{"id":14948,"date":"2023-04-28T09:36:38","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T16:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=14948"},"modified":"2023-04-28T19:16:10","modified_gmt":"2023-04-29T02:16:10","slug":"remembering-john-orr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/","title":{"rendered":"Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"Photo of John Orr.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  John Orr, seen here in 1982, proved to be an influential figure for USC Dornsife and the university in his three decades at USC. (Photo: Courtesy of the USC Digital Libraries\/Wendy Malecki.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=faculty\">Faculty<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  John Orr was instrumental in the founding of the USC Dornsife Center for Religion and Civic Culture, the USC Family of Schools and the Thematic Option program.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Margaret Crable<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">April 28, 2023<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 2.518315-1.68841575 4.0350275 0 1.5167124.60096154 2.9475732 1.68841575 4.0350274 1.058837 1.0874543 2.51831502 1.6884158 4.03502747 1.6884158 1.44087681 0 2.80427251-.5423678 3.86936601-1.5289606l.1656615-.1594552 2.2321428-2.2321428-1.6311813-1.6311813-2.2321429 2.26076c-.6581959.658196-1.5167124 1.0016026-2.43246332 1.0016026s-1.7742674-.3434066-2.43246337-1.0016026c-.65819597-.6581959-1.00160257-1.5167124-1.00160257-2.4324633 0-.8547009.2991453-1.6595442.87416905-2.2981957l.12743352-.1342677 2.23214286-2.2321429zm6.88661855-.40736607-5.26116068 5.26116075 1.61881868 1.6188186 5.2611607-5.2611607zm1.3837569-5.54501488c-1.4408768 0-2.8042725.54236779-3.869366 1.52896062l-.1656615.15945513-2.23214282 2.23214286 1.63118132 1.63118132 2.2321429-2.23214286c.6581959-.65819597 1.5167124-1.00160256 2.4324633-1.00160256s1.7742674.34340659 2.4324634 1.00160256 1.0016026 1.51671246 1.0016026 2.43246337c0 .85470089-.2991453 1.65954419-.8741691 2.29819559l-.1274335.1342678-2.2321429 2.2321428 1.5739469 1.5739469 2.2321429-2.2321428c1.0874542-1.058837 1.6884157-2.5183151 1.6884157-4.03502751 0-1.51671245-.6009615-2.94757326-1.6884157-4.03502747-1.058837-1.08745421-2.518315-1.68841575-4.0350275-1.68841575z\" transform=\"translate(-3 -3)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Copy Link<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_facebook\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#facebook\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Facebook\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_facebook\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m23.9512 6h-16.9024c-.57923625 0-1.0488.46956375-1.0488 1.0488v16.9024c0 .5792362.46956375 1.0488 1.0488 1.0488h9.10024v-7.34768h-2.46772v-2.87584h2.46772v-2.11508c0-2.45404 1.49872-3.79012 3.68828-3.79012.7389668-.00263323 1.4775241.03516995 2.21236.11324v2.56348h-1.51392c-1.18788 0-1.4174.56544-1.4174 1.39612v1.8316h2.84772l-.37088 2.87584h-2.47684v7.34844h4.83284c.5792362 0 1.0488-.4695638 1.0488-1.0488v-16.9024c0-.57923625-.4695638-1.0488-1.0488-1.0488z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -6)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Facebook<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_twitter\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#twitter\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"X\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_twitter\">\n              <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\"\n\t y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 30 30\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 30 30\" xml:space=\"preserve\" width=\"19\" height=\"19\">\n<path fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M14.5,16.2l-0.8-1.1l-6.3-9h2.7l5.1,7.3l0.8,1.1\n\tl6.6,9.4h-2.7L14.5,16.2L14.5,16.2z M16.9,13.4l7.4-8.7h-1.8l-6.5,7.5L11,4.8H5l7.8,11.4L5,25.2h1.8l6.8-7.9l5.5,7.9h6L16.9,13.4\n\tL16.9,13.4z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">X<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_linkedin\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#linkedin\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Linkedin\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_linkedin\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m25 21.4220779c0 1.974026-1.6038961 3.5779221-3.5779221 3.5779221h-11.84415582c-1.97402598 0-3.57792208-1.6038961-3.57792208-3.5779221v-11.84415582c0-1.97402598 1.6038961-3.57792208 3.57792208-3.57792208h11.84415582c1.974026 0 3.5779221 1.6038961 3.5779221 3.57792208zm-14.5584416-12.21428569c-.98701295 0-1.60389606.61688311-1.60389606 1.48051949-.12337663.8636364.49350649 1.4805195 1.48051946 1.4805195.987013 0 1.6038961-.6168831 1.6038961-1.4805195 0-.86363638-.6168831-1.48051949-1.4805195-1.48051949zm1.3571429 12.70779219v-8.6363636h-2.83766234v8.6363636zm10.2402597 0v-4.9350649c0-2.5909091-1.3571428-3.8246753-3.3311688-3.8246753-1.4805195 0-2.0974026.8636363-2.4675325 1.4805194v-1.2337662h-2.8376623v8.6363636h2.8376623v-4.9350649c0-.2467532 0-.4935065.1233767-.7402597.1233766-.4935065.6168831-.987013 1.4805194-.987013.987013 0 1.4805195.7402597 1.4805195 1.974026v4.564935z\" transform=\"translate(-6 -6)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">LinkedIn<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_bluesky\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#bluesky\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Bluesky\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_bluesky\">\n              <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                <path fill=\"#00000\" d=\"M12 10.8c-1.087-2.114-4.046-6.053-6.798-7.995C2.566.944 1.561 1.266.902 1.565C.139 1.908 0 3.08 0 3.768c0 .69.378 5.65.624 6.479c.815 2.736 3.713 3.66 6.383 3.364c.136-.02.275-.039.415-.056c-.138.022-.276.04-.415.056c-3.912.58-7.387 2.005-2.83 7.078c5.013 5.19 6.87-1.113 7.823-4.308c.953 3.195 2.05 9.271 7.733 4.308c4.267-4.308 1.172-6.498-2.74-7.078a8.741 8.741 0 0 1-.415-.056c.14.017.279.036.415.056c2.67.297 5.568-.628 6.383-3.364c.246-.828.624-5.79.624-6.478c0-.69-.139-1.861-.902-2.206c-.659-.298-1.664-.62-4.3 1.24C16.046 4.748 13.087 8.687 12 10.8\"  fill-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n              <\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Bluesky<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_email\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#email\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"E-mail\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_print\">\n              <svg height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 12\" width=\"18\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Professor Emeritus of Religion John Orr was a continuous presence on the USC campus for nearly 30 years. He helped usher in a number of programs that define the university\u2019s commitment to the surrounding community and to academic curiosity. Orr passed away on Feb. 25 at 89.<\/p>\n<p>For <a href=\"https:\/\/crcc.usc.edu\/people\/donald-miller\/\">Donald Miller<\/a>, Leonard K. Firestone Professor of Religion at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Orr\u2019s decades-long work at USC reflected one of his core values.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLoyalty was a prime value for John. I think this came from a philosopher that he read and valued, Josiah Royce. Royce wrote a lot about loyalty. The basic idea of loyalty is, if you\u2019re going to have a community, people need to be loyal to each other and to the values of that community,\u201d says Miller, who is also director of strategic initiatives at the <a href=\"https:\/\/crcc.usc.edu\/\">USC Dornsife Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Academic creativity<\/h2>\n<p>Orr was born in 1933 in Long Beach, California, where he attended Woodrow Wilson High School. He graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1955 with a degree in philosophy, followed by a bachelor\u2019s degree in divinity from the San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1958. In 1965, he was awarded a PhD from Yale Divinity School.<\/p>\n<p>He married Thelma Hodson in 1961, after they met at a New Year\u2019s Eve Party, and the two remained married until his death. They had two sons, John and Steve, both USC alumni. Steve predeceased Orr in 2014.<\/p>\n<p>His academic career began at Texas A&amp;M University, where he founded the philosophy department. Texas just wasn\u2019t home, however, so when an opening at the USC School of Religion appeared in 1967, he jumped at the chance to return to the West Coast. At USC Dornsife, he was appointed full professor and, in 1970, became director of the School of Religion.<\/p>\n<p>He developed a graduate program in social ethics and published several books, including <em>The Radical Suburb<\/em>(Westminster Press, 1970). The book argued that America\u2019s suburban neighborhoods were producing a totally new kind of person, whom he dubbed the \u201cexpansive man.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDuring the 1960s, there were a lot of notions about radicalism at a political level. Well, John was intrigued with the suburbs as radical places,\u201d says Miller. \u201cHe always saw things differently; that was part of his creativity. To see radicalism in the suburbs would be a good example.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Miller met Orr while an undergraduate at USC Dornsife taking Orr\u2019s course on the New Testament. Orr\u2019s individuality shone through there as well. \u201cHe sang the class these Christmas carols that were \u2018demythologized,\u2019 meaning that they took away all the supernatural elements of a Christmas story and put them in a very contemporary mode,\u201d remembers Miller who was tickled that a professor would sing to a class.<\/p>\n<p>In the mid-1970s, Orr was a co-investigator for a National Endowment for the Humanities grant that launched the university\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/thematic-option\/\">Thematic Option program<\/a>, which continues today. Each year, some 200 undergraduates go through \u201cT.O\u201d classes, which closely explore and analyze the canon of great literature and philosophy, thanks in part to Orr\u2019s work.<\/p>\n<h2>Politics of the spirit<\/h2>\n<p>In 1981, Orr moved to the <a href=\"https:\/\/rossier.usc.edu\/\">USC Rossier School of Education<\/a> where he first was interim dean and then permanent dean. Under his leadership, the school partnered with the <a href=\"https:\/\/dworakpeck.usc.edu\/\">USC Suzanne-Dworak Peck School of Social Work<\/a> and the university at large to launch the Inter-Professional Initiative, the predecessor to the <a href=\"https:\/\/communities.usc.edu\/family-of-schools\/\">USC Family of Schools<\/a>. The program now helps provide quality education to some 17,000 students across 15 schools in the neighborhoods surrounding the USC campuses.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14952\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14952\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14952\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_instorya.jpg\" alt=\"Two people hug with another person in the background.