Here’s to all the late nights of studying after work, the extra shots of espresso during finals week, the times you cared for dependents between classes, the tuition help that enabled this all, and the additional years you took to complete your degree than had you done it full-time. Especially during this time of crisis, you deserve all the virtual pats on the backs. Here’s to you, USC’s 2020 graduating employees!
Bintou Agne
Accountant
USC Ticket Office
Graduating with a master’s degree in Communication Management from USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
I always wanted to return to graduate school. When I found out that as an employee of USC, I had the opportunity to pursue my dream of getting a graduate degree, I decided to apply. I am very grateful to USC for this opportunity.
Going to school was definitely a lot of work and drinking a lot of coffee. However, at USC Annenberg, the dean, the faculty, the career development office and the staff enlightened my views about culture, society and diversity. The stellar faculty motivated me to have a thirst for learning. The speakers were excellent, relevant and very informative. The advice I have is that it is an amazing and wonderful opportunity to pursue a degree as an employee. Although at times it was difficult and time consuming, I persevered. It was one of the best experience of my life.
Melissa Charpied
Alumni and Administrative Coordinator
With Your Shield, USC Marshall School of Business
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree from USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
I have always wanted to be a Trojan. My parents are Trojans, aunts, uncles, and cousins too! It has been a long road to get here and I’m extremely proud of this accomplishment. I think I would have been happy to have graduated from anywhere being a non-traditional student – but the fact that it’s USC makes it so special. I came back to school because it was something I knew I HAD to do. I worked full time while taking 16 credits and raised my daughter. I wanted to be an example for those who were hesitant about going back to school because you feel like you missed your chance/don’t have enough time – if I can do it, so can you!
Ghecemy Lopez
Cancer Navigator
Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Graduating a Doctor of Social Work from USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
I am the first in my entire family to pursue graduate education. I was in first grade when I promised my dad I would one day do it. When cancer struck my life twice, I thought I would not have the time. With God’s blessing, I survived and became a navigator. But in order to truly close the health gap for my community impacted by cancer, I knew I needed this DSW. Although it was very tough to combine full time work and school, it was the best decision as a degree is forever. I highly recommend others to pursue their goals.
Kristen Cruz
Administrative Assistant
Keck Medicine of USC, Beverly Hills
Graduating a Master of Science in Healthcare Decision Analysis from the USC School of Pharmacy
I started at Keck Medicine in 2015, right after I completed my undergrad degree in economics. I come from a family of nurses, but I knew nursing wasn’t for me. I started my career working for Elder Care Alliance (a chain of assisted living and memory care facilities) while I was in school. Upon graduation, I was very fortunate to get hired on by Keck.
I started out working at the front desk, then moved up to administration. I love working for Keck because you have so many opportunities to collaborate with amazing physicians, staff and leadership. I decided to go back to school after working on several projects with my manager and the physicians at my office. They encouraged me to continue my education and further my knowledge of the entire healthcare space. To other USC employees, I seriously encourage you to take advantage of furthering your education and getting a degree at USC. It was difficult at first for me to go to class and work full time, but I have an amazing work team that who would help me out and support me. I want to thank my manager, Ken Ribas, for always supporting me through this entire process. I also want to thank my fellow colleagues for always helping me out and for all the love and support. Fight on!
David E. Donovan
Associate Director, Health Sciences Campus
USC Transportation
Graduating a Master of Studies in Law from USC Gould School of Law
The main thing I would share with all USC staff considering a degree program is: YOU CAN DO IT!
I’ve always had a personal interest in the law, but no interest in becoming a lawyer. A few years ago, I learned about Gould’s Master of Studies in Law (MSL) program, and decided to go for it. With the support of family, friends, co-workers and the amazing staff at Gould, I completed the program this spring. While postponing Commencement is a disappointment (however necessary), I look forward to eventually walking in a cap and gown again – and showing my teenage kids that their old man finishes what he starts!
Whatever your career goals/personal interests are, USC has a program for you. All it takes is the dedication to see it through. Tuition Assistance is part of your benefits package as an employee. If you don’t take advantage, you’re missing out. You CAN do it! Fight On!
Nancy Velasquez
Marketing Manager
USC Auxiliary Services
Graduating a Master of Communication Management from USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
I have had an amazing experience with the online Master’s of Communication Management program from USC Annenberg. I have been able to directly implement what I am learning in real time to my current position at USC Auxiliary Services. I wanted to go back to school to really finesse my years of experience in marketing, and to fully take advantage of all that working at USC has to offer.
April Tam
Associate Director, Corporate Relations
USC Marshall School of Business
Graduating an Executive Master of Leadership from USC Price School of Public Policy
My parents and my two brothers immigrated from Hong Kong to the US in the 1980s and settled in Chandler, Arizona. They left their friends and family behind with the hopes and promise of a better future for their children. While my parents didn’t understand or speak English, they understood the value of hard work and would each work two jobs to provide food on the table and a roof over our heads.
My parents believed that the key to a brighter future for their children was through education. I was the first generation to go to college. I knew that my parents weren’t going to be able afford to pay for college even though they always encouraged me to chase the school of my dreams. I worked as hard as I could in high school academically and through my extracurricular activities and ended up getting a scholarship to attend the small liberal arts school Ithaca College. Even though my dad was diagnosed with cancer during my senior year, he still made the journey to watch me graduate. He was beaming with pride.
All these years later, I never forgot his wise words and how he believed that education would unlock doors. Unfortunately he passed before he could see me graduate with my first master’s from USC in social entrepreneurship. Now as I finished my second master’s, I can’t help but feel that he’s been with me through the entire journey constantly whispering in my ear…Fight On!
