University of San Diego: College of Arts and Sciences

10/22/2026

Check out the “10 Years of the Humanities Center” article in the latest issue of the Arts & Sciences magazine!

The University of San Diego's Humanities Center began with a vision: to create a campus-wide ethos in which the liberal arts could thrive and interdisciplinary conversations, with the humanities at the heart, could flourish.

In 2014, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Noelle Norton, PhD, brought together a small group to explore ways to strengthen the arts and sciences on campus. She asked Brian Clack, PhD, a professor of philosophy, to lead a council and write a report on the advancement of the liberal arts. The council's primary recommendation was to create a humanities center.

"A group of us — Clack, then Provost Andy Allen, Associate Dean Ron Kaufmann and I met in my office to discuss the importance of promoting interdisciplinary thinking and a well-rounded education," Norton says. "We agreed that the best way forward was to bring those ideas together by establishing the Humanities Center at USD." Click the link below to read all about it!
https://www.sandiego.edu/newscenter/169455

10/22/2026

For University of San Diego student Grayson Gagnon, science and service have always gone hand in hand. A neuroscience major with a biology minor on the pre-medical track, Gagnon was recently selected as a recipient of the prestigious Kyle O'Connell Memorial Scholarship, presented by the USD Alumni Association and donors to Kyle's fund that honors students who demonstrate academic excellence and a deep commitment to improving the lives of those affected by cancer.

The Kyle O'Connell Memorial Scholarship was created in honor of Kyle O'Connell, the son of Michael '87 and Julie '88 (Belfiore) O'Connell. On February 6, 2005, Kyle passed away just shy of his 10th birthday. Kyle's brave fight against brain cancer inspired a group of USD alumni to establish this scholarship in 2008 with the purpose to inspire students to find a cure for cancer, to provide comfort and hope for patients and their families and to advocate and motivate others to become active in the fight against cancer.

"From the moment I got my first doctor kit at age three, I have loved science and have been passionate about helping people," says Gagnon.

Click the link below to learn all about Grayson's incredible story.
https://www.sandiego.edu/newscenter/170979

10/21/2026

The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of San Diego is proud to welcome four exceptional scholars to the 2026 Teaching Pathway Postdoctoral Program cohort.

“Selected from nearly 200 applicants, the incoming University of San Diego's Teaching Pathway Postdoctoral cohort reflects the strength and diversity of scholarship inspired by this cycle’s theme of ‘Borders,’ ” says Assistant Dean Pauline Berryman Powell, who serves as one of the committee co-chairs of the program.

Originally designed in 2013, USD’s Teaching Pathway Postdoctoral Program uses a teacher-scholar model designed to provide academic experience and support for diverse scholars while enhancing the experience of students.

Early-career scholars have the opportunity to apply to the program every other year. Those who are chosen, receive a two-year postdoctoral faculty appointment along with mentorship aimed at strengthening their teaching and supporting their scholarly pursuits. Afterwards, many go on to academic positions at either USD or other institutions.

Click the link below to learn about these incredible scholars and what they are researching!

https://www.sandiego.edu/newscenter/170829

10/21/2026

In this episode of USD's At the Edge of It All, USD Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences Yessica Green Rosas, PhD, discusses the critical need for culturally-adaptive mental health care.

Drawing from her own background as a Mexican-American, Rosas shares how tailoring evidence-based practices, such as reframing disciplining strategies to fit diverse family norms, improves care for underrepresented communities.

She also outlines her current research on bridging the gap between lab-tested interventions and real-world community clinics.

Click the link in our bio to listen to the whole episode!

In this episode of At the Edge of It All, USD Assistant Professor o...

10/17/2026

University of San Diego Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) students took their learning beyond the classroom to New Zealand for a journey across the country’s North Island.

Led by Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations and MAIR Program Director Andrew Tirrell, JD, PhD, students explored the country’s political, cultural and environmental landscapes through hands-on experiences over Spring Break 2026.

Students connected international relations policy with real-world questions around conservation, Indigenous rights, sustainability and social justice. From learning about Māori history and culture to observing a live session of New Zealand’s Parliament, hiking through Zealandia and Kaitoke Regional Parks, and visiting Tiritiri Matangi Island, each experience offered a new perspective on topics they had learned about in class.

Along the way, students also experienced some of New Zealand’s iconic landscapes, including locations featured in The Lord of the Rings.

MAIR travel courses provide opportunities for students to develop the cultural awareness, empathy and firsthand understanding needed to navigate complex global challenges.

This was an especially incredible cohort, and we are inspired by what these graduates are all doing out in the world now!

University of San Diego Master of Arts in International Relations (...

10/16/2026

The Fall 2026 edition of Arts & Sciences magazine is here!

