University of San Diego Magazine - Fall 2025

FALL 2025

BEAUTY, GOODNESS AND TRUTH

A friendly game of pickleball at USD’s Sports Center invites connections and a sense of belonging. From its founding, USD has supported student wellness and created spaces that reflect the harmony of mind, body and spirit.

12 WELLNESS REDEFINED USD’s Palomar Health Student Wellness Center nurtures the whole student.

26 ANSWERING THE CALL Guided by faith and purpose, Gabriel Richardson ‘25 (MS) has dedicated his life to serve others in need.

Contents

18 WELLNESS BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS USD launches a Student Wellness Ambassador Program to connect students with wellness resources on campus.

On the Cover Humanitarian Gabriel

BEAUTY, GOODNESS AND TRUTH

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Richardson holds a skateboard behind his head at the Linda Vista Skatepark on an early October day. Richardson is cofounder of the South Sudan Skate Federation, an organization working to build peace and community for the youth of the East African country. Photo by Alé Delgado.

DEAR TOREROS

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AROUND ALCALÁ PARK

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AT THE EDGE OF IT ALL

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FAITH IN ACTION

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Celebrating Wellness TORERO SPOTLIGHT 24 TORERO ATHLETICS 32 TOREROS MAKING WAVES 42 IN MEMORIAM 49 LEADING WITH LOVE 50

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Dear Toreros, T rue to the vision of USD’s founders, Mother Rosalie Clifton Hill, RSCJ, and Bishop Charles Francis Buddy, our university has always supported the needs of our students in mind, body and spirit. As we honor our founders and look ahead to a bright future, we know that wellness is a critical component to personal and professional success. That’s why this issue of University of San Diego Magazine is dedicated to how people, programs and places — on our campus and beyond — are celebrating and uplifting wellness. You’ll read more about how our campus’ new Palomar Health Student Wellness Center is transforming the student experience and ushering in a new era of student wellness at USD. You’ll also hear about how dedicated ambassadors are connecting students, faculty members and staff with the many resources available on campus. And prepare to be inspired and energized by the Torero alumni making wellness practices not only a part of life, but a force for positive change in our world. Commemorating a Year of Wellness at USD involves all members of this community. We encourage you to think about how you’re incorporating wellness practices into your own lives and how you build community through your Torero connections. Whether it be attending events on campus, cheering on our athletes or networking with fellow alumni in your own region, there are many ways to stay connected. We’re at our best when we come together and are thriving in all aspects of our lives — because USD begins with us. Sincerely,

Your Moment to LIGHT THE WAY As a valued member of the University of San Diego community, you know firsthand what makes this university special. Inspire someone you know to become a Torero and help us recruit the next generation of students by encouraging them to apply to USD. USD is proud to be named one of Niche ’s top 10 Best Catholic Colleges in America, one of Washington Monthly ’s top 10 universities for public service and one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation.

[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 [Editor] Matthew Piechalak [Contributing Writers] Steven Covella Elena Gomez Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA) Allyson Meyer ’16 (BA) ’21 (MBA) Patrick Simon 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. Cameran Zech [Design Team] Tricia Caparas

The final undergraduate deadline for Fall 2026 is Jan. 15. The final transfer deadline for Fall 2026 is Mar. 1.

Charlotte Johnson, JD Vice President, Student Affairs

BECOME A TORERO TODAY (619) 260-4506 | admissions@sandiego.edu | sandiego.edu/BecomeATorero

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

Ribbon-cutting day at the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center: (left to right) Kaleena Jezycki; Kimmel Yeager; Nick Ryan; Christopher Burden; Matt McIver; Morgan Pheng; U.S. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs; Palomar Health CEO Diane Hansen; President James T. Harris III; Sofia Morales; Vice President for Student Affairs Charlotte Johnson; Luke Finney; Anne Cass; Giselle Hawa Moragrega; Vice President for Advancement Richard P. Virgin.

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The Epstein Military Challenge The Epstein family’s generous gift of $10 million to the military center is a call to action focused on inspiring further generosity from the USD community. The Epsteins have challenged USD to match their $10 million investment by raising a minimum of $2 million each year during the next five years.

Your support will have a direct and lasting impact on these students and families who have sacrificed so much on behalf of our country.

