USD Magazine Summer 2007

[ sy l l abus ] Course: Policymaking Process Instructor: Fred Galloway DESCRIPTION: Doctoral-level course aims to help students understand the policymaking process from a variety of perspectives and to develop the analytical tools necessary to be skilled players in various policy arenas.

that narrowing down a disserta- tion topic takes time: “I still have a lot of time to narrow things down. Being able to take electives will help me solidify which way I want to go. You start out large and begin to narrow and revise to reflect new ideas as you go through the program.” Master’s student Mario Garibay went directly into his leadership studies program from graduating from USD in 2006 with a B.A. in sociology and ethnic studies. “I chose this program because I was here as an undergrad and had a really good experience,” he says. He’s entirely happy with his choice, and says his job as gradu- ate assistant for student affairs with a focus on Torero Days — which orients new students to campus life —mirrors what he’d ultimately like to do for a living. “I’d love to work in student activi- ties and other campus programs.” Garibay’s psyched to be mid- way through his program just as the new SOLES building is being completed. “I’m totally excited,” he says. “It will be great to be in something that’s brand new and to be in one of the first classes.” While Cordeiro, of course, is thrilled as well, she’s quick to point out that much of the credit belongs to her predecessors. “I recently got a letter from Monsignor (Bill) Elliott, who was the first dean of the school. He said he can’t wait for the dedica- tion on Oct. 20,” she says. “It’s going to be very exciting to have both him and Ed DeRoche, who was the second dean, there, and for the three of us to enjoy the work that we’ve all done to mold and shape the school. None of this could have been done without the incredible foundation that both of them laid.” attracts graduate students like Susan Allain, LaVonnya Fisher and Mario Garibay. THE INTIMACY OF SOLES’ programs is a big part of what

UH-OH MOMENT: Wait. Doctoral? Policymaking? Help!

PROFESSORIAL DEMEANOR: Qualms are squelched the moment Professor Galloway opens his mouth. He’s a riveting lecturer, with a level of passion and enthusiasm that’s unexpected in a policy wonk.

WHAT NOT TO WRITE: “No one should ever look at a policy brief and wonder, ‘What the hell is this about?’”

PROVOCATIVE ASIDE: “The Union-Tribune is a master at influencing thought. Pay close attention to how they place stories and how their headlines minimize certain points. Notice that if an article is about a subject that could be injurious to the Republican party, U-T staffers write the article themselves.” WHAT’S THE GIST? “In one word, the most important quality you’ve got to have in Washington, D.C., is loyalty. You need people to tell you when you’re full of it and when you’re not.” SECRET SPILLED: “The greatest lie in higher education is that we’re reflective practitioners. The truth is, with the fast pace we live with today, no one has time.” SO, WHAT’S A DOCTORATE FOR, ANYWAY? “The dissertation is a strategic bridge between now and what you want to do with the rest of your life. At this level, grades don’t matter. What matters is what you learned, who you worked with and what topic you did your dissertation on.”

TIM MANTOANI

gram’s real selling point is more intimate in nature. “I like how small the program is at USD,” she says.“It’s our own little community, our own little family. They know me, they know my name, they know about me.” LaVonnya Fisher, who’s working on her doctorate in leadership studies, was initially drawn to her program after seeing the positive experience that her mother and sister had when they earned their law degrees at USD. “I like the family-style atmosphere of a pri- vate university, where the goal was not just to achieve a great education but to also get involved with the USD family,” she says. She’s interested in organization- al culture in primary grades, and says that her strength lies in career-coaching. Fisher explains

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SUMMER 2007