Welcoming Our New Graduate Students

This year, the USC Joint Educational Project (JEP) is thrilled to welcome four new PhD students who are already bringing their unique expertise and passion to our programs. JEP continues to thrive because of the dedication of students like Katie Bradshaw, Kelsie Campbell, Edith (Edie) Adams and Jordyn Patterson. Their diverse academic backgrounds and community-focused research enhance JEP’s mission of bridging the gap between university learning and the needs of our community.

Katie Bradshaw, a doctoral student in English Literature, brings her passion for creative practice and community-oriented academics. Her work with the Dornsife Prison Education Project Readers’ Circle aligns with JEP’s efforts to foster reflective, impactful community engagement. Katie sees her role at JEP as a chance to gain valuable experience in service-learning and post-graduation career paths like teaching or nonprofit coordination, while also incorporating her research on addiction, recovery, and the human spirit.

Kelsie Campbell, a PhD student in Health Behavior Research, is a dedicated health equity researcher with a focus on minority health issues. Her experience in public health and epidemiology, particularly in underserved communities, makes her an asset to JEP’s STEM Education programs. Kelsie sees JEP as the perfect platform to inspire and mentor underrepresented students in STEM, a role she embraces as she continues her own research on structural racism and its impact on health outcomes in Black communities.

Edie Adams, a PhD candidate in Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture, is motivated by her own transformative experiences with service-learning during her undergraduate years. Since joining JEP, she has embraced the reflective curriculum that helps students critically engage with ethical issues. Edie’s background in translation studies and her research on Latin American literature enrich her contributions to JEP’s programs, where she supports the creation of meaningful, reciprocal partnerships between USC and its surrounding communities.

Jordyn Patterson, a Sociology PhD student, is passionate about the intersections of race, gender, and media representations, and her desire to become a public sociologist draws her to JEP’s community-based learning model. With her extensive experience in community-based learning during her undergraduate studies, Jordyn aims to assist undergraduates in creating reciprocal relationships with community partners, while also gaining insights for her own research on community-engaged scholarship.

We are excited to have these four talented individuals join our team – with Kelsie and Jordyn having joined us in the spring, and Katie and Edie having joined us this summer. Their commitment to JEP’s mission and their innovative approaches to service-learning and community engagement strengthen our ability especially in the reflective realm. We look forward to the contributions they will make, not only to JEP but also to the broader academic and local communities.