DONATE NOW AND HELP USD MEET THE CHALLENGE sandiego.edu/EpsteinChallenge

A Hub in Support of Those Who Serve

Dan Epstein’s philanthropic support spans a wide array of areas at USD. Notably, he has supported USD’s military connected students, real estate students and faculty, and the Real Estate Awareness and Diversity Initiative (READI) program. Dan is a Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate Policy advisory board member. “We are deeply grateful to the Epstein family for their generous support in advancing USD’s commitment to our military-connected students,” said University of San Diego President James T. Harris III, DEd. “Their leadership in this initiative will create lasting opportunities for service members, veterans and their families, strengthening our campus and our community.” Dan and Phyllis Epstein (pictured above beside USD President James T. Harris III) celebrated the new center with veteran and active duty students and USD administrators. (Right) Military veterans celebration aboard the USS Midway.

service and leadership. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for students today and for future generations.” The military center will greatly enhance on-campus services, assist students in their transition to civilian life and act as a community resource for the greater military population in the San Diego region. Through the creation of expanded space and the addition of dedicated staff and specialized programming, the center will increase much-needed support for military-connected students. “This transformative gift will have a lasting impact on the lives of our student-veterans, empowering them with the resources, opportunities and support they need to thrive in their academic and professional journeys,” said USD Director of Military and Veteran Programs Nelson Chase. “Thanks to this incredible commitment, generations of veterans and their families will find a welcoming and enriching environment at USD, ensuring their success both in the classroom and beyond.”

THE EPSTEIN FAMILY FOUNDATION GENEROUSLY COMMITTED $10 MILLION — THEIR LARGEST CURRENT GIFT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO — TO SUPPORT THE EPSTEIN FAMILY MILITARY CENTER. THE GIFT IS A CHALLENGE MATCH, AIMED AT RAISING AN ADDITIONAL $10 MILLION FOR THE CENTER. The Epstein Family Military Center is dedicated to supporting USD’s military- connected students, who include active duty personnel and veterans, as well as spouses and dependent children of military families. The military center will further students’ educational and career goals, and serve as a premier destination for service members, veterans and their families. “Our family is honored to support this important initiative, ensuring that military-connected students have the resources they need and deserve,” said Dan Epstein. “We invite the community to join us in this effort to create pathways of opportunity for those dedicated to lives of

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Following the historic $75 million gift from Board of Trustees Chair Emerita Darlene Marcos Shiley and her late husband Donald, the University of San Diego is in the process of developing exciting new spaces for students and faculty members in the STEM disciplines.

project resulted in a publication in ISME Communications journal in May 2025. “Dr. Tran gave me the freedom to seek out my own curiosities,” said McLaren. “My rowing coaches, head coach Bart Thompson and then assistant coach Kevin Hinkle, also supported me to be successful on and off the water.” USD rowing alumna Marissa Dzotsi ’22 (BA) introduced McLaren to UCSD’s Preventive Cardiovascular Research Group. He volunteered for three months, then was hired and promoted to full-time clinical research coordinator. “I want my research to have a direct impact on helping the community,” McLaren said. “I love finding that little gap in the knowledge.” THE HYFLEX LEARNING PROGRAM MEETS THE DEMANDS OF NURSING STUDENTS The Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science has launched its new HyFlex (Hybrid Flexible) Learning Program to expand access to advanced classes in person, online in real time or online asynchronously, ensuring the same experience regardless of format. This flexibility is especially valuable for nurses, whose demanding schedules fluctuate. Students can choose the learning option that best fits their week, making it easier to pursue graduate education. More than $350,000 has been raised to support the HyFlex initiative, including a $120,000 gift from alumnus Rich Yousko ’87 (BA). In recognition of his mother, a working nurse, the school has named the new Helen A. Yousko, RN, and Richard J. Yousko HyFlex Classroom (BINR 207/209), which was dedicated in August. His gift supports classroom technology and scholarships for nursing students. nursing education. The program allows students to participate in

The three-story facility is slated to be 70,000 square feet and will be located on a parking lot next to Warren Hall and the School of Law. The building will physically connect engineering and natural sciences programs from the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences, creating more collaboration between students and faculty, and leading to innovative solutions to the most challenging scientific and technological issues. Construction is expected to begin in May 2026.

“ To me, STEM education in San Diego is a natural fit. Even if it wasn’t for Donald, it would still be a natural fit. I want to know that we made an imprint — and I think the University of San Diego is the place to do it.”

Brian C. Tietje Named Dean of the Knauss School of Business Brian C. Tietje, PhD, became the dean of the Knauss School of Business on July 1. Tietje comes to USD from the College of Business at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. Prior to his role as business dean, Tietje had a 22-year career at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, that included nine years as vice provost of International, Graduate & Extended Education and serving as an award-winning marketing professor in the Orfalea College of Business.

Donald R. Knauss Receives Lifetime

Achievement Award The National Association of Corporate Directors announced that Donald R. Knauss, chair emeritus of the USD Board of Trustees, will receive the B. Kenneth West Lifetime Achievement Award. The recognition honors individuals who have distinguished service on public, private or nonprofit boards, and demonstrate exemplary professionalism and leadership that “should have an impact that is visible in boardrooms today.”

ENVISIONING A NEW HOME FOR STEM AT USD

There will be multiple maker spaces equipped with 3D printers and laser cutters, a new electronics maker space and a woodshop — designed to be “open-use,” where students can work on class projects or even personal passion projects.

Keeping an Eye on the Heart Gavin McLaren ’24 (BA) is making an impact in preventive cardiology research less than two years after graduating.

