With another commencement in the books, our 2019 graduates now venture beyond the USC Price School of Public Policy to build upon the successes they started here — and carry on our legacy of impact. I am enormously proud of the commitment shown by our students and alumni, and how they turn their passion into positive actions in communities around the world.
We are delighted to announce a $7 million gift from Leonard and Pamela Schaeffer in their continued support of the USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. Specific goals for the new funding include enhancing the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy. It will also establish the Elizabeth Garrett Chair in Health Policy, Economics and Law in honor of the late USC provost. The gift will also support the Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service program, which introduces undergraduates from USC and other leading universities to government work through high-level internships and professional development initiatives.
USC Price professors Antonio Bento and Jason Doctor won the School’s 2018-19 High Impact Research Award, which honors faculty research that addresses a critical issue facing society and had a demonstrable impact on improving policy, practices and discourse in the public or private sectors.
We are also proud to report that USC Price Schaeffer Center experts were recognized with the 2019 Behavioral Science & Policy Association (BSPA)’s Behavioral Best Publication Award for their 2016 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study on inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.
On April 29th, we had an amazing celebration in honor of Connie Rodgers, USC’s longest-serving employee and a beloved figure of the Price School. Hundreds of USC faculty, staff, students and alumni filled Franklin Courtyard to celebrate Connie’s remarkable career and contributions to the School. For 56 years, Rodgers has served as executive assistant to the Dean at the USC Price School of Public Policy – to eight deans, to be exact. She is retiring on July 31st. We will miss you, Connie!
Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, USC Price Professor of the Practice, was honored by the Los Angeles City Council for excellence in teaching. Sherry has been a highly regarded teacher and NBC4 Los Angeles political analyst for many years.
Macerich CEO, Tom O’Hern, joined the USC Price Real Estate Alumni & Affiliates (PREAA) for dinner conversation on the future transformation of the Westfield Pavilion mall into 584,000 square feet of creative office space for Google.
We are also pleased to announce USC Price Assistant Professor Jorge De la Roca began a new position this year as research director for the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, where he intends to expand the international focus and reach of the Center.
For more than 90 years, the USC Price School has remained focused on our mission to improve the quality of life for people and their communities, here and abroad. As you can see, we’ve had a wonderful start to 2019, and we look forward to celebrating the myriad accomplishments of our students, faculty, and alumni throughout the remainder of the year. With new faculty members coming on board this fall, we are poised to reach new research milestones while welcoming another great class of students. We hope you enjoy the rest of the summer, and Fight On!
Jack H. Knott, Dean
C. Erwin and Ione L. Piper Chair and Professor
USC Sol Price School of Public Policy