\" width=\"500\" height=\"322\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_instorya.jpg 630w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_instorya-300x193.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14952\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">John Orr hugs a member of the Lighthouse Community Outreach in Los Angeles in 1996, the year before he retired from USC Dornsife. (Photo: Courtesy of the USC Digital Libraries\/ Wendy Malecki.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Orr returned to USC Dornsife in 1988, this time as University Professor, a distinction given to a select number of faculty.<\/p>\n<p>In May 1992, the acquittal of four white police officers who had brutally assaulted Rodney King, a Black man, during a traffic stop, enraged many in Los Angeles. The city erupted into a series of protests and riots, which lasted nearly a week.<\/p>\n<p>In the midst of the commotion, the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jefferson Park emerged as a beacon of calm. It opened its doors to host dialogue among the community, media and public officials. Its preacher, Rev. Cecil Murray, delivered a <a href=\"https:\/\/crcc.usc.edu\/may-3-1992-rev-cecil-murray-preaching-as-the-fires-of-the-l-a-riots-burned\/\">memorable sermon<\/a> calling for peace.<\/p>\n<p>Miller, by then a professor of religion at USC Dornsife, caught some of the sermon on TV. He was struck by this intersection of religion and civic activism and thought, \u201cThere\u2019s a research project here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He teamed up with Orr on a study eventually titled \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/crcc.usc.edu\/report\/politics-of-the-spirit-religion-and-multiethnicity-in-los-angeles\/\">Politics of the Spirit: Religion and Multiethnicity in Los Angeles<\/a>,\u201d which they published in 1994. Orr and Miller spent months attending meetings and events in areas of the city most affected by the uprising, speaking to locals, preachers and civic leaders about their efforts to create a more just and peaceful metropolis.<\/p>\n<p>The report attracted the interest of the James Irvine Foundation, which asked the two if they\u2019d be interested in starting a research center. This led to the creation of the CRCC at USC Dornsife, now a core program for the College. The center advances understanding of religion in society and helps faith leaders work toward positive social change.<\/p>\n<h2>Common man<\/h2>\n<p>Orr retired in 1998, but he wasn\u2019t done with USC, yet. He remained at CRCC as a senior fellow and also joined the <a href=\"https:\/\/emeriti.usc.edu\/retired-faculty-association\/\">USC Retired Faculty Association (RFA),<\/a> serving as president for a year. And, he continued his devotion to Trojan football.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom his earliest years at USC to his final days, a time spanning 55 years, he and my mother were USC Football season ticket holders,\u201d says his son John Orr. \u201cThey spent decades tailgating with family and friends. As time passed, more friends and family members across generations would travel from far and near to be together at the tailgates, creating what would become some of his most enduring memories.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Orr also expanded his art practice. He\u2019d produced paintings and sculptures inspired by the Pop Art tradition for decades and in retirement he took up photography. He explored street photography and snapped shots of L.A.\u2019s distinctive yet humble locations, like oil derricks placed in the center of shopping areas.<\/p>\n<p>He also won a Douglas Basil Award from the RFA to fund a photography project at the Pasadena Village retirement community. His photos captured life at home for those in the village, showcasing the vibrancy of older adults.<\/p>\n<p>There was an overlapping ethos in both his academic work and his art, says Miller. \u201cHe was interested in the culture of everyday people. That\u2019s probably why he was more interested in social ethics than philosophical ethics. He was really interested in everyday moral discourse. In spite of his Yale PhD and so forth, John was really a man of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related News\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/maymester-class-uses-food-to-understand-los-angeles\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >For one summer college course, food provides a passport to Los Angeles<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/usc-dornsife-thematic-option-lets-students-explore-classes\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Thematic Options program gives science enthusiast a chance to explore pursuits<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/neuroscience-and-public-policy-graduate-aims-to-help-immigrants\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Driven to help immigrants graduate finds her path at USC<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n            <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>John Orr was instrumental in the founding of the USC Dornsife Center for Religion and Civic Culture, the USC Family of Schools and the Thematic Option program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":14949,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[294,125,104,610],"class_list":["post-14948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty","tag-center-for-religion-and-civic-culture","tag-obituary","tag-religion","tag-thematic-option"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"John Orr was instrumental in the founding of the USC Dornsife Center for Religion and Civic Culture, the USC Family of Schools and the Thematic Option program.