The STEM building will catapult USD’s footprint in the STEM

Spaces will include labs for biomedical engineering, environmental science, robotics, material sciences and neuroscience — with research and class spaces that cross disciplines and majors.

space regionally and nationally.

The biology alumnus and former men’s rowing captain now serves as a clinical research coordinator at the University of California, San Diego’s (UCSD) Preventive Cardiovascular Research Group, where he is currently overseeing seven clinical trials. His work includes studying topics such as time-restricted eating interventions and lipoprotein(a), a genetic risk factor for heart disease. McLaren’s research journey began at USD, where he worked with Cawa Tran, PhD, in the College of Arts and Sciences studying sea anemone microbiomes. That

The building will feature a multipurpose theatre for special events and an ecology zone on the roof, where students can study everything from plant growth to solar and wind energy.

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“As a Torero, you are never alone. Resources

Celebrating Wellness at USD At the opening of the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center last April, USD Vice President of Student Affairs Charlotte Johnson announced a “Year of Wellness” institutional initiative. As a university rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition, USD is committed to supporting Toreros in mind, body and spirit. The “Be Well USD” campaign centers on the website of the same name, a hub of resources and information to support students during their time on campus and beyond. Throughout the year, members of the USD community will engage in events and activities that promote wellness and belonging.

are always just an office visit, click or phone call away.” — Charlotte Johnson, JD

The wellness center was featured in the

1 of 16 Institutions on the Mental Health Services Honor Roll The Princeton Review

September/October issue of Campus Rec Magazine .

DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO’S NEW BISHOP HAS USD ROOTS For his first appointment upon being elected Pope, Leo XIV appointed Most Reverend Michael M. Pham, auxiliary bishop of San Diego and diocesan administrator, as the next bishop of San Diego. Pham fled Vietnam as a 13-year-old refugee in 1980. He moved to San Diego in 1985 after the remainder of his family arrived in the United States. He graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree and started a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering before transferring to St. Francis Seminary at USD. Pham completed his training at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California, with Systematic Theology Baccalaureate and Master of Divinity degrees.

LEARN MORE about the wellness resources and programs offered at USD. sandiego.edu/wellness/ bewellusd

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WELL NESS RE DEFINED Opened in April, the three-story, 80,000 square-foot facility is redefining campus wellness. Students do more than work out — they move with purpose, rest intentionally, connect meaningfully, learn continuously and nourish their minds, bodies and spirits. The center is organized around five pillars of wellness — movement, nourishment, restoration, community and connection, and learning. Together, the spaces and programming create a vibrant hub where students thrive academically, socially and personally. By Matthew Piechalak At USD’s Palomar Health Student Wellness Center, wellness isn’t just a routine — it’s a lifestyle, a place where students are learning how to be the best versions of themselves.

MOVEMENT

our muscles, we’re developing a profound connection between our mind and body, which can lead to increased confidence, reduced stress and a strong sense of self.” The wellness center is intentionally designed to be a hub for diverse types of movement. “The goal is to provide a space where every student, regardless of their background or fitness level, can find a form of movement that resonates with them,” he said. From the strength floor and cardio rooms for structured, goal-oriented exercises, to features like the outdoor turf space for more creative, free-flowing movement, the center runs the gamut on what is possible. Beyond individual workouts, group fitness studios and specialized programming are essential to building community within the center.

Reframing movement — from just exercise for fitness and appearance to a holistic approach to wellness — is essential to building individuals who are not only strong, but who are also capable and resilient. “When we think about physical activity, the conversation around fitness is frequently dominated by aesthetics,” said Interim Assistant Director of Fitness Programs Reynaldo Martorell. “But what if we shifted our focus from how we look to how we move? What if the true measure of wellness wasn’t a number on a scale, but the freedom and mastery of our own bodies?” This shifting mindset can be beneficial for everyone — especially college students — who face both academic and social pressures, Martorell explained. “Body awareness leads to an increase in movement quality. We are not just training

“Ultimately, focusing on movement is about empowering students to live fuller, more vibrant lives,” Martorell said. “It’s about giving them the physical capacity to pursue their dreams and to engage in activities that go far beyond the confines of a gym. It’s about building a body that can carry them through a lifetime of adventure.” A key element of this movement-centric approach for anyone is to view it as a way to add to your life, rather than just taking things away, he said. “The key is to find what you love and then train your body to do it even better,” Martorell said. “When your movement goals are tied to activities you genuinely enjoy, you’re far more likely to stay motivated. There’s an incredible sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing tangible improvements in a skill you care about.”

