USC APD & EDGE Present “Acquiring the Academic Mentoring You Need & Preparing for a Global Market”

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The USC Graduate School’s Diversity Outreach and Academic Professional Development Programs are sponsoring a featured presentation by Dr. Steven Lamy entitled, “Acquiring the Academic Mentoring You Need & Preparing for a Global Market: Making the most of your experiences with USC Faculty, Advisors, and Support Programs”

Dr. Lamy will encourage you as a current doctoral student to maintain a holistic view of your professional continuum to ensure your experiences link together as you progress towards your academic and professional goals. This presentation is applicable to all doctoral students regardless of discipline, methodological orientation, or stage of your dissertation process.

Thursday, October 11th at 3:30 p.m. in MHP 101 on the University Park Campus.

No reservations are necessary for this presentation.

If you have any questions, please email uscapdev@usce.edu

 

USC Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Honors four Ph.D. Candidates with Merit Fellowship

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Photo Credit: Ronan Donovan

Every year, the USC Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program awards Merit Fellowships to four current Ph.D. students who demonstrate excellence in their fields. Nominated for the award by their department chairs, recipients of the fellowship engage in exceptional research and are making great strides in their disciplines. The WiSE program awards the $5,000 fellowship stipend to two women from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and to two women from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. This year’s recipients represent the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Electrical Engineering.

As well as representing four distinct disciplines in science and engineering, the awardees have also come to USC from around the world. Beate Burkhart, a Chemistry Ph.D candidate, was born and raised in Germany, and earned a Master of Science dual degree in Chemistry from the Technical University of Dresden (Germany) and the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Rennes (France). Beate joined the lab of Dr. Barry C. Thompson shortly after beginning her doctoral studies at USC. Her research focuses primarily on the synthesis, characterization and application of conjugated polymers for binary and ternary blend polymer solar cells. She is the primary author of four of the eight papers she has published, and is currently preparing several more for publication.

A native of Missouri, Jessica Hartel’s dissertation research recently took her across the globe to Uganda’s Kibale National Park for her studies on chimpanzee aggression. Jessica’s year studying aggression mitigation strategies of wild chimpanzees at Kanyawara in Kibale National Park came after more than ten years studying primates in both captive & wild environments. Her dissertation focuses on chimpanzee aggression and their post-conflict interactions, such as reconciliation, consolation, and renewed or redirected aggression. Jessica argues that the reason for the lower rates of conciliatory behavior among Kanyawara chimpanzees as opposed to captive chimpanzees is the result of increased distancing and dispersal strategies in the wild. Significantly, Jessica’s research highlights not only the importance of conflict resolution in our own social evolution, but also the possible driving factors.

Back in Los Angeles, fourth-year Civil and Environmental Engineering Ph.D. student Winnie Kam is investigating urban air pollution and its chemical characteristics. Her research into particulate matter (PM), which are particles suspended in the air usually emitted from vehicles, industrial, or agricultural activity, has the potential to make a significant impact on the health of L.A. residents. Children, seniors, and people in the vicinity of a strong source of PM are more susceptible to the adverse health effects of PM exposure. Winnie’s thesis focuses on the public’s exposure to PM in various transportation environments in L.A. including freeways, surface streets, subway, and light-rail.

Angeliki Metallinou joined USC Electrical Engineering Ph.D. program under the supervision of Dr. Shri Narayanan after completing her undergraduate degree in her hometown, Athens, Greece. Interested in multimodal signal processing, machine learning and affective computing, Angeliki’s dissertation focuses on developing computational methods to accurately model the complex processes that constitute affective expressions and interactions. She studies a variety of emotion-modulated modalities such as facial expressions, vocal characteristics, and body language gestures. Her research has many applications, including human-computer interaction and human behavior analysis. She is currently involved in projects on autism research, and recently interned at Microsoft Research investigating human-computer interaction involving spoken dialog systems.

The recipients thank the USC Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program for the support of their dissertation research. We look forward to the many accomplishments yet to come!

ASE Ford Foundation Fellowship Workshop

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Dr. Rhacel Parrenas of Sociology will be leading a workshop on Monday, October 1 at noon on applying for a Ford Fellowship (doctoral, dissertation and post-doctoral).

