During her State of the University address last week, USC President Carol L. Folt was spot-on when she said, “Our work together matters more than it ever has.” She was not only referring to the spirit of innovation that lives and thrives inside the university’s students, faculty and alumni, but also to the fact that these innovations are making a real difference in the lives of people in our communities, Los Angeles and throughout the world. It’s an amazing time for USC.

Across our campuses, we’ve been working together to integrate sustainability into everything we do. We’re conducting groundbreaking climate-change research, pursuing new forms of renewable energy, finding environmentally friendly ways to eliminate or reduce waste, and so much more. To promote this work and our successes in other sustainability initiatives, we are proud to celebrate Earth Month this April, and hope you will join us.

We’re also making great strides in technology, in areas such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence and augmented reality—fields that have the vast potential to reshape our world for the better. As an example, USC launched the Center for Generative AI and Society last month. This new center is a place where artists, engineers, communication experts, educators and other innovators will explore the transformative impact of AI on culture, education, media and society.

To aid in our efforts, USC has established a new campus in the heart of Washington, D.C. Its prime location in the nation’s capital will strengthen the ability of our interdisciplinary researchers, policy experts, faculty and students to collaborate even more closely with government and research institutions to achieve our goals—and help solve some of the world’s most difficult challenges.

During this amazing time at USC, we hope you are inspired to be involved and support these exciting endeavors.

Fight On!

Patrick E. Auerbach EdD ’08
Associate Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations