University of San Diego Magazine 75th Anniversary 2024

A dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last August to officially open the Purcell Family Championship Golf Practice Facility. Located in the northeast quadrant of campus, the state-of-the-art facility was designed by San Diego native and golfing icon Phil Mickelson and includes a one-acre natural turf short-game area, complete with an 8,000-square-foot putting green, three practice sand bunkers and a 40,000-square foot fairway and rough area, designed to perfect every possible golf shot. “This world-class facility was designed to build teamwork and encourage a healthy sense of competitive spirit,” said USD President James T. Harris III, DEd. The $2 million gift courtesy of the Purcell family was originally announced in May 2021. USD alumnus Paul M. Purcell ’97 (BA) joined the USD Board of Trustees in 2019 and currently serves on the board’s athletics committee and the university advancement committee. Purcell helped in the planning and shepherding of the gift. “This is a great day for our family,” said Purcell, dressed in a Torero blue USD golf polo. “I stand before you humbled and full of gratitude. This place was a big part of my life.” • Teeing Up a New Era in Golf

PHOTO: HATTIE MORGAN

Forging Community organizations they serve. Such groups have become an important mechanism for providing representation and support to employees with specific interests and concerns at workplaces throughout the country. “Having the BEA as an official ERG means that the alliance now has

T he Black Employee Alliance (BEA) was established in 2019 to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for Black employees at the University of San Diego. Now, the alliance is an official Employee Resource Group (ERG) on campus. “BEA was created with support from the USD community and USD leadership, who have been working hard to promote greater diversity and inclusion on campus,” said Pauline Berryman Powell, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and a founding member of the alliance. “For many Black employees, finding a sense of community on the USD campus has been a challenge, which creates major problems when it comes to inclusion and retention. The BEA was established to provide avenues for Black employees to be seen and heard — as well as offer a space for relief and joy.” ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups whose aim is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the

dedicated funds to support initiatives specifically designed to support Black employees at USD,” explained Powell. “It allows us the funding to promote community engagement, education and awareness, and recognition of the efforts of Black employees,” she said. Each academic year the alliance has grown both its membership — now more than 90 employees — and important partner ships around campus with departments like the Center for Inclusion and Diversity, the Black Student Resource Commons and Mission Integration, as well as student-led groups like the Black Student Union and the National Society for Black Engineers. •

PHOTO: TOM CHRISTENSEN

75th Anniversary 2024 | 7