022 and was attended by about 50 students. Since then, the event has grown threefold, with close to 160 students attending the last event. The MacKays have been proud donors since the beginning. “We are incredibly proud of what USD has built with Coffee House. We attended in person during its second year in the spring and were deeply moved. Michael Lovette-Colyer now shares a video after each event, and it’s clear the program is delivering on everything we had hoped for — and more. The team has created a truly

Ministry that brings together music and

stories that connect life with faith, over a cup of coffee. “It’s really cool that for an hour and a half, once per semester in this dimly lit room… no one is on their

phone, and they’re just listening to someone be honest,” Sobek said. “And they’re being patient. It’s a slow

welcoming space where students can come together for music, fellowship, food and faith,” added MacKay. Coffee House is led by students and features student speakers who either incorporate music into their stories or share raw, relatable stories from their lives — all based on a theme that the student planning committee feels can connect with how students are feeling in that moment. The goal is also to be a welcoming space for all students, religious or not, to listen to each other and find moments of peace and camaraderie. “I hope it continues to serve as a bridge between the real world and a lived faith,” said Adam Bretsch ’25, another original Coffee House committee member. “To hear other students who are very similar to one another, as students and as people, who are all going through the same things, to continue to emphasize that no one is alone.” As Coffee House continues to inspire more students, Santa Maria can’t help but find the parallel in students sharing their truth in the Ministry Center, where tapestries of great spiritual leaders line the room. Just like the students, these great religious leaders were also on a journey of self-discovery, spirituality and finding their truth decades ago. “You have all these figures, Mother Rosalie Hill and Bishop Buddy, who are, in many ways, looking down [on the students],” said Santa Maria. “From different majors, from different religions and different spiritualities, all of us are navigating this collective wisdom. I think the uniqueness of USD is that this space is not something I think could be replicated in other places.” Original Coffee House committee members and new students alike hope this uniquely USD event will continue as a tradition for many years to come. — Elena Gomez

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Asking Better Questions in an Age of Easy Answers

HOW USD IS INTEGRATING AI WITHOUT LOSING SIGHT OF WHAT MAKES EDUCATION HUMAN

By Ben Peterson

thinking? Q .

How can AI enhance learning without outsourcing critical

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whether they’re developing the critical thinking skills that AI cannot replicate. “There’s a difference between technological enhancement, where we use technology to enhance what we’re doing and make it even better, and cognitive offloading, where we’re outsourcing some of those critical thinking skills to the technology,” she explained. “So how do we help students have the discernment to learn what technological enhancement is?” Some of the early lessons came from USD students themselves. In 2023, when Vickers’ AI Ethics class discussed whether AI would undermine traditional universities in favor of certificate programs, students pushed back hard on the idea. “They said clearly, ‘No, the most important thing is being in class with our professors,’” Vickers recalls. The conviction surprised her. These digital natives could have embraced a more transactional view of education, but they didn’t. That buy-in from students, combined with USD’s small classes, mission-aligned vision and professors who serve as collaborative mentors rather than mere content deliverers, highlights the university’s strategic advantages in an AI-saturated world. While some universities rushed to ban AI tools or mandate disclosure policies, USD took a more measured approach. After careful consideration, the university adopted Google’s Gemini as its preferred AI platform to ensure compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for sensitive university data. An AI@USD website was created as a hub for training resources and ethical guidelines. Working groups were established with different areas of focus: teaching and learning, research and scholarship, data and operations, the student experience and — critically — the Catholic intellectual tradition. “Each one of those groups has different sets of puzzles, different goals and objectives,” Choi-Fitzpatrick explained. “For example, some of the sticking points in teaching and learning are philosophical. They’re about academic freedom. Should anybody be able to tell a faculty member what to do in their classroom? What is real learning in engineering versus law versus philosophy versus painting?” Rather than mandate universal policies, Choi Fitzpatrick has led a series of AI Learning Labs. He noted that these are not training sessions, but rather spaces for faculty to experiment, discuss and discern together. “Training is what you do when you roll out BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DISCERNMENT

