University of San Diego Magazine - Fall 2025

AROUND ALCALÁ PARK

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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