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NOURISHMENT The center’s design fosters connections between physical activity, diet and mental health. By offering spaces where students can engage in wellness activities and access nutritious resources, the center promotes a balanced lifestyle that supports academic performance and personal well-being. A cornerstone of the center’s approach to nourishment is its state-of-the-art teaching kitchen. This facility serves as a hub for students to engage in hands on learning about healthy cooking and nutrition. Programs offered include nutrition workshops, healthy cooking classes, and food and culture programs that connect students with community gardens, local farmers markets and diverse culinary traditions. These initiatives aim to empower students to make informed dietary choices that support their academic and personal success. The center also features a juice bar offering nutritious beverages that promote hydration and energy. Finally, the facility provides dye-free, fragrance-free and eco-conscious wellness products, ensuring a holistic approach to nourishment that considers both internal and external health factors.

two nap pods and art therapy. There are so many unique opportunities in this space that allow our community to slow down and rest in a way that works for them — that was really important to us when designing the spaces.” Elements such as light, sound and scent also play a critical role in cultivating a restorative atmosphere in the center. “All of these things add a freshness to the building, in a way that we hope encourages productivity and directly contributes to mood, physiology and cognitive function,” McIver said. “The floor-to ceiling windows and beautiful views from our terraces encourage our community to take advantage of the beautiful sunlight we get in San Diego, which directly relates to stress relief and relaxation. Overhead ambient music throughout the space brings liveliness and a fun, contagious energy to the building. And aromatherapy engages the limbic system, helping with relaxation, stress relief, motivation and rest.” The ultimate advice McIver has for individuals looking to restore: start outside. “Getting outside and being in the sun can be so restorative and a great start,” he said.

7,970 TOTAL WEEKLY CHECK-INS 43 GROUP FITNESS CLASSES

RESTORATION

Restoration is a crucial component of whole-person wellness. One of the goals of the wellness center is to offer spaces and experiences that encourage students to slow down, rest and restore themselves. “Physical health is a great way to restore, but we also offer so many other aspects that relate to holistic wellness,” said Assistant Director of the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center Matthew McIver. “We have mental health opportunities with the help of counselors, social health through connecting with friends online in our E-Sports Lounge, mental and emotional health with a rejuvenation room with

Data from September 2025.

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and student employees from these offices. I spoke with several students who were telling me how they were eager to bring their friends to the upcoming events and resources they were able to learn about through the fair. Hosting the fair was especially meaningful because it not only promoted the building’s resources, but also showed that we’re really a hub for all kinds of wellness on campus. It highlighted how our space can support different offices and groups while giving students a chance to discover and connect with resources that fit their own wellness journey.” For individuals looking to reinforce their own sense of community, Clark says openness and consistency are the key. “Even just showing up in shared spaces, like studying in a shared space versus your own dorm room, or attending a group fitness class versus working out on your own, creates more opportunities for those chance encounters that often turn into real connections. On top of that, staying consistent in working through the discomfort that can often come when approaching someone new or extending invitations to others to join, is so important. Most people are looking for connection just as much as you are, so putting yourself out there, even in small ways, can make a big difference over time.”

Palomar Health Student Wellness Center Month-At-A-Glance September 2025 29,567 CHECK-INS 1,560 TOURS 258 HOSTED EVENTS

LEARNING The wellness center is a living classroom for holistic well-being. Through diverse programs, routines and experiential learning, students gain both practical skills and self-awareness, connecting their wellness practices to personal growth, academic success and meaningful social interactions. “Students’ learning in the traditional classroom is so important, and their well-being is an important part of that, and we want our community to learn that connection,” said McIver. “The center offers so many ways to learn about how those are tied together. One example is our Group Fitness program, which can teach our community teamwork and engagement, giving and receiving feedback, commitment and overcoming challenges.” The whole wellness team at USD is committed to educating and offering support for the campus community. “A really beautiful part of this center is that we can use this space to host and/or partner with the full wellness team to offer those opportunities. We want to be intentional about the opportunities we offer and make sure that there is something for everybody to participate in,” McIver said. “One of my student employees, Kendall, actually said something that stuck with me. She said, ‘I’m learning that relaxation is productive’ and I think that is an incredible concept for people to understand. Learning to take time for yourself, practice self-care, take a break … those are all necessary to thrive and succeed in the classroom and in your daily life.”

CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY

The center really focuses on creating opportunities for shared experiences, said Associate Director of Health Promotion Anne Clark. “Whether it’s through a group fitness class, a meditation or self-love workshop, or something more creative like a crafting session, the events held in the center are designed to make wellness accessible and social,” Clark said. Even beyond the programming, the physical space itself is intentionally set up to bring people together and make it easy for students to connect with one another. “There’s a lot of open space and lounge-style seating both inside and outside of the building — giving students space to study, eat and socialize in the same areas where they can also engage in more structured wellness activities.” The university’s Be Well Fair in September was the perfect example of this pillar. “The event brought together a wide range of wellness resources, and students got to connect directly with staff

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WELLNESS BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS By Elena Gomez B efore the doors to the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center opened in April, Kimmel Yeager arrived several months earlier for her newly created position as the facility’s STUDENT AMBASSADORS LEAD THE WAY IN CAMPUS WELLNESS ADVOCACY

the team found their first cohort of wellness ambassadors who met their vision for the program: well-connected students who were interested in the health and wellness field, and who already understood some of the wellness services offered on campus. “They’re not expected to be experts in counseling or disability services, or dining services, or anything like that, but they will be able to get all the general information to be able to help students navigate to the correct information,” Yeager said. Nursing student Kaleena Jezycki saw the call for the Student Wellness Ambassador Program and jumped at the opportunity. As the only graduate student in the program, Jezycki was looking for new ways to get more involved on campus — and to utilize her nursing background. “I think this is just a great opportunity to learn for myself how to provide better care,” Jezycki said. “I also think this is a great opportunity for the nursing school, in general, to get more involved on campus because there are so many things that our students are eager to do.”

executive director. From counseling services to fitness gear, Yeager was tasked with knowing the ins and outs of all the wellness offerings at USD. The problem? There was a lot to learn. “One of the reasons I took the job here at the university is because of how great USD already is in terms of wellness services,” said Yeager. “And then I got here … and it was hard to figure out what was where, even for me as a new employee.” That’s when she got the idea to launch the Student Wellness Ambassador Program, a student run leadership team that would help disseminate information about the USD wellness resources to the campus community. Alongside Serena Gandara, director of Campus Recreation, Matt McIver, assistant director of Wellness Center operations and Anne Cass, director of the Center for Health and Wellness Promotion,

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LUKE FINNEY Engineering

Julia Sciallo, senior psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences, said her longtime passion for wellness and her desire to help others find health-related resources on campus, led her to apply. She noticed that many of her peers didn’t know where to go for certain wellness resources — and she was hoping to find a solution for that. “I kind of viewed the role as being the face of wellness on campus and being someone my peers can come to talk with, and hopefully, feel comfortable around when it comes to their well-being,” said Sciallo. “I feel like being a part of this student program allows me to show up for my community in a meaningful way.” Luke Finney, a senior industrial and systems engineering student in the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, has a passion for holistic wellness, and was already working on the university fitness operations team before joining the ambassador program. “Everything we’re doing is for the students,” said Finney. “We can direct students to the different (wellness) opportunities we have to offer. I think it’s super cool and a big honor to be a part of it,” he added. Just before the spring semester was over, the student wellness ambassadors met to write their team’s constitution, discussing what they wanted their student-forward program to look like. They decided to create committees to cover every aspect of wellness on campus and to connect ambassadors with areas they’re already passionate about, like nutrition and physical fitness. The group is also hoping to connect with as many student organizations as possible to spread the word about the health and wellness opportunities available to students and the larger Torero community. “We’ve talked about partnering with sports teams and with different clubs on campus, like the Alcalá Club. We want to make sure we are celebrating cultural events like mental health months,” Jezycki said. “We want to host at least two events each month focused on different aspects of wellness. We want to speak to classes. We want to do everything we can to make wellness normalized on campus,” she added.

One of Sciallo’s main priorities for the program is to help fellow students understand the importance of developing an everyday wellness toolkit. These tools are vital today — especially given new reports, like one from the American Council on Education, which found that 65% of college students shared they needed help in the past year for emotional or mental health issues. “These wellness resources are not something you tap into when life gets difficult and it’s finals season and you’re feeling really stressed,” said Sciallo. “They’re something you can tap into even when things are going well and life is good. I think it’s important that students know that they’re not weak for tapping into these resources, but rather, pretty brave.” Finney says he thinks building a community that values and promotes wellness will be a big focus in the months and years to come. “You want to build a community, and I’m super honored to be part of this team that can be that reference point,” said Finney. Sciallo and Finney shared that one common struggle they’ve noticed among their peers is dealing with the stress that comes while balancing schoolwork, a job, clubs and social time. That same report from the American Council on Education also discovered that 76% of college students reported they had experienced a moderate or high level of stress within the last month, when the survey was conducted. It’s a pain point the wellness ambassadors will keep in mind while planning out their programming for the year. “I think it’s really empowering because we know what the struggle is like,” Jezycki said. “We can relate best to each other. We can be a point of reference, a point of contact, a trusted person whom our peers can come to and say, ‘Hey, I’m really struggling with my mental health. How can I find help?’” Having students on the ground connecting with their peers, learning what they need in wellness resources and listening to their struggles allows the student wellness ambassadors to hit the ground running in the next year and provide wellness-centered programming — built by students, for students.

AT THE EDGE OF IT ALL

A Professor’s Research into Understanding How Our Memories Form As our bodies move through time and space, how do our minds? For Jena Hales, PhD, the answer to that question lies in our memories. There are forms of what some might call “muscle memory,” such as learning to ride a bike, that become subconscious. But there are also experiential memories that we can consciously recall in our minds. Our memories — imprinted with a kind of metadata about where and when we experienced them — inform everything we do. When we make decisions in the present, those memories guide the actions we take. Similarly, they give us the power to plan ahead by imaging future scenarios and preparing for them. The research is a lifelong passion of Hales, and gives us a more fundamental understanding of how we interact with and navigate our world. “Basic research is so critical for us to be able to understand how our brain is working,” she said. “It’s what we’re doing all the time, and yet there is still so much

“We know that all of our past memories, when we recall some sort of event from our past — they are all grounded in space and time. We can come up with where we were when something was occurring, we have some type of general time stamp of when it happened.” — Jena Hales, PhD MAPPING MEMORY In this episode of At the Edge of It All , Jena Hales, PhD, associate professor and program director of Neuroscience, Cognition and Behavior at the University of San Diego’s College of Arts and Sciences, discusses her work which explores how our memories are anchored in both space and time. Hales takes us through the science behind what makes memory such a defining part of who we are and how this research intersects with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

about the brain that isn’t understood.” If you’re wondering how these insights could impact our daily lives, consider

KALEENA JEZYCKI Nursing

this: If memories guide all of our decision-making, what happens if the ability to recall them is disrupted? Knowing how our brains store and access memories, Hales says, is key to figuring out ways to slow or prevent

diseases that disrupt this process, such as Alzheimer’s.

At the Edge of It All is a University of San Diego podcast where USD experts speak on topics and stories that impact you and the broader community.

Hales hopes her research can help contribute to the treatment of some of the world’s most debilitating memory-related disorders.

JULIA SCIALLO Psychology

Download episodes wherever you get your podcasts or visit sandiego.edu/at-the-edge .

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FAITH IN ACTION

“Taking part in the Torero Promise represents commitment — not only from USD providing financial resources, but giving me the opportunity to reach my full potential,” he said. “I want people to know that my journey to USD has been that of persistence. Coming from a low-income high school, I grew up with financial struggles. My parents would tell me education was the path forward, so I worked tirelessly to achieve good grades and create opportunities for myself. Meeting the Torero Promise’s GPA requirements [and] getting to USD represents more than just being accepted into a university — it’s the result of years of consistent effort.” “I think the Torero Promise is one of the very best things about USD,” adds Lovette Colyer. “Too many people have a sense that USD is the university on the hill, for families with a lot of resources. We’re so much more than that. USD is a place where students from various backgrounds can come and have an amazing experience. It’s made USD better.” This opportunity is a “game changer” for Rivera, who sees his students actively thinking about their futures and the career paths they want to pursue. “It’s thrilling to see students not only get excited about USD and go through the admissions process and get accepted, but then to see them afterward still smiling and knowing they made the right decision by going to USD.” It’s also been a rewarding experience for USD administrators, who have watched the program successfully grow since 2017. “When we first started the Torero Promise, a lot of families in the high schools didn’t really understand it, didn’t know what it was and didn’t factor that into their college search process. More and more now, the schools are aware of it, the families are aware of it and it’s something more students are thinking about as they discern their college path,” said Lovette-Colyer. “The Torero Promise is a way in which we invite the community to come to us, literally, to be students at the university, to make sure they have those pathways and those supports to become a part of the USD student body. It’s a manifestation of our anchor institution identity.” — Allyson Meyer ’16 (BA), ’21 (MBA)

A Pr mise Kept How USD is Transforming Futures Through Faith and Opportunity

For more than 75 years, the University of San Diego has been a beacon — an educational institution rooted in beauty, goodness and truth — bringing to its campus global citizens, community Changemakers and lifelong learners. In 2017, USD’s role as an anchor institution in the San Diego and Catholic communities became even stronger with the establishment of the Torero Promise. “The Torero Promise is a guaranteed admissions program for students from local Catholic high schools who meet a certain academic threshold, as well as a promise that the university will provide the financial aid their family needs to make it possible for them to come to the university,” said Vice President of Mission Integration Michael Lovette-Colyer, PhD. “It reflects a contemporary manifestation of the original vision of USD’s founders, Bishop Buddy and Mother Hill. They imagined USD as serving the local Catholic community, which back in the 1940s was instrumental in raising the resources and providing the support for the university to be built. It’s a nice way in which we go back and honor that part of the original vision.” The cohort has grown to a network of 10 Catholic schools, with the addition of Cristo Rey San Diego High School in 2022. “I was standing in the hallway [at Cristo Rey], and I heard someone scream from the office. They came out and said, ‘we got the Torero Promise for all of our students,’” said Cristo Rey High School President David Rivera ’96 (BA). “It’s like winning a

