On September 3, alumni leaders from across the university and around the world gathered online to attend this year’s virtual Alumni Leadership Conference: “Courage. Collaboration. Community.”
USC President Carol L. Folt and several distinguished university leaders spoke at this year’s conference. If you were unable to attend, or would like to rewatch their presentations, view them below.
USC President Carol L. Folt and Welcome Remarks
USC President Carol L. Folt offered an update on the university; conference co-chairs Patrick E. Auerbach EdD ’08, associate senior vice president for alumni relations, and John Iino JD ’87, president of the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors, delivered welcome remarks.
USC Athletic Compliance
Scott Simon ’07, MEd ’13, associate vice president for athletic compliance, offered an update on the university’s athletic compliance efforts and participated in a discussion, moderated by Patrick E. Auerbach EdD ’08, associate senior vice president for alumni relations.
USC Culture Journey
Stacy Giwa, USC’s vice president of ethics and compliance, provided an overview of the university’s Culture Journey initiative.
USC Health Affairs
Steven Shapiro, USC’s senior vice president for health affairs, offered a look at the university’s expanding health services enterprise.
USC Urban Trees Initiative
Kate Weber, director of the USC Public Exchange, discussed the USC Urban Trees Initiative, which partners USC experts and students with the City of Los Angeles to guide the planting of an urban forest to improve the health and quality of life for local communities. Amber Miller, dean of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, explained how the USC Public Exchange is creating new model for engaging academic researchers to solve real-world challenges.
USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
Dana Goldman, dean of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, examined the enormous public policy challenges in the areas of public health, civic engagement and racial justice over the last 18 months—and gave an overview of the USC Price School’s response in terms of non-partisan research and community-based initiatives.
Every year, the USC Alumni Leadership Conference brings together volunteer leaders from across the university and around the world–including representatives from the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors, the Council for Opportunity and Regional Engagement, USC school and athletics boards, multicultural alumni associations, industry and affinity networks, alumni groups and regional programs–to hear briefings by senior university officials, meet and network with fellow Trojan leaders, and learn and share best practices.
Dr. Carol L. Folt
President
University of Southern California
Dr. Carol L. Folt is a highly experienced leader, internationally recognized life scientist and award-winning teacher. In leading USC, Dr. Folt brings broad executive and leadership experience across the academy, including arts and sciences, professional schools and academic medicine. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation for always placing students at the center, advancing academic excellence and innovation, setting ambitious goals, prioritizing shared governance and focusing on the future.
Stacy Giwa
USC Vice President of Ethics and Compliance
Stacy Giwa oversees the USC Office of Ethics and Compliance. In this role, she is responsible for helping people across the university comply with legal and regulatory requirements, especially in areas like research, data privacy and health care services. Giwa also works alongside members of the President’s Culture Commission, a group tasked with assessing and strengthening USC’s campus culture.
Dana Goldman
Dean of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
Dana Goldman was appointed dean of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy in July 2021. He holds the C. Erwin and Ione L. Piper Chair and is a distinguished professor of pharmacy, public policy and economics. For more than a decade, he has served as director (most recently, co-director) of the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, establishing it as one of the nation’s premier health policy research centers.
Kedra Ishop
USC Vice President for Enrollment Management
Kedra Ishop is a nationally recognized expert in higher education who leads the university’s admissions, financial aid and registration functions. In addition, Ishop promotes student success and retention by ensuring that students have opportunities to achieve their personal and professional goals in an engaging and rewarding environment. Ishop joined USC from the University of Michigan, where she served as vice provost for enrollment management.
Amber Miller
Dean of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Amber D. Miller is the 22nd dean of USC Dornsife and the holder of the Anna H. Bing Dean’s Chair. A noted experimental cosmologist, she holds a faculty appointment in USC Dornsife’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. As dean of the university’s largest and most academically diverse school, she is committed to raising the profile of all USC Dornsife academic departments; expanding faculty and student diversity; and defining a liberal arts education for the 21st century.
Steven D. Shapiro
USC Senior Vice President for Health Affairs
Steven D. Shapiro is the interim dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He directly oversees Keck Medicine of USC and Keck School of Medicine; works closely with the Office of the Provost and the university’s senior leadership team; and serves as a critical member of the USC Health System Board. A physician-scientist, Shapiro joined USC from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Scott Simon ’07 MEd ’13
Associate Vice President,
Office of Athletic Compliance
Scott Simon oversees the Office of USC Athletic Compliance, which ensures USC’s compliance with NCAA and Pac-12 rules. He has created cutting-edge policies to address trending NCAA and Pac-12 membership issues; helped coaches, administrators, student-athletes, parents and boosters interpret NCAA and Pac-12 regulations; and conducted rules-education programs forathletes, staff and university liaison groups. In addition, he supervises investigations of potential NCAA and Pac-12 violations and oversees all waiver petitions.
