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.)
Greta Panova, Gabilan Distinguished Professor in Science and Engineering and professor of mathematics, has been named a 2024 Fellow in Mathematics by the Simons Foundation. Renowned for her expertise in combinatorics, probability and theoretical computer science, Panova’s selection underscores her exceptional contributions to the field. The Simons Fellows program extends academic leaves from one term to a full year, aiming to enable recipients to focus solely on research for the long periods often necessary for significant advances.
Duncan Ryuken Williams, director of the USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture and professor of religion, American studies and ethnicity and East Asian languages and cultures, was honored with an Award of Excellence by the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) at its annual gala on April 6 for his “pioneering work on the Irei project, a monumental initiative that honors Japanese American World War II incarcarees and promotes global peace.”
Percival Everett, Distinguished Professor of English, was named on the Los Angeles Times’ list of the 50 Best Hollywood Books of All Time. His book Erasure (Graywolf Press, 2011) appears at No. 20 on the list, which encompasses fiction and nonfiction across genres and decades and was compiled from a survey of experts in the worlds of publishing and entertainment. The book was the basis for the Academy Award-winning movie American Fiction.
Evelyn Alsultany, professor of American studies and ethnicity, was named on the Los Angeles Times’ list of the 50 Best Hollywood Books of All Time. Her book Arabs and Muslims in the Media: Race and Representation after 9/11 (NYU Press, 2012) appears at No. 46 on the list, which encompasses fiction and nonfiction across genres and decades and was compiled from a survey of experts in the worlds of publishing and entertainment. The L.A. Times notes that Alsultany’s book “keenly avoids endorsement of neat categories like ‘good’ and ‘bad’ representation, aiming instead to complicate how it is that media images on either side of that divide can fuel meanings that end up justifying policies of exclusion and inequality.”
Jody Agius Vallejo, associate professor of sociology and American studies and ethnicity, has been awarded the 2023 Award for Public Sociology in International Migration. Conferred by the American Sociological Association, the award seeks to underscore the need to foster scholarly collaboration toward a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted causes and consequences of international migration as well as the assimilation of immigrants within host societies. Vallejo was recognized for her achievements in pioneering empirical investigations pertaining to the intricate dynamics of international migration policy.
Fengzhu Sun, professor of quantitative and computational biology and mathematics, has been conferred the distinguished title of 2024 Fellow of the International Society for Computational Biology. The prestigious accolade recognizes outstanding contributions to the fields of computational biology and bioinformatics. Sun was honored for his contributions in advancing the frontier of biological and biomedical sciences through the ingenious use of probability and statistical methodologies, most notably for his work elucidating the intricate realms of protein interaction networks and metagenomics.
The journal Nature Communications recently released its list of Top 25 Life and Biological Sciences Articles of 2023, citing among them a breakthrough study by USC Dornsife scientists.
The National Science Foundation awarded a $15 million grant for a study led by Jill McNitt-Gray, focusing on muscle control in rapid movements under complex conditions, with implications for sports and rehabilitation.
Elizabeth Durst, associate professor (teaching) of writing, has been awarded the prestigious Award for Distinguished Service by the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages (AATSEEL). The accolade recognizes Durst’s exemplary leadership as executive director of AATSEEL from 2011 through 2023, where she significantly contributed to the organization during difficult times. Her efforts include adapting to digital platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic, spearheading fundraising initiatives, and fostering discussions on current geopolitical challenges.