championship. It was exciting, but it was not unexpected, knowing the people at USD, knowing the educators who are there and knowing the charism of the school which is something they take to heart.” Eligible students must have a weighted, USD recalculated GPA of 3.8, and have taken at least six semesters of classes at the honors level or higher. For Rivera, the opportunity is an “absolute lifeline” for his students, who can pursue an academic, faith-based educational experience just minutes from home. “Cristo Rey is at St. Jude’s Church in the middle of the lowest income area of San Diego County. It’s about a 12- to 14-minute drive to USD,” said Rivera. For USD first-year student and Cristo Rey alumna Victoria Castro, the Torero Promise made attending college and pursuing her career goals possible. “Taking part in the Torero Promise means represent[ing] USD and my high school because if it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t even be at USD, or honestly, college in general,” she said. With plans to pursue a business marketing path, Castro recognizes that the program opened up new opportunities for her. “I wasn’t thinking very big, and I didn’t have [many] expectations for my future because I doubted myself a lot. Once I got to [Cristo Rey], that changed and USD has always been in front of me.” For Cristo Rey alumnus and USD computer science sophomore Cavin Nguyen, the Torero Promise has been an incredibly impactful experience.

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TORERO SPOTLIGHT

WITH COACHES AND TEAMMATES BY HIS SIDE, OLIVER TARVET TURNS DEDICATION INTO A WIMBLEDON BREAKTHROUGH CENTRE COURT

FRONT AND

Tarvet internalized that and then some. Ranked No. 719 in the world entering the tournament, he rattled off wins against pros ranked hundreds of spots higher, clawing through qualifying before making the main draw. The run drew international headlines, and a lot of buzz back in San Diego. Once he finally took the court against Alcaraz, Tarvet looked over his shoulder to see his USD coaches and teammates right there in the front row, cheering him on. Keckley, along with several teammates, had flown out for the big match. The support was all Tarvet could ask for. Competing at such a high level isn’t so much about skill — the world’s best players are a head above, but everyone at Wimbledon can count themselves among the world’s best. The difference, Tarvet said, is what playing at that level demands of you mentally and emotionally. With his training done and his support system in place, Tarvet battled Alcaraz. In one set, he took back the point multiple times. ESPN’s announcers marveled at how a student-athlete was performing in the sport’s premier event against one of the best players in the world. Ultimately, Alcaraz came out on top. But Tarvet won the adoration of the home crowd, which gave him a rousing applause, and the respect of his competitor. “I just love his game, to be honest,” Alcaraz said. “The level that he played in his first match on Centre Court, I know that’s really difficult, and he played great tennis.” When he returned to the United States, Tarvet’s run garnered extensive media coverage, and he even threw out the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game. The experience was a dream come true for Tarvet, but it’s only the beginning. He hopes to return to Wimbledon. First, though, he’ll return to USD for his senior season. There’s still work to be done, he says. Still room to grow. — Steven Covella

Oliver Tarvet is a two-time All-American, a two-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year and has competed in pressure cooker situations against college tennis’ elite. During the match of a lifetime, the court dimensions were the same, his racket was the same and even the locale was just an hour from where he grew up. But as he lined up to take his first serve on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, there was one big difference. The world was watching. Tarvet had an incredible junior season, leading the Toreros to a top-10 ranking and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He hadn’t lost a match since November. And now, an underdog run through Wimbledon culminated with a main draw match against the world’s No. 2 player, Carlos Alcaraz. “I think it took a little bit of time until I realized the magnitude and how many people were watching it,” Tarvet said, after returning to San Diego. “And I feel like it was kind of a good thing that I was a little bit ignorant to that.” It’s a moment Tarvet had been preparing for his entire life, and one that became possible as he grew at USD. “It was definitely a lot of work that got put in before Wimbledon. I’m not only talking like a month out. I’m talking years out,” Tarvet said, on USD’s At the Edge of It All podcast. “It’s something I definitely credit to USD, because I feel like I was a

pretty average recruit and tennis player … but I’m a lot further along now than I was three years ago when I came here.” Tarvet was recruited by head coach Ryan Keckley and joined the Toreros in 2022. He had a strong first-year season and then took a big leap his second year, ranking as high as No. 3 in the country in singles and earning All-American honors. “In high school, I wasn’t ready with my tennis and mentally I was too immature to take on the pro tour. Going to college has been the greatest decision I’ve ever made with tennis. As long as you find the right teammates and the right school, you have 10 other guys who want the best for you. That’s really special,” Tarvet said. Tarvet is a workhorse — getting up early every morning to practice and to get workouts in — something that Keckley takes pride in. He and his coaches set a standard for the players, but they’re the ones who run with it, and that pays dividends during big moments. “We talk about it all the time. When it’s Friday and you’d rather be at the beach, and you’re working as hard as you are and getting extra reps in, that’s when the winning’s done,” Keckley said, with a smile. This summer, those same USD coaches were by Tarvet’s side as he competed at Wimbledon. Keckley was in constant communication, and Toreros assistant coach Alex Funkhouser flew to London to help Tarvet train. He helped keep Tarvet sharp physically, but also worked to get Tarvet’s mind right as he stepped onto the biggest stage of his career. “(Funkhouser) was like ‘I get you’re in front of a crowd. I get it’s Wimbledon. You’re still playing a tennis match,’” Tarvet recalled. It was valuable advice. “For me, I still hit a serve every other game and I still hit a return every other game — that part doesn’t change.”

