2024 Dornsife Scholar Award Recipients

Major:     Philosophy, Politics and Law
Minors:  Musical Studies–Classical Voice  &  Law and Public Policy

“As a Dornsife student, I was given many incredible opportunities to enrich my time at USC. From faculty connections and research projects to academic awards that supported my ability to pursue interdisciplinary passions, Dornsife helped me excel academically and professionally. Through Dornsife classes and encouragement from professors, I discovered my passion for law and public policy. The research and internship opportunities that followed enabled me to focus specifically on increasing access to legal aid. These experiences shaped my career aspirations and solidified my commitment to making an impact in this area of law. After graduation, I will research women’s access to legal aid in Bangalore, India, through a Fulbright Scholarship. After, I plan to attend law school and continue working to increase access to justice. Being a Dornsife student was a defining part of my time at USC. I am grateful to this program and faculty for their unwavering support.”

Majors: International Relations  &  Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change

“USC Dornsife not only nurtured me as a burgeoning scholar, but helped fulfill a personal quest for knowledge I have pursued since childhood. Through Dornsife programming, I traveled to Kyrgyzstan to investigate environmental degradation, conducted research on religious transformation among Roma and Sinti Holocaust survivors, and completed an internship with U.S. Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. These opportunities taught me the power of dissent in the face of injustice, truth amid uncertainty, and courage in defiance of fear. Reflecting on my undergraduate years, I am confronted by a world entrenched in chaos, but through my education and experiences, I am inspired and strengthened by an unshakeable hope for our future. I intend to carry these lessons into my graduate studies and eventual career in the international development and humanitarian aid sphere and aim to empower future generations to make our world a more inclusive and compassionate place through education, justice and peace.”

Majors:  Human Biology  &  Global Studies

“As a student in USC Dornsife, I was not only encouraged to entertain a plethora of academic and extracurricular pursuits, but I was also given ample support and direction in achieving my goals within them, especially from my amazing professors. From writing not one, but two theses centered on women of color and their reproductive health, to studying abroad in Mauritius, to starting my own floral and event design business, to helping grow and expand the Middle Eastern North African Student Assembly (MENASA) as Co-Director of Programming, I have engaged in every aspect of what it means to serve my community. I am excited to continue my work as Integrated Community Solutions Co-Chair in the African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative under the Department of Public Health and hope to obtain an MD/PhD in medical anthropology with the goal of a career as a Maternal/Fetal Medicine Specialist.”

Major:  Psychology
Minor:  Education and Society

“As a Dornsife student, I have had the opportunity to engage in groundbreaking child development research, work with students in LAUSD public schools, and travel abroad twice to collaborate and learn from international academic communities. Throughout my undergraduate career, Dornsife’s mission has been a constant reminder to embrace knowledge and serve the community within and outside the bounds of a classroom. Starting next year, I will be pursuing a Ph.D. in school psychology. I look forward to building off of research that I started at Dornsife, combining my interests in early communication, engagement, curiosity, motivation, and socio-emotional skills. My ultimate goal through research and practice is to provide as many students as possible with resources and tools to develop metacognitive understandings of their minds, learning needs, and personal strengths. Dornsife has provided me with the strongest foundation to dive into academia and empirically-driven practice with an interdisciplinary, global mindset.”

Major:  Biological Sciences
Minor:  Computer Programming

“As a Dornsife Scholar, I’ve embraced an interdisciplinary approach that has profoundly shaped my understanding of the biological sciences and ignited my passion for medicine. Dornsife’s flexibility allowed me to explore diverse interests and even study abroad in Korea. The rigorous curriculum, like Freshman Science Honors and Thematic Option, challenged me to think critically, preparing me to serve my community and make a positive impact on the world. My experience conducting research at the Zhang Lab has contributed to my first publication and senior thesis. Before entering medical school, I plan to take a gap year to gain more hands-on experience in the medical field and take time to explore more of my interests. This will further solidify my commitment to a career where I can combine my scientific knowledge with compassionate, patient-centered care. I’m deeply grateful to all my professors and for the opportunities that Dornsife has provided me.”

Majors:  International Relations  &  Art History

“As a USC Dornsife student, I have had the opportunity to build strong connections, challenge my perspective, and grow as both a student and teacher. I was able to explore two vastly different majors due to Dornsife’s interdisciplinary approach and build a strong academic foundation for my professional pursuits. At USC I have participated in various extracurriculars and internships, each made possible by my education in Dornsife. Some of the most impactful of these experiences were interning with the U.S. Department of State, working as a Research Assistant for Dr. Starr, volunteering with the Teaching International Relations program, and being a leader in student organizations including the Model United Nations team, Glimpse from the Globe, and the Global Policy Institute. I will begin studying at the University of Oxford to pursue an MSc in Latin American Studies, and plan to embark on a career in foreign policy and international relations.”

Major:  Biological Sciences
Minor:  Business

“My academic pursuits within USC Dornsife have made it clear to me that my humanity is bound with others’. Through extensive scientific and general education coursework, academic research, and hands-on philanthropic work, I have not only learned foundational scientific information, but also how racial injustice in one sector can affect other sectors, such as access to healthcare. Understanding the effects of racial injustice first-hand has helped me realize that I want to serve others by combining my love for the life sciences with my passion for battling disparity. My Dornsife education has inspired me to become a physician who promotes health equity by providing affordable care, creating systems of equitable care, and leveraging cutting-edge technology. I hope to become a physician who is able to characterize disease through the lens of a patient and their unique intersectional needs and be a part of healthcare systems that serve under-resourced communities.”

Majors:  Neuroscience  &  Spanish

“My journey as a Dornsife student has been transformative, shaping my understanding and passion for the medical field. Driven by my enthusiasm for my coursework, I had the opportunity to delve deeper into neuroscience through research with the Dickman Lab and educational outreach with USC Interaxon. Simultaneously, my Spanish major opened my eyes to the power of language in building trust and meaningful patient connections, inspiring my desire to continue creating initiatives to improve healthcare accessibility. As I graduate from USC Dornsife and begin my next chapter at Harvard Medical School, I will forever be grateful for the insights, experiences, and support I have received during my  time at USC.”

Major:  Interdisciplinary Major–Learning Sciences

“My time at USC Dornsife has nurtured my love of learning. I was able to explore my many interests by creating my own major through the interdisciplinary major program. Through that pursuit, I was reminded that true scholarship is rooted in a deep desire for the betterment of mankind. For me, this has manifested as a desire to pursue research. I aim to earn a Ph.D. in Human Development & Learning to explore how personal philosophies, worldviews, and compassion develop through educational experiences. My pull to this field is that while people largely don’t have control over where they grow up and with whom education, becomes a great space for enacting meaningful change.”

Majors:  Applied and Computational Mathematics, Economics and Data Science  &  Religious Studies  &  Global Studies

“I am honored to be a student at USC Dornsife, which offers a diverse and inclusive college experience crucial for my personal development. During my time here, I have learned so much from our amazing faculty and fellow students, who have inspired me to grow academically and professionally. With an academic background in both the Humanities and Natural Sciences, thanks to the variety of courses available at Dornsife, I am now equipped with the ability to better understand this complex world through different lenses, thereby encouraging myself to become a responsible and competent global citizen. Beyond graduation, I will push myself harder in graduate school and academia, going forward with my passion in social science research and make positive impact for our community.”