Kate Weber
Director of Public Exchange™
Kate Weber is the director of the Public Exchange™, USC Dornsife Dean Amber Miller’s signature initiative, which facilitates and streamlines partnerships among USC researchers and civic and business leaders. Weber brings more than ten years of federal government experience to USC from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where she developed environmental protection, health, civil society and infrastructure development projects across five countries. She also helped launch the U.S. Global Development Lab in 2014.
John Iino JD ’87
President
USC Alumni Association Board of Governors
John Iino has served on the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors for eight years. In addition, he has served as the chair of the USC Gould School of Law’s Board of Councilors for the past two years. A former member of the USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association Board of Directors, he currently serves as pro bono counsel to Ednovate, the charter management organization overseeing five charter high schools, including USC Hybrid High.
Patrick E. Auerbach EdD ’08
Associate Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations
University of Southern California
Patrick Auerbach manages all operations of the USC Alumni Association and serves as the university’s primary representative to its alumni. He advances USC’s mission by developing and implementing programs, events and services to engage the Trojan Family’s diverse alumni constituency of more than 437,000, and also works closely with the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors. As a senior leader in University Advancement, Auerbach also supervises the USC Associates, the university’s 2,500-member premier academic support group.
The USC Alumni Association gratefully acknowledges the dedication and hard work of the members of our 2021 USC Alumni Leadership Conference Planning Committee.
Co-Chairs
John Iino JD ’87
2020-2022 President, USC Alumni Association Board of Governors
Patrick E. Auerbach EdD ’08
Associate Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations
Committee Members
Preet Bassi MPA ’04
Washington D.C. Regional Advisory Group
Jay Berger ’66, MS ’67, PhD ’71
Half Century Trojans
Alex Blecksmith ’01, MBA ’12
USC Alumni Association Board of Governors
USC Marshall School of Business
Julian Bonse ’12
USC Athletics
Marissa Borjon MA ’10
Dallas, TX Regional Advisory Group
Crispulo Cecilio Bucao MBV ’20
USC Alumni Veterans Network
Amy Carter ’03
Los Angeles Regional Advisory Group
Kristina Chatow ’00, MSW ’02
USC Alumni Association Board of Governors
USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Stephanie Chavez MCG ’17
Orange County Regional Advisory Group
Christina Gonzalez EdD ’19
USC Latino Alumni Association
Vivian Gumbiner ’80
Alumnae Coordinating Council
Priya Kapoor ’93, MFTH ’06
USC Alumni Association Board of Governors
Mark Kawa JD ’88
USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association
Leticia Kimble ’05
Class of 2005 15th Reunion Committee
Ratri Lertluksamipun
USC School of Architecture Alumni Relations
Ehrin Marlow ’08
Trojan Entertainment Network
David Moreno ’16
Young Alumni Council
Martin Nguyen MRED ’18
USC Alumni Real Estate Network
Ifunanya Nweke MNLM ’16
USC Black Alumni Association
Peter Pirnejad MPLD ’02, DPPD ’17
Bay Area Regional Advisory Group
Henry Wu ’08, MD ’12
USC Alumni Association Board of Governors
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Brigette Young ’02
USC Alumni Entrepreneurs Network
USC Alumni Association Staff
Lara Abell
Director, Signature Events
Blaire Chapman
Executive Assistant, Alumni Relations
Melissa Chapman
Associated Director, Signature Events
Christina Denning ’13
Assistant Director, Regional & Engagement Programs
Danielle E. Harvey ’00, ML ’19
Assistant Vice President, Alumni Relations
Pasha Hawthorne
Director, Regional & Engagement Programs
Cole Morris
Associate Director, Marketing
Teresa Verbeck ’94, MS ’03, EdD ’10
Executive Director, Alumni Relations
Alumni attended the following breakout sessions at this year’s virtual Alumni Leadership Conference. Click the session titles below to learn more about the topics and speakers.
Leadership: Championing a Collaborative and Inclusive Community
Studies show that cultivating a collaborative and inclusive environment creates a more productive, innovative and engaged community. During this interactive session, learn strategies and tips, utilizing real-life scenarios, to help build and grow a strong community.
Speakers:
Ramona Cappello ’81
Partner, CEO Coaching International
Ramona Cappello is a partner with CEO Coaching International, the leading coaching firm for growth-focused CEOs and entrepreneurs. Passionate about advocacy and entrepreneurship, she has a 30+ year track record of successfully leveraging strong brands and creating new ones for a wide variety of companies. Cappello is a former member of the USC Trustees and a past president of the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors.
David Cash EdD ’08
Chair, Educational Leadership Doctoral Program
USC Rossier School of Education
David Cash became a full-time member of the USC Rossier School of Education faculty in 2019. A former trial lawyer, he began his career in education in 1987, teaching both elementary and high school. Cash later became a school superintendent in the following communities: Buellton, Claremont, Clovis and Santa Barbara. In recognition of his outstanding, 15-year tenure as a school superintendent, the USC Rossier School inducted Cash into the Dean’s Superintendents Advisory Group Hall in Fame in 2019.
