USD Magazine Spring 2026

“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

14 | University of San Diego Magazine