The event will be in KAP 445. Lunch will be provided by the Graduate School. Please RSVP to lpulido@usc.edu if you will be attending so we can order the right amount of food.

The Mission of the Ford Foundation Fellowship Program is as follows:

Through its Fellowship Programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

For more information on the Ford Program, please visit:
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/fordfellowships/

USC APD & EDGE 2012 Fall Program presents: Managing the Dissertation Process: Procedural Recommendations & the Affective Side

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Enhance your academic and professional skillsets 

Managing the Dissertation Process: Procedural Recommendations  and the Affective Side provides a holistic view of the dissertation process providing strategies, tips, and life lessons culled by Dr. Alison Miller owner and founder of The Dissertation Coach. Dr. Miller is a published author and contributor to multiple news related outlets as well as being a nationally invited speaker. Dr. Miller works with doctoral students and faculty members across the country from the University of Texas to the University of Chicago to the University of California, Los Angeles.

This presentation is applicable to all doctoral students regardless of discipline or methodological orientation. Dr. Miller will speak to the holistic process of managing the dissertation presenting ideas that can be utilized by early and mid-stage doctoral students but may be of particular interest to those doctoral candidates in the latter stages of the dissertation process.

Date:  Thursday, September 27th, 2012
Time:  3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Location: SGM 124

There are no reservations required and no fees associated with this presentation.

For more information please email the APD Program: uscapdev@usc.edu

 

Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE) Fall 2012 Symposium

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The USC Graduate School’s office of Diversity Outreach & Academic Professional Development brings you the EDGE Fall 2012 Symposium!

Come see USC Ph.D. Students, EDGE Scholars, present their original research!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at the Davidson Conference Center Club Room

Agenda:
9:30 am to 10:00 am — Continental Breakfast and Welcome
10:00 am to 11:00 am — Presentation Session 1
11:00 am to 12:00 pm — Presentation Session 2
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm — Lunch and round table discussions

Research from American Studies & Ethnicity, Sociology, Political Science, History, Communication, Gender Studies, Policy, among others

RSVP is required by Monday, September 24th at 12 PM via email to graduate.diversity@usc.edu

Diversity and Academic Professional Development Fall 2012 Seminars & Panels for USC Doctoral Students

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The USC Graduate School’s Diversity Outreach and Academic Professional Development Programs will be offering Seminars and Panels on the University Park Campus between September 26th and November 14th. Dates and times vary, please refer to the information below. There is a two-step registration process. Space is limited and provided on a first come, first served basis. If you have a question, please email uscapdev@usc.edu

SEMINARS
• Research Resources, Library Search Strategies, & Conducting the Literature Review (Wed, 9/26, 3 – 5 p.m.)
• Persuasive Writing and Editing Strategies: Research Papers, Thesis, Dissertations (Wed, 10/3, 3 – 5 p.m.)
• Communicating Effectively in Scholarly and Professional Environments, and Organizing your Research for Conferences, Panels, & Classroom Presentations (Wed, 10/17, 3 – 5 p.m.)
• Supporting Your Research With Grant & Fellowship Funding: Search & Application Strategies (Wed, 10/24, 3 – 5 p.m.)
• Writing the Job Market Package: Cover Letters & Personal Statements (Wed, 10/31, 3 – 5 p.m.)
• Writing the Job Market Package: Differentiating between the CV & Résumé (Wed, 11/7, 3 – 5 p.m.)
• University Research Protocols & Conducting Ethical Research (Wed, 11/14, 3 – 5 p.m.)

PANELS
• Managing the Dissertation Process: Affective and Procedural Recommendations (Thurs, 9/27, 3 – 5 p.m.)
• Preparing for the Global Market: Making the most of your experiences while at USC (Thurs, 10/11, 3 – 5 p.m.)
• Pressures to Publish in the Academy: Perspectives and Advice from Post-Docs and Faculty Members (Thurs, 10/25, 3 – 5 p.m.)
• Women in the Academy: Experiences and Strategies for Success (Thurs, 11/8, 3 – 5 p.m.)

