2026 Dornsife Scholar Award Recipients

Major: Narrative Studies
Minors: Media Economics and Entrepreneurship & Screenwriting

Dornsife has allowed me to pursue an interdisciplinary coursework that has greatly impacted my creative and research work. As a Narrative Studies major, my classes spanned departments such as English, Spanish, American Studies, Islamic Studies (Religion), and Art History. I studied abroad through Dornsife’s USC Madrid program, immersing myself in Spanish-language literature and media. I have also participated in research, expanding my Diverse Literature Access Program based on my bilingual children’s book “The Sparkling Path/El Camino Brillante,” which brought diverse literature to hundreds of K-2 students. My involvement has spanned organizations like SparkSC, Delta Kappa Alpha cinema society, and Dornsife’s Center for Languages and Culture. I plan to use my USC Dornsife education to channel my passion for bringing more diverse media to the publishing and film industries. Following graduation, I will start my two-year International Joint Master’s in Children’s Literature, Media, and Cultural Entrepreneurship across three EU universities.

Major: Biological Sciences
Minor: East Asian Languages and Cultures

As a student of Dornsife, I have been granted a plethora of opportunities that have allowed me to pursue all of my academic interests. In the Pratt Lab, I gained hands-on experience researching how O-GlcNAcylation affects lens proteins and contributes to cataract formation. I presented my findings at the BUGS Finale Symposium, where I was the sole recipient of the Dang Family Endowment Scholarship. One of the most impactful experiences I had at Dornsife was my Maymester trip to Taiwan, during which I both cultivated my Mandarin skills and enriched myself in the culture by interacting with the locals. Beyond my academics, as the Treasurer for USC Cancer Relief, I led initiatives such as partnering with Gift of Life to swab potential donors for life-saving transplants. After graduation, I will continue to pursue my Master’s in Biopharmaceutical Marketing at USC while simultaneously launching my professional career at GE Healthcare.

Major: Neuroscience

As a Neuroscience major, I have pursued experiences that shaped my interest in research, mentorship, and service. I worked in the Han Lab studying whether poor financial decision making is an early indicator of cognitive decline. I also conducted research with Dr. Barakat examining how bilingualism influences executive function. Alongside research, I competed in Policy and British Parliamentary debate. I mentored other debaters by serving as an assistant coach for my former high school and as the Director of Curriculum at USC. I also engaged in community service through Share a Meal, distributing food and water to people experiencing homelessness. During summers, I strengthened my clinical skills by working as an EMT. These experiences have taught me to think critically, communicate effectively, and serve others with empathy. I hope to carry these skills with me into the future as I pursue a career as a physician.

Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Mathematical Data Analytics

My time in Dornsife propelled me to explore how the brain constructs a sense of self and what happens when that perception fractures. Studying neuroscience alongside mathematical data science led me to the Brain and Creativity Institute and Signal and Image Processing Institute, where as a Provost Undergraduate Research Fellow I developed EEG-based “brain fingerprints” for individuals experiencing depression and suicidal ideation and completed my Neuroscience Honors thesis. Dornsife’s opportunities for global and experiential learning—from the Pembroke College Summer Programme to the Thematic Options/Joint Educational Project service-learning program—allowed me to investigate how cognition is also shaped by socioeconomic and cultural systems. As President of Neurotech@USC and through Med-COR, I advanced science education by fostering research access and mentorship. I plan to pursue a PhD in biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University and a career in designing computational tools that make neuropsychiatric diagnosis and treatment more precise and accessible.

Major: International Relations and the Global Economy (BA)
Minor: Law and Technology

USC Dornsife has given me a foundation to pursue law, policy, and global affairs with rigor and purpose. Majoring in International Relations and Global Economy and minoring in Law and Technology, with a concurrent M.S. in Innovation Economics, Law and Regulation, I have examined how legal frameworks shape innovation and cross-border commerce. Under the advisement of Professor Brett Carter, my honors thesis, “The Security-Innovation Dilemma: Measuring the Cost of U.S. Talent Restrictions on Chinese Talent Mobility,” uses Principal Component Analysis to quantify how U.S. national-security policy may reshape Chinese STEM mobility and, in turn, American innovation capacity. Beyond the classroom, I have interned at the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, among other roles. This fall, I will begin my JD degree at Columbia Law School, carrying forward my appreciation for interdisciplinary knowledge and my curiosity about our world.

