USD Magazine Spring 2026

TOREROS MAKING WAVES

EMERGING LEADER AWARDS

Momo Bertrand ’19 (MA) Education Specialist, The World Bank Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies Bertrand has accomplished so much, and now he’s dedicated to giving back. He learned the value of education as a child in Cameroon. He lost his father at a young age and was raised by a mother who was the first in her family to finish high school. She helped support her 11 siblings and five children, determined to instill the importance of hard work and making every moment count. He’s gone on to work at the United Nations and now the World Bank, and he’s helping leaders rethink how we approach some of our greatest challenges. At the Kroc School, he was steeped in the concepts of social innovation and design thinking, frameworks that encourage creativity and a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach. “There is a sense that the ways in which we’ve been trying to end poverty or advance education and health, that they need a refresh,” Bertrand said. “Many of the concepts that we studied at USD — along with putting people at the center — definitely contributed to the way I approach problems.” He’s applying that knowledge at the World Bank, where he’s devoted his career to improving educational systems in West Africa and training the region’s next generation of Changemakers. “If I can contribute to someone earning an education, getting a job, and through that job finding a sense of dignity and a way to support their community … that’s where I get my sense of fulfillment.”

Christian Burgos Nolan ’19 (MA) Outreach Coordinator, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies From a young age, Nolan felt a call to serve others. She grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, where she said she witnessed and experienced firsthand the barriers some face to accessing basic needs. “That ignited this passion to help others,” she said. “Life has always led me to be of service to other people.” At USD, she said, her eyes were opened to new possibilities. She met professors and students — friends to this day — who taught her so much. That experience pushed her to channel her energy and passion into helping others. Today, she’s dedicated to expanding opportunities for people to access the resources they deserve, helping to provide food and more to those in need. Her advice to her fellow Toreros: Before you change the world, see how you can impact your own backyard. “No change is too small. If you can start in the place you live, it will have an impact. Find your cause and start working on it every day. It will create change.”

Ray Vialu ’20 (BA) Clinical Psychology PsyD Student, California Baptist University College of Arts and Sciences Vialu only knows one speed. In his spare time, he’s an endurance athlete. He’s completed multiple IRONMANs and ultramarathons. He’s an avid traveler, having visited more than 50 countries and summited Mount Kilimanjaro. And school is no different. He’s a second-year, triple-degree student, pursuing a Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD), a Master of Science in sport and performance psychology, and a Master of Arts in clinical psychology at California Baptist University. At USD, where he cultivated lifelong friendships and served as a ministry leader, Vialu said his faith deepened, as did his dedication to service. The foundation he built as an undergraduate served as a launch pad for everything that followed. “The professors here believed in me,” Vialu said. “Having conversations with them gave me the belief that I could make a difference out in the world and inspire others to do the same.” As a health care professional, Vialu hopes to use his multidisciplinary training to promote mental and physical health across diverse populations.

WATCH THE VIDEOS to learn more about USD’s incredible alumni honorees. sandiego.edu/newscenter/ 101220

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