Priya Rana Kapoor ’93, MFTH ’06
Business and Life Coach, Author and Speaker
Priya Rana Kapoor is a business and life coach, author and speaker who founded USC’s London office in 2017. Splitting her time between Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and London, Kapoor coaches clients around the world. A dedicated alumni volunteer, she mentors students and often speaks at alumni programs, including the USC Women’s Conference. She currently serves on the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors Executive Committee.
Leticia Lozoya MCG ’21
Director of Alumni Relations and Leadership Giving
USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Leticia Lozoya is the director of alumni relations and leadership giving at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, where she oversees a community of 20,000+ alumni. One of her top priorities is creating forums for alumni to network, deepen their ties to USC and advance scholarship opportunities for deserving students. She previously worked at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), where she received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Volunteerism: Evolving as a USC Volunteer—Finding The Courage To Step Up
Volunteerism is a great way for you to reconnect with your alma mater, expand your Trojan Family network and give back to your local community. Whether you are just finding the courage to become a USC volunteer, or you are a seasoned leader with years of experience, learn how to make a positive impact at any stage of your life.
Speakers:
Craig Farkas ’89, MBA ’93
Vice President, Harold Davidson & Associates, Inc.
Craig Farkas is an investment counselor, third-generation Trojan and longtime volunteer leader. A former member of the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors, he served as the co-chair of the Class of 1989 30th Reunion Committee. In addition, Farkas served as chair of Encore Trojans (for alumni ages 50 to 70), and also supports USC Associates, USC Marshall Partners and the Trojan Athletic Fund. In recognition of his dedicated service to USC and the Trojan Family, he received the Widney Alumni House Volunteer Award.
Heather Rim MA ’03
Chief Marketing Officer, Optiv
Heather Rim is a global marketing and communications executive with more than two decades of experience building brands to fuel growth. A proud graduate of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, she currently represents her alma mater on the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors. Rim also serves on the USC Annenberg School’s Center for Public Relations Board of Advisors, as well as on USC Annenberg’s Alumni Advisory Board.
Bryanna Wallace ’19
Assistant Brand Manager, Kenra Professional
Bryanna Wallace is an assistant brand manager at the hair products company Kenra Professional, where she oversees product development, innovation and portfolio optimization. Outside of work, she serves as the vice chair of programming for the USC Young Alumni Council, driving the professional, service, outreach and social programs for alumni ages 35 and younger. Wallace is also the co-founder of the social justice platform, Justice in June, which promotes allyship, shared understanding and ongoing learning to create racial and social equity.
Janie Wong-Lee ’82
Senior Director of Global Talent Acquisition, RGP Consulting
Janie Wong-Lee is a CPA and USC Leventhal School of Accounting graduate. She currently serves as the senior director of global talent acquisition for RGP Consulting, which specializes in corporate finance and accounting compliance, as well as technology and supply chain solutions, for Fortune 100 clients.
Digital Engagement: The Role Of The Alumni Leader In The Digital Age
How can we leverage our digital presence to engage the Trojan Family? Discover what it means to be an effective digital ambassador for USC. Following the presentation, you will participate in breakout sessions, based on your level of digital expertise, to learn and share best practices for online alumni engagement.
Speaker:
Caroline Leach MA ’95
Founder, The Carrelle Company
Caroline Leach is the founder of The Carrelle Company, which provides digital branding for people to grow their careers and business owners to grow their companies. She previously served as a vice president of marketing at AT&T, where she implemented a gender equality measure and launched an inclusion playbook for content creators. She currently teaches digital media at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and serves on USC Annenberg’s Alumni Advisory Board.
Below are resources to support USC volunteerism. Additional resources will be posted as the conference approaches.
USC Alumni Association at a Glance 2020-2021
Get the latest stats and program updates on the alumni in our global Trojan Family.
USC Office of Athletic Compliance – Playing by the Rules
Volunteer leaders and ambassadors must always strive to maintain the integrity of our great Athletics tradition. Bookmark the digital Athletic Compliance guidelines “Playing by the Rules” and use it as a point of reference for any and all compliance questions.
Show your Trojan spirit with one of these Trojan-themed conference backgrounds during the ALC networking sessions and Volunteer Recognition Dinner.
Inspiration from around the Trojan Family
Trojans are making a difference on campus, in the community, and around the world. During the conference breaks or whenever you need a little inspired pick-me-up, enjoy watching, liking, and sharing these videos covering some of USC’s exciting programs and most groundbreaking work.
USC
A Place Like No Other: The University of Southern California
First-Generation College Students at USC
TROJAN MARCHING BAND @ HOME
Conquest for the Class of 2020
KECK
Street Medicine Team Helps the Unhoused
Images of Resilience: Keck Medicine Staffers Share Their Selfies
ATHLETICS
VARIOUS USC PROGRAMS
USC Business of Cinematic Arts
USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance: The New Movement
Technology Changes Lives at USC for Veterans and Military Programs
The Robotics and Coding Academy – USC Viterbi School of Engineering