Major: Philosophy. Politics and Economics

As a Dornsife Scholar, I have explored how early modern thinkers understood commerce, virtue, and public credit in moments of economic change. Dornsife made this work possible through the Provost Undergraduate Research Fellowships, which supported my thesis on the rise of commercial republicanism. At USC, I worked as a research assistant examining the relationship between political thought, finance, and moral philosophy and co-authored an article currently under review at Science in Context. Beyond my research, I have spent summers teaching English and literature in Kenya and organizing academic summits for high school students in Beijing. These experiences deepened my belief that humanistic education encourages students to think critically about the world around them. After graduation, I will begin a Ph.D. in History at Princeton University, where I hope to continue studying the intellectual foundations of modern economic and political life while bringing this work into both teaching and public scholarship.

Major: Law, History, and Culture

During my time at USC, my interest in criminal justice evolved from an abstract curiosity to a zealous commitment. Practicing criminal representation in mock trials at the Dornsife Trial Advocacy Program, conducting research on in-custody conditions at the Agents of Change Program, and taking classes alongside incarcerated students at the Prison Education Project showed me the inequities of the criminal legal system and the importance of thorough and community-oriented advocacy. To this end, I pioneered inaugural projects at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office to identify and connect indigent people with cognitive impairments to treatment programs. I also pursued various legal research projects through Dornsife’s Writing Program, where I learned crucial skills that formed the basis of my recent work with a federal judge at the Central District of California. In the fall, I will attend Columbia Law School to continue pursuing a career in public service.

Major: Psychology

At USC Dornsife, I built and refined my intellectual independence. The department has allowed me to gain expansive opportunities of research experience, create connections, and proactively utilize my research interests to assist me in my advocacy for underrepresented groups. At USC, I completed my Honors Thesis mentored by Dr. Hajar Yazdiha on the neurological and psychological effects of police brutality experienced by Black individuals. Additionally, I became a Principal Investigator alongside Dr. Yazdiha on our research paper. Dornsife has supported my academic journey through the Student Opportunities for Academic Research and Summer Undergraduate Research Fund, which allowed me to explore my research further on Critical Race Theory’s presence in educational environments. Additionally, I became a Psychology honors scholar where I presented and defended my honors thesis. I will be pursuing a Masters’ in Public Diplomacy at USC, and intend to expand my advocacy for underrepresented communities affected by police brutality.

Majors: Political Science; Law History and Culture; Communication
Minor: Mind-Body Studies

Dornsife provided me with an unforgettable opportunity to explore my diverse interests through its interdisciplinary curriculum. Through Dornsife I honed my passion for advancing international development and global cooperation. I was fortunate to research political thought and ideology with Dr. Kammas and International Urban development with Dr. Sellers. As a former Head Delegate and SG for USCMUN, President of UNA-USA at USC I was able to lead diplomatic initiatives, and as a South-Asian language editor for the Trojan Bloom multi-cultural Journal, I was able to champion cultural expression. All of this has culminated in me receiving the Discovery, Global and Renaissance Scholar Distinctions, Phi Beta Kappa Undergraduate Award and the honor of graduating with three majors and a minor. After graduation, I will be working at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social affairs and will pursue a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University in the fall.

Major: Human Biology
Minor: Musical Studies

“Through USC Dornsife, I am deeply grateful to have been able to achieve my goals as an intersectional scholar. Inspired by my experience caring for my grandmother through her battle with dementia, I came to USC committed to pairing rigorous scientific inquiry with empathy-driven patient advocacy. At Dornsife, I conducted research in the Convergent Science Institute in Cancer, where I synthesized nanoparticle-based contrast agents for active targeting in liquid and tissue biopsy and completed an Honors Thesis under the guidance of Dr. Peter Kuhn and Dr. Cristina Zavaleta. With support from numerous fellowships, opportunities to study effects of pollutants on ischemic heart disease at Oxford University, and the ability to concurrently complete my Master’s degree in Management of Drug Development, I am eager to carry forward the sense of interdisciplinary inquiry and commitment to service that defines USC Dornsife through my future work as a physician and drug developer.”