SESSION INFORMATION & REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
Sessions will take place on the University Park Campus. Students are encouraged to attend more than one session (there is no limit).

Step One: Send an email as soon as possible to uscapdev@usc.edu and indicate the workshop(s) you are interested in attending. In your correspondence provide: (1) your name, (2) department, (3) year in program, and (4) faculty advisor’s name and email.
Step Two: Submit an application. You may submit your application via email (uscapdev@usc.edu) or return to the USC Graduate School, Diversity & Academic Professional Development, GFS 315T, Los Angeles, CA 90089. You may also fax your materials to (213) 740-9048.

DUE DATE
The final application deadline is Friday, September 21, 2012 (before 12:00 p.m.). Early registration is encouraged. Space is reserved on a first come, first served basis. Confirmations will be sent out on a continuous basis, starting on Monday, September 17, 2012. The due date may be extended, pending available space. Sessions can accommodate up to 50 students. Waitlists will be utilized.

 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON GRADUATE PROFESSIONALIZATION
For questions, contact Jesse S. Watson or Richard Andalon, USC Graduate School, Diversity & Academic Professional Development.
Website: http://www.usc.edu/schools/GraduateSchool/
Email: uscapdev@usc.edu
Telephone: (213) 740-3429

USC Annenberg Graduate Fellow brings Krump Dancing to the Screen and Stage

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USC Annenberg Fellow, Jessica Koslow, grew up dancing. Last year, she attended a “krump” class by Marquisa Gardner a.k.a. “Miss Prissy,” one of the founders of the energetic and expressive dance style born on the streets of South Los Angeles. Miss Prissy invited her after class to attend a weekly midnight krump session in a North Hollywood supermarket parking lot. When Jessica arrived to the midnight dance circle a few weeks later, she discovered an enthralling and thriving underground culture.

This first encounter with the midnight dance circle, nicknamed the “818 Session,” occurred while Jessica was completing the Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism (The Arts) degree from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. As part of her coursework, Jessica took a Documentary Production class with Cinema’s William Yahraus in which she created a 15-minute documentary titled The 818 Session with fellow classmate Tshego Tee Letsaolo.

Jessica continued investigating the 818 Session beyond the completion of this course, and developed the documentary into her master’s thesis project. Although The 818 Session was her first time handling a camera, the film has seen great success. The piece premiered at the USC Annenberg Graduate Symposium in April 2012, and was later accepted into the Dances with Films and the Dance Camera West Media Film Festivals, screening at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in June 2012.

Exercising her journalistic muscle, Jessica is expanding her coverage beyond print and film by bringing krump to the stage to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the dance style. Over the next week, USC Visions and Voices will host three krump events that Jessica has organized with the collaboration of Dr. Sasha Anawalt, Director of the Arts Journalism Programs and Associate Professor of Professional Practice in the Journalism Department of USC Annenberg, and Taj Frazier, Assistant Professor for the USC Annenberg School for Communication. The first is the live show, The Underground: From the Streets to the Stage, taking place Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 8:00pm in Bovard Auditorium. The Underground features two of krump’s founders, Christopher A. Toler a.k.a. “Lil’ C,” and “Miss Prissy.” The show explores issues such as gender, the use of space, and fame, through the lens of the birth and growth of krump, touching on its links to historical community dance rituals. RSVP and find out more about the show here:
http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/113/event/897786

The second event features Jessica herself, and takes place Tuesday, September 11, at 12:00pm noon, in Annenberg 207: Journalism Director’s Forum –Krump on the Screen and Stage: A Conversation with Miss Prissy, Star of “Rize,” and Journalist Jessica Koslow.
http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/113/event/897788

The final event is a krump dance workshop with krump legends, Lil’ C and Miss Prissy, which will take place Wednesday, September 12 at 5:00pm in the North Gym in PED:
http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/113/event/897789

Jessica earned her degree in May 2012, and thanks the USC Annenberg Graduate Fellowship and the Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism (The Arts) programs for providing the opportunity to explore her interests as a mid-career journalist: “One of the greatest gifts of going back to grad school is to be able to write stories that interest me.”

