January 16, 2013
Jack H. Knott, dean of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, called his recent trip to Asia "one of the most exciting I've ever undertaken." Between Nov. 19 and Dec. 4, he visited China, India and Hong Kong to advance the school's mission of shaping -- and being shaped by -- the world. "These are very important countries to Los Angeles, to USC and to the Price School," he said. "I was really impressed by the range of people that we were able to meet and the relationships that we solidified, as well as initiated."
Jack H. Knott, dean of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, called his recent trip to Asia "one of the most exciting I've ever undertaken." Between Nov. 19 and Dec. 4, he visited China, India and Hong Kong to advance the school's mission of shaping -- and being shaped by -- the world. "These are very important countries to Los Angeles, to USC and to the Price School," he said. "I was really impressed by the range of people that we were able to meet and the relationships that we solidified, as well as initiated."
The Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public Enterprise launched its new "Lunch with a Leader" series, aimed at providing a small group of USC students the opportunity to engage with state and national leaders to discuss issues of governance and policy implementation. "Our goal is to have a series of small events where we have real, in-depth conversation," said USC Sol Price School of Public Policy Professor Raphael Bostic, director of the Bedrosian Center.
When October's Superstorm Sandy knocked out power in parts of Torrington, Conn., Mayor Ryan Bingham -- a student in the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy's online MPA program -- used social media to communicate with his residents. Through social media, he said, you "can speak directly to people, and they can speak directly to you."
By all measures, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy experienced a historic year. And on the evening of Nov. 13, the Price School commemorated its accomplishments, honored its supporters, and looked toward the future by announcing the launch of its $150 million fundraising initiative. More than 400 guests attended a festive gala at The Beverly Hills Hotel for the USC Price Guardian Awards & Campaign Celebration. With this initiative, the school aims to become a global center for public policy, planning and development in the urban 21st Century. 
Imran Farooq DPPD '11 proved that he was ready for his close-up during the Oct. 24 broadcast of SOS: Sustaining Our Society, a PBS documentary based on his USC Sol Price School of Public Policy dissertation. The documentary -- available for 
The Athenian Society, the premier philanthropic support group for the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, held a town hall discussion on Oct. 24 focusing on key issues of the presidential election. NBC Los Angeles political reporter Conan Nolan moderated the discussion with Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, senior fellow at USC Price, and Dan Schnur, director of the Unruh Institute of Politics, as they analyzed how the race between incumbent President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney has unfolded.
USC Sol Price School of Public Policy Professor Marlon Boarnet spoke at a recent informational hearing of the California State Assembly Select Committee on Rail Transportation, sharing his expertise on rail transit in Los Angeles. The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the Los Angeles Metro Rail transit plans, as well as to provide the committee an opportunity to hear and address local concerns about these plans.
USC Sol Price School of Public Policy Professor Janet Denhardt, DPA '91, was named a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) in recognition of her exemplary professional accomplishments in teaching, research and public service. Denhardt, the inaugural holder of the Chester A. Newland Professorship of Public Administration at the USC State Capital Center in Sacramento, will be formally inducted next month at the academy's national conference in Washington, D.C.
Over the summer, dozens of students from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy went the extra mile through internships and international lab experiences across the globe. Price students took part in
International labs in Brazil and China; worked with key organizations like the Chinese Academy of Urban Planning and Design, Hong Kong-America Center, Shanghai Center for Sustainability; and interned at the U.S. State Department in Armenia.
The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy's first two social innovation interns blurred the lines between local and global arenas by serving refugees and other residents of San Diego's City Heights neighborhood. The internships were organized and funded by the Sol Price Center for Social Innovation, which promotes sustainable community development in City Heights and underserved urban areas.
After the financial crash of 2008, Leonard Hyman developed a strong interest in economics. He decided to combine that with his longtime affinity for politics by pursuing his MPP degree from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. Hyman, who graduated in May, fused these interests with his background in communications to create Crowdvocate, a novel and promising way to fund advocacy efforts for a variety of causes. It's an approach that combines crowdsourcing -- the mass solicitation of contributions online -- with crowdfunding, people pooling their money to support a cause.
From social media in Africa to "fracking" in California, the 2012 Policy Analysis Practicum challenged MPP students from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy to grapple with the most pressing issues of the day. During the practicum, small groups of MPP students worked together to put theory into practice, serving as consultants for high-profile clients and performing in-depth policy analyses of real-world issues. This year, clients included the Congressional Research Service, the RAND Corp., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, among many others.