Top clockwise: Oliver Tarvet pumps his fist while celebrating a victory. Tarvet fixes the grip on his racket handle. Tarvet celebrates a point against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain on day three of The Championships, Wimbledon 2025. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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ANS WER ING THE CALL The Humanitarian Journey of Gabriel Richardson

By Matthew Piechalak

Photos: Alé Delgado and Gabriel Richardson

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who had since earned a dual undergraduate degree in international business and international development. From aiding hospital overflow patients in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic, to supporting senior operations management in Liberia, to vetting local suppliers in South Sudan, the work piqued Richardson’s growing interest in the logistical side of humanitarian work — vital work that many people don’t naturally think about when they think of international aid organizations. “When I first got to South Sudan, we vetted roughly 150 suppliers in seven months,” Richardson recalled. “We needed to revamp the whole supplier database and I got a really good grasp about the capacity of vendors and how to recommend to leadership legitimate suppliers for procurement.” “Although it was an adventure living out in the bush of South Sudan, the best part of my job was supporting locals.” The logistical oversight was critical because there are a lot of nefarious business activities in places like Juba, the capital of South Sudan. “It was fascinating to see the tactics they use to try and gain awards from organizations,” Richardson said. “Juba is an NGO city, basically, so vendors are extremely reliant on the funding and you start to see how they can manipulate the system. It was an interesting challenge to come up with policies to mitigate those risks.” Success through the apprenticeship led to the organization creating a new position for Richardson to stay in the country — emergency response operations coordinator. Through the role, he was able to continue his work in logistics/ procurement and also spend a lot of time training local staff. “Although it was an adventure living out in the bush of South Sudan, the best part of my job was supporting locals. I always say that I’m just a visitor. I’m going to do as much as I can to support those that grow

“When they need someone with a logistics, operations and procurement skill set, they’ll call me,” he said. Richardson is a 2025 graduate of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies’ Master of Science in Humanitarian Action and the recipient of the school’s prestigious John Patterson Humanitarian Promise Award. He received the award for his “unwavering commitment to humanitarian service in crisis zones around the world and the U.S., where he has supported displaced communities and advanced peace building efforts.” The reward is both validation of the work Richardson has completed, and a way to remain accountable and ambitious as he moves forward in his career. “It’s a promise to continue doing the same quality of work as I move forward into the future.” HUMANITARIAN BEGINNINGS Samaritan’s Purse recruited Richardson in 2018 for a photojournalism internship in South Sudan. At the time an undergraduate at Point Loma Nazarene University, he instantly fell in love with both humanitarian work and the east African country. Following the internship, he joined the organization’s two-year apprenticeship program, which invests in young professionals and integrates them into the global humanitarian aid network. Richardson was slotted into the operations training track, which provided real-world, hands-on experience in logistics, field procurement and operations management. The work was a natural fit for Richardson,

“ Running

The phrase is central to the mission and ethos of the international aid organization, Samaritan’s Purse, and a personal motto adopted by Gabriel Richardson ’25 (MS). Richardson, 29, can be described as many things — a San Diegan, a skateboarder, a surfer, a photojournalist, a Christian, a Torero. But ultimately, at his core, he is a humanitarian. It’s a label that has defined both his professional work and his personal projects. During the past six years, Richardson has traveled to more than two dozen countries and deployed to assist with relief efforts from both natural and man-made disasters to countries such as South Sudan, Sudan, Liberia, Brazil, Syria and Israel. “We are always trying to work ourselves out of a job, because ultimately, NGOs (non-governmental organizations) should always be temporarily helping transition from disaster to recovery to sustainable empowerment for locals to be even more resilient than before,” Richardson passionately described while sitting in the backyard of his childhood home in the Allied Gardens neighborhood of San Diego. A PERSONAL PROMISE Richardson is back in his hometown for a short sabbatical. It’s Aug. 4, and in less than 24 hours, he will depart for Israel to assist with relief nutrition programming in Gaza to support a war-torn and starving Palestinian population. The short-term deployment is one of more than a half dozen Richardson has been sent on as part of the Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). to the fire.”

up there,” Richardson said. “They know their culture and their people, and investing in them and seeing sustainability … it’s the most rewarding part to teach people the skills and then seeing their progression.” A CIRCUITOUS PATH “I had never thought about this work until college,” Richardson said. An avid skateboarder as a teenager, Richardson had a pair of run-ins with the law that provided the necessary scare that would eventually lead him to dedicating his life to helping others. At age 17, he was arrested for violating curfew while skateboarding in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. To complete community service hours, he got involved in homeless ministries at Point Loma Nazarene and ended up leading the ministry the following year. A year later, Richardson and some friends faced police charges after trespassing to skateboard on convention center grounds and accidentally damaging a golf cart.

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