2025 Dornsife Scholar Award Recipients

Major: Cognitive Science; Narrative Studies

“As a Dornsife Scholar, I explore the intersection of cognitive science and narrative studies to understand how storytelling shapes identity, memory, and healing. At USC, I conducted research at the Brain and Creativity Institute and completed an Honors Thesis under Dr. Jonas Kaplan on narrative identity and autobiographical memory. Dornsife opened doors for me—from supporting my research through the Provost Undergraduate Research Fellowship to sending me to Mauritius for a summer program exploring language, identity, and cultural integration. Outside of academics, I led the Shaukat Initiative, connecting USC students with high schoolers in South Central Los Angeles, and was a founding member of Students for South Asia, helping advocate for and establish a South Asian Studies minor. I will be pursuing a Master’s in Counseling Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, where I plan to continue exploring narrative therapy and trauma-informed care. My long-term goal is to bring culturally grounded, story-centered mental health practices to India and beyond.”

Major: Political Science
Minor: Social Work and Juvenile Justice

“Dornsife’s commitment to experiential learning has empowered me to leverage my lived experiences as a first-generation Mexican American to directly serve the communities that have raised me. Whether forming partnerships with local elementary schools to offer tutoring and college-readiness workshops or conducting qualitative research on how under-resourced, high-achieving youth draw on their community cultural wealth to build strong self-concepts, I have grounded my work in service and advocacy. As an aspiring civil rights lawyer, I’ve had the opportunity to sharpen my public speaking and legal advocacy skills through programs like Mock Trial, while also working with premier civil rights organizations such as the ACLU to advocate for better living conditions within county jails. Through Dornsife’s Prison Education Project, I’ve helped coordinate college classes inside correctional facilities and contributed to building a more inclusive, justice-oriented campus community. As a Dornsife Scholar, I hope to continue my educational journey and apply to law school in the near future.”

Major: International Relations; Journalism

“As a Dornsife Scholar, my research includes rise of right-wing nationalism as a reaction to hyper-globalization with Dr. Steven Lamy, former Director of the School of International Relations, and transitional justice in Uzbekistan studying political prisoners with Professor Steve Swerdlow, USC Center for International Studies. My research studied ethnic conflict in the post-Soviet Eurasia, including Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus. I contributed to course planning and developing Maymester proposals for Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan and Armenia-Georgia. During Maymester in Kyrgyzstan, I discovered my passion for journalism, researching press freedom. I served USC’s IR student and faculty community through a number of roles—President of Glimpse from the Globe, USC’s foreign affairs publication; Programming Director of Global Policy Institute; and Managing Editor of the Southern California International Review. I serve as the Executive Editor of Annenberg Media. I hope to pursue a career in media and foreign affairs, with a candidature to the master’s program at the University of Cambridge.”

Majors: International Relations; Italian
Minor: Cinematic Arts

“Dornsife has continually empowered me to pursue each of my academic interests. I explored the intricacies of language, which ultimately made it a central introspective force in my life. I engaged in my academic pursuits outside of the classroom through the Teaching International Relations Program, and the internship experiences through the Italian department. Dornsife’s extracurricular activities allowed me to further develop my skills. I took on a leadership position in Model UN where I gained an attuned compassion for teaching. One of my most meaningful experiences was serving as editor-in-chief for Trojan Bloom where I was able to help cultivate a vibrant language learning community, and encourage creative discovery through exploration of language. Currently, I am a Fulbright semi-finalist. I will pursue a Master’s degree in Cinema Studies at NYU. As I move through my life, I will carry with me the fervor and curiosity for intellectualism that Dornsife has instilled in me.”

Majors: Neuroscience; Art History

“USC Dornsife’s value for interdisciplinary study has allowed me to fully pursue my diverse passions, bridging the disciplines of neuroscience, art history, and medicine. I have culminated my studies in my two honors theses, “Lateralized Arcuate Fasciculus Diffusivity and Childhood Music Training” and “Les Nabis and the Revolution of the Mind,” both of which investigate the intricate relationship between the arts, the human experience, and the brain. Beyond the classroom, I engaged in advocacy for representation in the medical field as the president of Latino Students in Medicine, made music with patients and hospital staff as vice president of Remedy Through Music, volunteered as a counselor for Crisis Text Line, and developed my skills as a researcher in the Brain and Music Lab. As I look ahead, I aspire to develop innovative approaches to mental health care as a physician-scientist, integrating scientific discovery with clinical practice.”