The value of a USC education has transformed my life. It has challenged me to look at the world differently, to see potential where other see challenges. I’ve made lifelong friends who I would have never had the privilege to know otherwise – and married a fellow Trojan! We are so fortunate as employees to be in a position to learn. For anyone that is thinking about going to school – YOU SHOULD DO IT. Also you should let me know what you decide to pursue because I could be looking for my third degree.
Christina Loredo
Administrative Assistant
Viterbi School of Engineering
Graduating a Master of Communication Management from USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
I am so proud to be the first in my family to go to college and receive my Master’s! I would like to the Viterbi Dean’s office for all their support and encouragement to obtain my degree as their guidance made a world of a difference. I am now a proud trojan and thank my family for their patience and support. Love you! ✌❤💛👩🎓
Dieuwertje “DJ” Kast
STEM Programs Manager
Joint Educational Project
Graduating a Doctor of Education from USC Rossier School of Education
2020 marks the year I am finishing my doctorate. It is my fourth degree from USC and will continue to instill the fact that I am a lifelong Trojan scholar and member of the Trojan family. I went back to school to further my career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education and to be a game changer and leader in the field. I wanted to be able to better support elementary school teachers in STEM by addressing the systemic challenges they face and my dissertation focuses on many aspects of that.
I’d like to give a very special thank you to my husband, my family, my friends, and colleagues for supporting me every step of the way with this doctorate.
Chris Oliver Tacto
Associate Director, Communication; Clinical Instructor
USC Student Health, Office of Health Promotion Strategy; Keck School of Medicine
Graduating a Doctor of Social Work from USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Pursuing a doctorate in social work supports my grand vision to support and enhance the health and wellbeing of college students, not only at USC, but at Colleges and universities across the country. I had the opportunity to receive both my masters of social work and public health degrees from USC in 2016 and learned that it takes macro-level efforts to make large-scale changes in the university system. I wanted to advance the work of health promotion in a higher education setting by applying systems and settings-level interventions by redesigning colleges as one that is equitable, sustainable, and health promoting. As the first person in my family to graduate with a doctoral degree, this moment represents the sacrifices my parents made to support my education and lifelong accomplishment. Receiving my third degree from USC makes it feel even more golden. I wholeheartedly thank USC for offering a benefit that supports their employees and the dreams they hold and I encourage staff and faculty, alike, to pursue changing those dreams into a reality as USC did for me.
Kristin Goluska
Director of Operations
Institute for Addiction Science, Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine
Graduating a Doctor of Social Work from USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Studying social innovation and change at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work had been an interest of mine since learning of the degree in 2016 while living in Columbus, Ohio. I soon after accepted a position at USC to help provide academic and technical assistance to several countries to reduce harm caused by alcohol use through AB InBev’s Global Smart Drinking Goals Project. Taking on that role furthered my interest in pursuing this education. This degree helped shape the way I see problems, devise a solution, and manage the implementation.
USC has one of the most unique doctoral programs that cuts across disciplines to address the 12 Grand Challenges of our day identified by the field of social work. I came to the program with a Master’s in Public Health from The Ohio State University, and my classmates each brought their own unique educational and professional backgrounds that made the experience rich with peer-to-peer learning and development.
I want to thank USC for an incredible educational experience, and look forward to utilizing my degree to continue the important work addressing substance use and addiction in our communities.
Fight on!
Mayra Azucena Gomez
Senior Admissions Counselor
USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Graduating a Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology from USC Rossier School of Education
I decided to return to school after a 14 year hiatus as I saw it as an opportunity to gain the knowledge and develop a set of new skills to advance in my career. I will admit as a mother it was difficult to return to school but fortunately I have a very supportive husband (who is also a Trojan) and kids (now 6 and 9) who became excited seeing their mom “go to school where she works”. During the spring semester I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily it was detected early (thank you Keck Medicine) and I was able to finish my semester strong! Fight on 2020!
Debbra Cuellar, Erica Jaranilla, Matthew Shrader
Human Resources Team
Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC
Graduating Masters of Human Resources from Bovard College
Team effort from ATRI in San Diego. The entire Human Resources team at the Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute is graduating with a Master’s degree in Human Resources. Couldn’t be prouder of my team, Erica Jaranilla and Matthew Shrader, and our accomplishments!
Carmel Mitchell
Student Services Advisor II
Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Graduating a Master of Education in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from USC Rossier School of Education
I began working at USC as a secretary in Spring 2017 in the Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. It was my first position in higher education and I fell in love with the culture, the environment and the possibility of working with students. It was in this role that I got a behind the scenes look the inter-workings of a University, and I just knew that this was the setting for me. I decided to pursue a Master of Education degree in Postsecondary Administration and Student affairs around the same time I moved in to the student services advisor role in the Chan Division. Over the past two years, these experiences have complimented each other so beautifully. I have been able to apply the theories and concepts that I’ve learned in my master’s program to my current role and I have also been able to apply my work experience to a classroom discussions. The late night courses after long work days, the weekend papers and projects and “double finals” as both a student and administrator, were all worth it. I’m so incredibly grateful to my department, the Rossier school of Education and USC for this incredible opportunity!
Chi Hang Lo
AVIT solutions architecture
Information Technology Services
Graduating a Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology from USC Iovine and Young Academy
Of course, graduation is one of the most important milestones, especially a degree from USC. This is also the completion of one of the most important chapters in my life. I’m so thankful for the support of ITS, my boss and colleagues – I couldn’t have done it without their support. I especially want to thank my boss Joe Way and Dr. Doug Shook – who both spent time with me. Also, my wife helped me a lot with family during the times I had to study and allowed me to fully concentrate on my classes.
Join in on the celebrations
Share your story of your degree-earning adventure, or if you’re already a USC alum join the Trojans for Life family album.
And, learn about how USC is honoring this years graduates – and how all employees can tune in and get involved in other ways – on the Commencement site.