USC Dornsife News Briefs highlight faculty research studies, newly published books, awards, grants and other news showcasing faculty members’ work at USC Dornsife. All USC Dornsife faculty are eligible to submit content.
(The diverse opinions expressed in News Briefs do not necessarily represent the views of USC Dornsife administration or USC.)
Steven Lopez, professor of psychology and social work, received the 2025 James S. Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award for Transformative Scholarship from the Association for Psychological Science. The award recognizes his groundbreaking research on cultural and diversity issues, particularly in improving mental health care for marginalized communities. Lopez’s work advances understanding of sociocultural influences on mental illness and provides vital models for reducing disparities in care. His contributions align with the award’s mission to honor research that enhances knowledge of racial and ethnic diversity, equity and inclusion.
Mark Irwin, professor of English, has been awarded the Juniper Prize for Poetry for his forthcoming collection,Once When Green (University of Massachusetts Press, 2025). The collection explores themes of mortality and the impact of global warming, examining how pollution affects humans, animals and plant life. The Juniper Prize, awarded annually to one previously published author, recognizes original poetic manuscripts and includes a $1,000 prize upon publication.
Elda Maria Roman, associate professor of English, has been awarded the 2024 Gulf Coast Prize in Nonfiction for her essay “Qualifying Exams.” The work offers a nuanced exploration of personal and systemic struggles, artfully weaving together themes of self-discipline and societal expectations. The prize includes a $1,500 award and publication in Gulf Coast, a literature and fine arts journal housed at the University of Houston’s English department.
Alexandra Brewer, assistant professor of sociology, was awarded the Donald W. Light Article Award from the American Sociological Association for “Painful Feelings: Opioids as Tools for Avoiding Emotional Labor in Hospital Work,” published in June 2023 in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior. The award is given in alternate years to a book or journal article published in the preceding two years that employs the concepts and methods of medical sociology to an applied issue or problem of significance. Brewer’s article, based on a 21-month hospital ethnography, examines how opioids are used to manage clinician emotional labor and shape patient care and workplace dynamics.
Hajar Yazdiha, assistant professor of sociology, was awarded the Mary Douglas Prize for Best Book for The Struggle for the People’s King: How Politics Transforms the Memory of the Civil Rights Movement (Princeton University Press, 2023). Granted by the American Sociological Association, the award honors the best books in the field of cultural sociology that are notable for their originality, intellectual rigor and contribution to the discipline. Yazdiha’s work critically examines how revisionist appropriation of civil rights memory by various political groups distorts historical understanding and perpetuates racial inequality.
Sunyoung Park, associate professor of East Asian languages and cultures and gender and sexuality studies, received a 2024 Uplifter Award from the International Association for the Fantastic in Arts (IAFA) Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Caucus. The honor recognizes Park’s commitment to advancing the goals and initiatives of the BIPOC Caucus.
Hanna Damasio, University Professor, professor of psychology and neurology, and Dana Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience, and Antonio Damasio, University Professor, professor of psychology, philosophy and neurology, and David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience, were honored with the Neuropsychology Global Ambassador Award at the first Global Neuropsychology Congress in Porto, Portugal. This prestigious award acknowledges their exceptional achievements and enduring influence on global neuroscience research and education. The Damasios' groundbreaking research has significantly advanced the understanding of brain processes underlying affect, decision-making, consciousness and language.
Natalia Molina, Distinguished Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity and Dean’s Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity, was awarded a Southern California Journalism Award by the Los Angeles Press Club for her poignant opinion piece, “How I learned the Los Angeles Dodgers are L.A.’s language of love," published Aug. 20, 2023 in the Los Angeles Times. Her piece highlights her insightful contribution to the evolving narrative of cultural identity and sports journalism in L.A. The award recognizes outstanding journalism while promoting diversity and excellence across various media platforms in Southern California.
Nayan Shah, professor of American studies and ethnicity and history, has been elected a member of the Society of American Historians. Membership in the society serves as testament to the literary excellence demonstrated in a scholar’s portrayal and analysis of American history, and this recognition celebrates Shah’s exceptional narrative prowess and the scholarly distinction in his historical work.