In early 2022 , a computer science student stood before Darby Vickers’ artificial intelligence (AI) ethics class to present on GPT-3,

OpenAI’s language model that was just beginning to capture attention beyond tech circles. When he demonstrated the tool on screen, generating increasingly sophisticated results after each prompt, the implications were crystal clear. “That was a moment when I knew something big was coming,” said Vickers, PhD, assistant professor of philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences. And it arrived quickly. By the time ChatGPT 3.5 launched in November 2022, faculty meetings were being convened almost immediately. The provost’s office wasted no time in forming a steering committee to prepare for AI’s evolving impacts. “Over the last several years, we have jumped from intellectual abstractions about AI to concrete classroom conversations,” said Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick, PhD, professor at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies and USD’s associate provost for academic strategy and growth. This ongoing transition is defining higher education’s current relationship with artificial intelligence — moving from conference papers to everyday workflows, from theoretical concerns to pedagogical redesign. At USD, the response has been neither panic nor uncritical embrace. Instead, the university has charted a distinctly human-centered path, one rooted in its Catholic intellectual tradition and commitment to educating the whole person. The initial concerns on campus were understandable: How do you assess student learning when AI can generate passable essays in seconds? But Vickers noticed a change in faculty conversations about AI over time. “It’s not so much about fear anymore,” she noted. “It’s about how we can shift and change to handle it. Now, almost everybody is thinking more about building the right kind of skills in the classroom.” Prioritizing efforts across campus would require less emphasis on policing plagiarism and more intention around a deeper, holistic institutional commitment to rethinking pedagogy. One thing is clear to Vickers: The question isn’t whether students have access to AI — it’s FROM DETECTION TO FORMATION

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new software,” he said. “Learning Labs are what to do when we don’t quite know what this is going to look like.” The demand has been overwhelming. Choi Fitzpatrick has had to open multiple additional sessions, drawing hundreds of faculty and staff members. The response reflects both curiosity and a hunger for institutional support in navigating genuinely difficult questions. “If we had pushed these as trainings, we’d have resistance, and if we had done nothing, there would be complaints,” he said. “I really do feel we’re moving at the right pace of discernment and institutional culture.” That pace — neither racing ahead nor standing still — reflects a fundamental belief about what universities offer. “One of higher education’s signal contributions to society is our capacity to equip people to lead with integrity in the world,” Choi-Fitzpatrick said. That capacity can’t just be downloaded. It requires formation, practice and the slow work of developing judgment. It’s a vision that stands in tension with much of the current AI discourse, which tends to emphasize efficiency, scalability and labor market readiness. Those aren’t unimportant. But they can’t be the whole story. “In a world of answers, questions become more important,” Choi-Fitzpatrick said. “We risk over indexing on large language models’ capacity to answer our questions really effectively but we spend less time cultivating really, really good questions.” This is where USD’s emphasis on the liberal arts tradition becomes not a limitation but a differentiator. Philosophy doesn’t offer final answers. It teaches people to wrestle with complexity, to sit with uncertainty, to ask better questions. “It’s not the seeking of wisdom or the finding of wisdom, but the love of wisdom,” Vickers noted, referring to the ancient meaning of philosophy itself. Students pursuing a range of different majors and career paths are drawn to her AI Ethics class. She’s noticed that engineering students are sometimes frustrated at first. They want clear solutions. But by the end of the semester, their thinking evolves. “They’re able to say, ‘Oh, okay, I have these tools to be able to think things through, even if I’m not going to find a single correct answer,’” Vickers said. That comfort with ambiguity and capacity for judgment may prove more valuable in an AI-saturated world than any specific technical skill. THE LIBERAL ARTS ADVANTAGE

“How do we help students have the discernment to learn what technological enhancement is?” — Darby Vickers, PhD

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Vickers finds guidance from Norbert Wiener’s book, The Human Use of Human Beings: Cybernetics and Society , first published in 1950. Wiener argued that society stood at a crossroads. Artificial intelligence (or “cybernetics” as he called it) could be used primarily for war games and creating a techno-elite. Or it could be directed toward creating a more accessible world: better prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, tools that help everyone experience the world more fully. “Even though he wrote that book so long ago, I feel like we still have that choice,” Vickers said. “I think the NEH grant is positioning us to ask what it would look like to try to fulfill that vision of the more accessible world with this technology.”