This year’s issue celebrates the people, ideas and experiences shaping our college and making an impact on campus and beyond. Explore feature stories on approaching theology “with a curious mind,” the creative work of visual artists and professors Victoria Fu and Matt Rich, and how students in the Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) program gain a global perspective on policy through a trip to New Zealand.

You’ll also discover how a group of USD faculty and staff traveled to France to trace the university’s Catholic roots, celebrate the 10th anniversary of the USD Humanities Center, learn about resources that help students strengthen their writing skills, and explore spotlights on our outstanding students, faculty and alumni.

For the first time, Arts & Sciences is available as a digital publication on the College of Arts and Sciences website, making it easier than ever to explore this year’s stories and discover the people and ideas that make our college distinctive.

Please click the link below to navigate this year's edition!
https://www.sandiego.edu/newscenter/publications/arts-and-sciences-magazine/2026/

10/14/2026

Over the last 10 years, the Humanities Center at USD has brought students, faculty and staff together to explore what it means to be truly human. Since opening its doors in 2016, the Humanities Center has served as a place that fosters the “free exploration of ideas,” as A. Vassiliadis Distinguished Director of the Humanities Center Brian Clack, PhD, shares.

Complete with a vibrant gallery and community gathering spaces, the center focuses on highlighting the importance of the humanities in all disciplines. The launch of the Keck Undergraduate Humanities Research Fellows Program is one of the center’s earliest accomplishments, serving as a tool for students to work closely with a faculty member for a year on a research project. From meaningful conversations, engaging speakers and art exhibitions, the center continues to provide a space for the USD community to engage with the humanities in many impactful ways.

This semester, the Humanities Center is celebrating this momentous anniversary by hosting its On Being Human series every Tuesday at 4 p.m., where speakers from a diverse range of disciplines from across campus offer their perspectives on the many facets of being human. At its core, the series reflects the center’s founding purpose: to foster dialogue, encourage discovery and bring together diverse perspectives from across the University of San Diego.

A new exhibit, Centering Art: Acquisitions, 2016-2026, is also on view through Nov. 25 in the Humanities Center, located in Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall, Room 200.

Keep an eye out for a feature and retrospective on the Center’s accomplishments in the new Arts & Sciences magazine coming out this week! USD Humanities Center

Over the last 10 years, the Humanities Center at USD has brought st...

10/09/2026

“Tenacious.”
“Unpretentious.”
“Kind.”
“Unguarded.”
“Passionate.”
“Joyful.”
“Phenomenal.”

These are only a few of the words that spring to mind when colleagues and leaders talk about Professor Emerita of History Iris Engstrand, PhD.

Engstrand was a scholar in Spanish colonial history in California and author of more than 25 books who taught at the University of San Diego’s College of Arts and Sciences for nearly 50 years. She passed away on Sept. 12 at the age of 91, but her presence lives on in the memories swirling in the offices and classrooms on campus.

Emerging from these conversations is a portrait of a woman energized by curiosity, learning and relationships, committed to mentorship and support of students and faculty as well as the well-being of the USD campus and community. She surmounted obstacles with characteristic aplomb. Overwhelmingly, Engstrand is remembered for her groundbreaking role as the first female professor to teach in the then-College for Men at USD in 1968.

“She was not a Catholic, she was divorced, and it was not an easy path for her,” says Professor Del Dickson, PhD, a colleague from the Department of Political Science and International Relations. “But she is a bulldozer. She just goes to work and doesn’t let the little stuff bother her. It’s as much her personality as it is skill, and she had the personality to adapt. If she was going to be the first, she was the perfect first.”

As her daughter, Professor of Communication Kristin Moran, PhD, tells it, Engstrand had been teaching at Long Beach City College and as an adjunct at the University of Southern California — where she earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees — when she began searching for a full-time role.

Click the link below to read more about Engstrand's incredible life and legacy.
https://www.sandiego.edu/newscenter/167683

10/07/2026

This Torero Tuesday was nothing short of extraordinary. Thanks to your incredible generosity, 345 donors stepped up for the College, helping us more than double our original goal and raise over $200,000.

Behind those numbers are real stories: direct support for student scholarships, groundbreaking research opportunities, hands-on creative projects, and experiential learning that prepares our students to make a difference in the world.

Whether you are an alumnus, a parent, a faculty or staff member, or a friend of USD, your support sends a powerful message to our students that our community believes in their potential.

From all of us in the College of Arts and Sciences, thank you for your commitment to our students and your belief in the transformative power of a liberal arts education.

10/07/2026

USD student Otto Lana exemplifies a true Changemaker. A Sociology major and Changemaking minor, Lana is actively redefining communication and challenging the disability narrative through advocacy and entrepreneurship.

Lana’s motto, “Everyone Belongs Here,” reminds us that every student — regardless of disability — deserves an education that presumes their full potential.

Watch our latest video to hear Lana’s story in his own words and keep an eye out for Arts & Sciences magazine to read more about Lana’s incredible journey.