Alumni Updates

Melinda Amato (B.A. Sociology/Political Science 2011) is Director of Client Success at Reach, where she helps campaigns, nonprofits, political parties, and unions harness the power of volunteers to further their causes and movements. She takes inspiration as a progressive organizer from her roots as the proud daughter of a Mexican immigrant. She has run campaigns in Mexico, Europe and the United States, building bridges and coalitions to make streets safer, address the climate crisis, protect immigrants, and win elections. For over a decade, she has built an expertise in digital community organizing tools, spending time working at NationBuilder, Impactive and other progressive tech companies.

Phong Doozy (B.A. Health and Human Sciences 2024 with minors in Comedy Performance, Psychology, and Law) is Strategy and Operations Manager at Third Way Health, a healthcare technology and services company that partners with medical practices to strengthen and streamline the administrative side of healthcare, giving providers more time and capacity to focus on their patients. Prior to his position at Third Way Health, he was recognized as a Fulbright Scholar, and worked at Stanford as a Business Reporting Analyst, translating data into insights to support strategic initiatives. He also served as a Senior Consultant, advising nonprofit organizations and clients including the Anschutz Entertainment Group, supporting strategic initiatives for the Los Angeles Lakers, Kings, and Sparks. Outside of his professional work, he continues to put his Comedy Performance minor to use, incorporating humor, storytelling, and communication into his approach leadership,  consulting, and community engagement. He also remains closely connected to USC through the Open Dialogue Project Advisory Board, where he helps shape initiatives that advance academic freedom, free expression, and constructive dialogue across differing perspectives.

Hope Du (B.A. Sociology 2024) is an international education consultant in Shanghai, where she advises high school students on admissions to colleges in the US. Beyond general advising, she especially enjoys working with students interested in sociology and related fields, encouraging them to think critically about social issues and systemic inequalities.