Major: History
Minor: Natural Science

“USC Dornsife has accorded me the opportunity to pursue my diverse and interconnected interests. With a background in the Humanities and Natural Sciences, Dornsife has enriched my experience and prepared me to pursue resources here and beyond. Through a Foreign Language Area Studies fellowship, I studied Portuguese in Brazil, which in turn helped me with conducting archival research in Spain and Portugal for my history honors thesis on Dictators and Disease: Polio During the Regimes of Francisco Franco and António de Oliveira Salazar that was supported by a USC Foulke Research and Travel Grant. Dornsife has been instrumental in my ability to explore history, the sciences, and public health. As I pursue my Master of Public Health degree at USC, the invaluable connections and relationships that I have fostered continue to greatly nurture my development as a historian, public health professional, and most importantly as a person.”

Major: Biochemistry

“As a Dornsife student, I gained hands-on experience in biomedical research, developing an ultrasound-activated contrast agent for urinary imaging. Thanks to Dornsife programs like the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship and the Women in Science & Engineering Fellowship, my interdisciplinary research was eventually published in the Journal of Pediatric Urology. I also led STEM computing workshops for special education students in local schools after securing a $3,000 grant through the Joint Educational Project at USC Dornsife. These experiences have solidified my dedication to Dornsife’s mission of using scholarship to serve others, which I will continue as a clinical trials coordinator during my gap year before medical school. I carry the Dornsife commitment to service with me, aspiring to become a doctor who not only identifies patient challenges but also develops lasting solutions through both research and clinical care.”

Majors: Human Biology

“Being a USC Dornsife student has been an immensely transformative experience, exposing me to an interdisciplinary education and opportunities that have shaped both my career aspirations and personal growth. From working as an EMT both on and off campus to conducting cancer research at CSI-Cancer and co-founding a nonprofit organization with another talented Dornsife student, I’ve been inspired to pursue a medical career as a physician—a career in which I hope to not only treat patients directly, but also leave a lasting impact on the field. As I go on to medical school next year, I’ll continue to reflect on the amazing memories I’ve made at USC.”

Major: Psychology
Minor: Hip-Hop; Street and Social Dance Forms

“Dornsife’s well-roundedness served as the backbone to my intellectual and personal development throughout my time at USC. With academic, social, and research opportunities that exceeded my needs, I was able to learn and grow in ways that will help me for years to come. For just some examples: I worked in three research labs, traveled abroad to Mauritius for a Julymester program, gained invaluable mentorship from faculty and alumni, and formed everlasting friendships and academic partnerships. Following my graduation at USC, I plan to further my studies in psychology. My primary goal is to help improve research in the field by deeply examining methodological and statistical techniques. My primary substantive interest lies in improving our treatment of highly prevalent mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression.”

Major(s): Applied Economics and Econometrics; Political Science

“At USC Dornsife, I have embraced numerous opportunities to grow as an interdisciplinary scholar, build meaningful connections, and deepen my passion for social science. Conducting research alongside Prof. Jeb Barnes, Prof. Pamela Starr, and at the Center for Economic and Social Research has enhanced my ability to apply theories and methods in meaningful, real-world contexts. Amid today’s climate of heightened polarization and rapidly evolving regulations, I remain committed to addressing these challenges through rigorous scholarship and active community engagement. My honors thesis on Affirmative Action bridges research and advocacy by examining the empirical impacts of SFFA v. Harvard. Additionally, through USC CALIS, I teach political economy in local high schools, empowering students with critical thinking and analytical skills. As I pursue my Progressive Master’s Degree next year, I look forward to further preparing for a career at the intersection of economics, law, and public policy.”