Andre Birotte Jr., United States attorney for the Central District of California, invoked the words of one of America's greatest civil rights crusaders during the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy Dean's Distinguished Lecture on April 3 at Doheny Memorial Library. "It was Martin Luther King who so profoundly observed that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice," Birotte said. His talk, "Protecting Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in 21st Century Los Angeles," introduced his office, which aims to promote justice.
Peter and Jennifer Buffett, founders and co-chairs of the NoVo Foundation, gave their thoughts on philanthropy on March 20 as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series hosted by the USC Center on Philanthropy & Public Policy, housed at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. The Buffetts spoke of the need for a strategic focus in philanthropy, taking a hands-off approach with grantees, the importance of working with partners and their plans to spend down their foundation, which aims to oversee a change in society from exploitation to cooperation.
The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy was among several USC schools and programs that ascended in the latest national rankings released by U.S. News & World Report . The Price School climbed to sixth place (from seventh in 2008) in the newest edition of "America's Best Graduate Schools" for public affairs.
Representatives of county and city governments joined academic policy scholars at USC to begin a yearlong series of panel discussions exploring California's realignment of services and funds in the areas of prisoner reentry, social services and redevelopment. Titled "Shifting the Burden," the series is presented by the Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public Enterprise, which is housed at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, and the Southern California chapter of The American Society for Public Administration.
USC celebrated the life of professor Harry Pachon with a memorial symposium discussing politics and policy from a Latino perspective. Pachon, who died in November at age 66, was a pioneer in researching Latino culture and politics. He joined the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy in 2003, bringing with him the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI). He served as president of the institute from 1993 to 2010, turning it into the nation's premier think tank on policy issues relevant to Hispanics. He also was a founding board member and executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund from 1983 to 1993.
During the fall, USC students who signed up for the course, "The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest," found themselves with $10,000 and a tough assignment. They had to give the money away to up to five deserving Los Angeles-based nonprofits. As part of the course, offered through the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, professor Richard Sundeen asked each student to choose a nonprofit to research. At the end of the semester, they presented their findings to the class as persuasive pitches asking for $2,000 to $10,000 gifts to meet specific needs of the organizations.
Brent Tercero walked to the front of the Pico Rivera City Council chamber with butterflies in his stomach. At 26 years old, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy MPP student was about to be sworn in to a four-year term as the newest member of the five-person group at a Dec. 13 ceremony. "It was unreal," he said. "There were a lot of people there, maybe 200. I mean, it was filled to capacity -- not even standing room -- and then there was a huge overflow crowd in the lobby. It was intense, but it was a great experience."
Harry Pachon, professor at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development and president of the nation's oldest and most recognized think tank on Latino issues, died Nov. 4 following an extended illness. He was 66. "USC is saddened by the loss of professor Harry Pachon, an inspiring teacher, researcher and humanitarian who served both our university and our community at large," said USC provost Elizabeth Garrett. "His pioneering and celebrated career as a scholar of Latino culture and politics has heightened our understanding of the issues and challenges facing the Latino community, and he translated this work to society by encouraging local activism and advancement through education. Professor Pachon's dedication and character has left a lasting impact on the world."
When it comes to education, there actually are four Rs - reading, writing, arithmetic and reform. Over the summer, eight students from the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development concentrated on the subject of reform as fellows for Education Pioneers, a national nonprofit that recruits graduate students to explore issues in urban education through 10-week, paid summer positions outside the classroom.
How can an online game educate Californians about carbon emissions? What's the best way for the California government to prepare for the baby boomer retirement? Can private canine companies provide an effective and reasonably priced screening method to enhance airline security? These are a few of the real-world issues that USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development MPP students tackled during the 2011 Policy Analysis Practicum.
Helping Americans lead healthier and wealthier lives -- that's how USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development graduates Brooke Lykins and Mary Kuhn plan to spend their upcoming year courtesy of the Clinton-Orfalea Fellowships. The fellows will head to New York in August to work at the William J. Clinton Foundation, which addresses issues of global climate change, HIV and AIDS in the developing world, childhood obesity, and economic opportunity and development.
The nation's biggest employer - the federal government - already has snapped up four members of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development's Class of 2011. Master of public administration graduates Kristina McBoyle, Marie Mazwi and Yuliya Zingertal and MPA/master of social work graduate Juliet Bui have been selected to participate in the Presidential Management Fellowship program administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and designed to groom future government leaders.