Congratulations, Jessica Koslow!

What is innovation? Asking the right questions, chasing the right dreams

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The Office of Academic Affairs, as part of the USC Diploma in Innovation seminar series, will hold a discussion on how to ask the right questions to elicit innovative answers or solutions entitled, “What is innovation? Asking the right questions, chasing the right dreams.” The discussion will take place in TCC 227 on Monday, September 10 and will run from noon to 1:30pm. Lunch will be served.

Moderated by Professor Peter Beerel of the Viterbi School, the discussion will feature presentations from Tara McPherson of Cinematic Arts, Mark Schroeder of Philosophy and Jonathan Lasch of the Alfred Mann Institute. Information on the presenters is available here:https://idiploma.usc.edu/seminar-1-monday-september-10/.

All students interested in innovation, especially those interested in pursuing the Diploma in Innovation next year, are encouraged to attend. Seating is limited. RSVP required for this event. Please visit usc.edu/esvp (code: idiploma) to RSVP.

USC Office of Academic Affairs | Diploma in Innovation

Attend the Fall 2012 Mixer and Networking Session for USC Graduate, Postdoc, and Undergraduate students

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The Fall 2012 Mixer and Networking Session for USC Graduate, Postdoc, and Undergraduate students is quickly approaching. This event is sponsored by the USC Graduate School, Diversity & Academic Professional Development; USC Office of Postdoctoral Affairs; and USC McNair Scholars Program, Office of Undergraduate Programs. The networking session will take place on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 from 3-5 PM in the Doheny Library Lecture Hall. Come get to know and chat with fellow USC Ph.D. students, postdocs, and undergraduates engaged in research! Refreshments and food provided! An RSVP, to graduate.diversity@usc.edu, with your name and department is appreciated but not required. We hope to see you there!

Grad Student Writes about the Road to the Olympics

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Samantha McDonald

Samantha McDonald

USC sent 36 athletes to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, which began July 27th. As we celebrate their achievements,we must also recognize the hard work and perseverance that has carried them this far.

Samantha McDonald, who earned her Master of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism this past May has done just that. For her thesis, “Training for the Olympic Trials,” Samantha followed three USC Olympic hopefuls, Bryshon Nellum, Brysun Stately, and Reggie Wyatt, on their journeys to the Olympic Trials for track and field. Samantha takes a unique perspective in her piece, shifting focus from athletic prowess to the obstacles the athletes hurdled to reach their goals.

A runner in middle school, Samantha’s interest in track and field and the experience of competitive athletes peaked watching her brother become a member of the USC Track team as a pole vaulter, despite battling Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes. Further investigation revealed that many other USC team members have also overcome hardships to pursue their dreams.

In her broadcast journalism thesis, Samantha weaves a narrative of suffering and redemption, saluting not only the athletes themselves, but also the coach, team masseuse, and teammates who helped them along the way. She tells the story of Bryshon Nellum, a redshirt senior and 400 meter runner, who made a remarkable come-back after suffering three gunshot wounds to his legs in 2008. Bryshon earned his place on the US Olympic team at the Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Samantha also followed 2009 USC graduate, Brysun Stately, who fought to compete for a second time at the Olympic Trials in pole vaulting, and Sophomore Reggie Wyatt, who runs the 400 meter hurdles. Wyatt, a sophomore at USC, suffered a great personal loss with the death of his grandparents, but fought through to make the Olympic Trials. Although all three overcame obstacles to qualify for the Olympic Trials, a great accomplishment in the career of any athlete, only Nellum ultimately made the US Olympic team.

Samantha’s compelling narrative illuminates the dedication and grit in the face of struggle that so many competitive athletes exhibit. As we watch the best of the best compete on the world stage, Samantha’s thesis provides a glimpse into the athletes’ personal journeys, helping us to more fully empathize with their triumphs and disappointments.

To continue her excellent work in the field of broadcast journalism, Samantha has joined Fox 40 News in Binghamton, New York. She is enjoying watching the Trojan athletes compete on the Olympic stage, and hopes to continue supporting and reporting on such individuals in her budding professional career.