ASE - Department of American Studies and Ethnicity
Follow the links below for more information on the USC College Department of American Studies and Ethnicity.
 
PEOPLE
staff

Sandra Hopwood
Email: sandrajo@usc.edu
Biography: Sandra joined the ASE family in March of 2003. Born and raised in Selma, Al. I love USC football. I also love listening to oldies and reggae music. I am the department secretary and my duties are taking care of the grad students and the administrative needs of the department.
 
 
Kitty Lai
Email: kittylai@usc.edu
Education: B.A. Economics, University of Southern California,05/2000
Biography: Kitty Lai is the Program Assistant for the Department. She has served in the Department since 2000 soon after she graduated from USC with a B.A. in Economics. She mainly coordinates the Graduate Admission process. Her favorite pastime is photography.
 
 
Sonia Rodriguez
Email: sonia@usc.edu
Education: B.A. Communication, University of Southern California,05/1990
Biography: Sonia Rodriguez has over twenty years of experience in the areas of recruitment, admissions, fellowships and program management at the University of Southern California. She currently serves as the Senior Administrator for the Department of American Studies and Ethnicity. Prior to that, Ms. Rodriguez served 13 years as the Director of Fellowships and Minority Affairs for the Graduate School, where she was responsible for the coordination of USC's All-University Predoctoral Diversity Fellowship and the financial management of over $4 million dollars in student aid funds. She often advises students and groups on fellowships and other types of student aid and volunteers her time to participate in a variety of efforts to help underrepresented students, like the California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education. This California native found her seven-year tenure as mentor through the Fulfillment Fund among her most rewarding experiences. Sonia served as the 75th President of the California Junior Chamber (Jaycees), where she has been a member for over eighteen years. Sonia was a HOPE Leadership Institute Graduate in 2001 and received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California in 1990. In her spare time, Sonia enjoys dancing salsa and is an avid Trojan Football Fan.