The US founders’ other revolutionary choice: Separating religion and government
European colonial powers linked church and state. But the founders of the United States broke from that idea as surely as they broke from Britain.
Commanding History: How museum leadership can shape a nation’s memory
A scholar of cultural memory, Michelle Commander ’10 is helping preserve the truth of African American history and culture for the nation through inspired museum leadership and public scholarship.
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Featured Event
July 18: Guided Reading of the Declaration of Independence
This workshop — led by historian Virginia Scharff — brings together scholars, museum members, students and the public for a guided reading and discussion of the Declaration of Independence, exploring its ideals as part of a living story. Presented by the USC Dornsife Early Modern Studies Institute as part of its LA2026 project. Get information for this virtual event >>
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USC Dornsife scholars bring their expertise to today’s most pressing issues.
Dornsife on Video
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, USC was the only university to host the Freedom Plane — a traveling exhibit of the nation’s founding documents. USC Dornsife historian Peter Mancall takes us behind the display glass to examine living history through hand-annotated texts that reveal the humanity of the Founding Fathers.
USC Hosts the Freedom Plane: Examining America’s Founding Documents
USC Dornsife Magazine:
America at 250
To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we invite you to explore what it was really like to be a colonist in 1776; discover how climate change is reshaping America’s natural systems and what our scholars are doing to lessen its impact; and meet seven extraordinary alumni committed to defending the nation — including a sorority sister who became a CIA spy and a war hero who once shook Hitler’s hand. Learn why America’s economy is so powerful and how our pioneering scholars question assumptions to advance traditions central to both science and democracy. We hope these insightful stories inspire pride in our great nation but also help you see beyond the parades, the flags and the fireworks to a more nuanced understanding
Featured Stories
American daily life in 1776 was far different than you might imagine
Survival as a colonist meant enduring hard labor and rigid hierarchies in a rural world shaped by inequality and lack of privacy.
From Sea to Shining Sea: Climate change is rewriting America’s landscapes
From California floods and wildfires to thawing Arctic permafrost and dying coral reefs, USC Dornsife researchers track a nation under environmental pressure.
American scientific innovation still thrives on bold questions
As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, USC Dornsife scholars continue to advance a tradition central to both science and democracy: questioning assumptions, testing ideas and pushing beyond accepted limits.
The debate behind American economic growth
The United States boasts the largest economy in the world. What makes America’s economy so powerful and will the country retain its first-place ranking?
Fight On! How military service shaped these extraordinary Trojan lives
Meet seven extraordinary alumni committed to defending the nation.
Reimagining American identity at 250
As the nation approaches its semiquincentennial, USC Dornsife scholar Laura Dominguez ’12, ’23 is bringing diverse perspectives into conversations about history and belonging.
Human rights education on the front lines
USC Dornsife political scientist Steve Swerdlow takes students beyond textbooks and into communities grappling with repression, activism and democratic change.
Commanding History: How museum leadership can shape a nation’s memory
A scholar of cultural memory, Michelle Commander ’10 is helping preserve the truth of African American history and culture for the nation through inspired museum leadership and public scholarship.
From USC Dornsife Social Media
Just weeks after graduating, economics alumnus Darnell Adler won the top prize at a global innovation challenge, beating out more than 135,000 ideas from 40 countries.
For his startup, Lifeline AI, he won $100K in equity-free funding, Microsoft Azure credits and mentorship from Red Bull Ventures. The goal: create a personal safety platform that helps people discreetly call for help when taking out a phone or speaking may be unsafe.
Congratulations, Darnell — and Fight On! ✌️
@USCDornsife on Instagram
@USCDornsife
Ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, we are honoring some of the incredible USC Dornsife alumni who have dedicated their lives, careers, and safety to serving our nation. 🇺🇸✨
From WWII battlefields to global intelligence and military medicine, these alumni show exactly what it means to live out the Trojan spirit. #FightOn
@USCDornsife
How does music shape the brain? 🧠🎵 Pres. Beong-Soo Kim and Assal Habibi, director of the USC Dornsife Center for Music, Brain, and Society, sit down for a wide-ranging conversation on how music can profoundly impact everything from childhood development to how we age and connect.
🎙️ Listen to the full episode at president.usc.edu/trojan-talks.
@USCDornsife
Simple design, big impact.
Congratulations to USC Architecture students Jaci Hinman and Neri Landi, winners of the Shade Zones Design Competition. Their portable shade structure was recently installed at a @metrolosangeles stop, keeping transit riders and World Cup fans cool on their way to the stadium.
This competition is part of ShadeLA — a collaborative effort led by USC Dornsife Public Exchange and the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation to bring more tree canopy and shade infrastructure to LA’s public spaces. @weareshadela
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