LOOKING FORWARD: AI AND HUMAN DIGNITY

USD’s forward-looking vision is perhaps best embodied in a recent National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant awarded to Vickers; Choi-Fitzpatrick; Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies Susie Babka, PhD; Assistant Professor of Communication Sophia Baik, PhD; Assistant Professor of Philosophy Jennifer Tillman, PhD; and Professor of Communication Jillian Tullis, PhD. The $53,700 grant will fund research on developing AI tools for individuals with disabilities, but with a crucial difference from most tech industry approaches. “A lot of the tools that are being created for the disability community are not actually tailored to the needs of the community,” Vickers explained, noting that many feel unsatisfied with what they see as band-aid solutions that don’t actually work. The project brings together philosophers, communication scholars and disability justice experts to create something different: white papers and guidelines developed in genuine conversation with the disability community, the tech industry and ethical scholars. It’s an approach rooted in what Choi-Fitzpatrick calls “the Catholic intellectual tradition’s commitment to human dignity and the public good.”

THE MISSION AS NORTH STAR

Throughout the conversation about AI at USD, one thing is clear: how the university proceeds must be mission aligned. “As a contemporary Catholic university, USD is perfectly positioned to strike a balance between educating the whole person and preparing them for a changing world,” Choi-Fitzpatrick said. USD is seeking balance in many ways — between formation

“In a world of answers, questions become more important.” — Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick, PhD

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How can AI help us create a more inclusive, sustainable and hopeful world? Q .

USD LAUNCHES MASTER’S DEGREE IN APPLIED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Building on its commitment to ethical AI integration, USD will launch a new Master of Science in applied artificial intelligence in Fall 2026. The program offers both on-campus (16 months) and online (20 months) formats, emphasizing hands-on learning with practitioner faculty and real-world AI projects. The new degree program reflects USD’s measured approach to AI: First, establish robust pedagogical and ethical frameworks across campus, then scale that expertise through graduate education. Students will work on meaningful challenges in collaborative, supportive environments where technical skills are balanced with the ethical discernment that has become central to USD’s AI integration efforts.

and market readiness, between timeless questions and emerging tools — to help shape any decision around AI with care and purpose. This means creating policies that are, in Vickers’ words, “flexible but not vague.” Flexible enough to adapt as AI technology evolves rapidly, but not so vague that faculty and students lack guidance. It’s a virtue ethics approach applied to institutional policy, establishing broad principles while allowing for case-by-case judgment. It also means investing in human infrastructure: the Learning Labs, the consultation support and the working groups where difficult questions are addressed collectively. And it means keeping sight of what matters most. “Everything we do must be mission aligned,” Choi Fitzpatrick said, “which for us involves a focus on formation of the whole person.” A year ago, Choi-Fitzpatrick admitted, he worried USD might be falling behind. But watching peer institutions rush forward with policies that may not age well, or sit paralyzed by indecision, he’s come to a different assessment. “I think we’re near the top of our pack,” he said. “We’re also not so far out that we’re like the early adopters who have set rigid policies too soon.” It’s a characteristically USD position: thoughtful, values-driven, focused on the long game. In an age that promises instant answers, the university is still teaching students to ask better questions. In a moment of technological disruption, it’s holding fast to what makes education irreducibly human.

LEARN MORE about USD’s innovative AI master’s degree program. sandiego.edu/ai-masters

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