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"USC Dornsife News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uscdornsife\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-04-28T16:36:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-04-29T02:16:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1150\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Michael Liu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@uscdornsife\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@uscdornsife\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Michael Liu\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447\"},\"headline\":\"Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-04-28T16:36:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-04-29T02:16:10+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/\"},\"wordCount\":17,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"center for religion and civic culture\",\"obituary\",\"religion\",\"thematic option\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Faculty\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/\",\"name\":\"Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-04-28T16:36:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-04-29T02:16:10+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1150,\"caption\":\"Photo of John Orr.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/\",\"name\":\"USC Dornsife News\",\"description\":\"USC Dornsife news and events\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization\",\"name\":\"USC Dornsife News\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/01\/USC-Dornsife-Cardinal-Black-on-White-RGB.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/01\/USC-Dornsife-Cardinal-Black-on-White-RGB.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":330,\"caption\":\"USC Dornsife News\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uscdornsife\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/uscdornsife\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/uscdornsife\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/USCCollege\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/school\/uscdornsife\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447\",\"name\":\"Michael Liu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Michael Liu\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/author\/liumk\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs","og_description":"John Orr was instrumental in the founding of the USC Dornsife Center for Religion and Civic Culture, the USC Family of Schools and the Thematic Option program.","og_url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/","og_site_name":"USC Dornsife News","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uscdornsife","article_published_time":"2023-04-28T16:36:38+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-04-29T02:16:10+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1150,"url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Michael Liu","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@uscdornsife","twitter_site":"@uscdornsife","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/"},"author":{"name":"Michael Liu","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447"},"headline":"Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs","datePublished":"2023-04-28T16:36:38+00:00","dateModified":"2023-04-29T02:16:10+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/"},"wordCount":17,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite.jpg","keywords":["center for religion and civic culture","obituary","religion","thematic option"],"articleSection":["Faculty"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/","name":"Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite.jpg","datePublished":"2023-04-28T16:36:38+00:00","dateModified":"2023-04-29T02:16:10+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/john_orr_obit_newsite.jpg","width":2000,"height":1150,"caption":"Photo of John Orr."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/remembering-john-orr\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Religion professor\u2019s long career at USC helped launch some of the university\u2019s most distinctive programs"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/","name":"USC Dornsife News","description":"USC Dornsife news and events","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization","name":"USC Dornsife News","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/01\/USC-Dornsife-Cardinal-Black-on-White-RGB.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/01\/USC-Dornsife-Cardinal-Black-on-White-RGB.jpg","width":1000,"height":330,"caption":"USC Dornsife News"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uscdornsife","https:\/\/x.com\/uscdornsife","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/uscdornsife\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/USCCollege","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/school\/uscdornsife"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447","name":"Michael Liu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Michael Liu"},"url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/author\/liumk\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14948"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15014,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14948\/revisions\/15014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}