News & Events
Part of USC's mission is linking research and policymaking. This includes exposing members, staff and agency representatives to relevant research being conducted at USC and connecting them with lead researchers. Please contact the Office of State Government Relations if you would like more information on these events (kawilson@usc.edu).
State Higher Education Commission appoints Education Admnistrator Karen Humphrey to Executive Director Position. Ms. Humphrey graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Humanities. The California Postsecodary Education Commission advises the Governor and Legislature on higher education policy and fiscal issues. The Commission's primary focus is to ensure that the state's educational resources are used effectively to provide Californians with postsecondary education opportunities. Geoffrey L. Baum has been appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors by Governor Schwarzenegger. He has served as the assistant dean for the Annenberg School for Communication since 2001. This position does require Senate confirmation. Carmen Puliafito has been appointed to the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee by Governor Schwarzenegger. Since 2007, he has served as the dean of medicine at USC Keck School of Medicine and professor of ophthalmology and health management at the Doheny Eye Institute. This position does not require Senate confirmation. Continuing his support of California's rich literary tradition, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Carol Muske-Dukes California's poet laureate. She has been a professor of English at USC since 1993, here she founded the graduate program in literature and creative writing. The role of the Califonia poet laureate is to spread the art of poetry from classrooms to boardrooms across the state.2008 Coming Events
Watch for coming events.2008 Events
January 18, 2008 - Fiscal Challenges: Transparency in the Budget Process. This presentation shared findings from a new book edited by Elizabeth Garret, Elizabeth Graddy and Howell Jackson, "Fiscal Challenges: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Budget Policy". Garrett discussed findings from the book and presented her research on transparency in the U.S. budget process and its implications for reforming the California budget process. Information on future events available at www.usc.edu/schools/sppd/programs/sac
March 6, 2008 – Paying For Tomorrow's Infrastructure: Options and Strategies for Sustainable Financing in California. This event took place at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sacramento from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. More information can be found at www.usc.edu/schools/sppd/programs/sac
April 8, 2008 – "USC in Sacramento," featured keynote speaker Dr. Steven B. Sample. A Senate Resolution was presented to the Women's Soccer Team for their NCAA Championship.
June 9, 2008 - IMMIGRATION AND THE ECONOMY - Informational Hearing - California Immigrants: Demograpics behind the new economy. Dowell Myers, Professor of Urban Planning and Demography Presented to the Select Committee chaired by Senator Gil Cedillo.
August 23, 2008 - Telemundo 52 "Back to School Event" Saturday, August 23, 10am-4pm. 5 Counties, 4 Schools, 1 Day - Open to students of all ages. Riverside/San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Ana. In partnership with USC TRIO Upward Bound. More information available at www.telemundo.com/education/index.html and click on Back to School.
2007 Calendar of Events
October 2007 – USC Global Conference on the Pacific Rim in Tokyo, Japan
November 1, 2007 – Elizabeth Currid, Professor, USC School of Policy,Planning and Development gave a presentation on how fashion, art and music impact economic development. This event took place in the Library and Courts Building, 914 Capitol Mall, Room 500, in Sacramento from 12:00 to 1:15 PM. Lunch was served. More information can be found at www.usc.edu/schools/sppd/programs/sac
April 18 2007 - Dr. Dowell Myers and Dr. Rafael Bostic, professors in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development presented jointly on housing and the economy to staff from the Capitol and various state agencies. This was the third and last policy briefing on the topics addressed in Myers' new book "Immigrants and Boomers" sponsored by the SPPD's Sacramento Center. Dr. Bostic is also the Director of the Real Estate Development Program and has testified before the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee on the issue of mortgage lending practices.
April 19, 2007 – Dr. Myers presented the findings of his book "Immigrants and Boomers" at a Capitol briefing sponsored by the Latino Caucus and Comcast. A video copy of his presentation can be found on Comcast-in-Demand.
May 1, 2007 - Rossier School of Education Dean, Karen Symms Gallagher, and the Office of State Government Relations participated in a statewide conference of California's deans of education that was convened by the Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. The group discussed the future of teacher education and future collaboration among the higher education segments.
May 2, 2007 – Dr. Ron Astor of the School of Education and Social Work presented his research on school violence to the Senate Education Committee, which held an informational hearing on the issue of K-University campus security. USC Chief Carey Drayton and the USC Office of State Government Relations also testified on behalf of the University. Others on the panel were President Dynes, Chancellor Reed and their police chiefs. Chair Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, said he was pleased with the status of emergency response planning at educational institutions.
May 4, 2007 - Former State Senator and USC alumna, Martha Escutia, was the keynote speaker at the School of Policy Planning and Development, Sacramento Center's graduation ceremony.
May 7, 2007 - Former USC Director of the Mexican American Alumni Association, Raul Vargas, was honored by the state Assembly at their sixth annual Latino Caucus Spirit Awards for his years of dedication of increasing access to higher education for Latino students. The seven other Latino Caucus Spirit Award recipients included, Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina, Congressman Torres, actor Edward James Olmos and former Secretary Maria Contreras Sweet.
May 15-16 - The USC Office of Government Relations participated in the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento Lobby Day. The LA delegation of nearly 100 advocated for the Chamber's priority state issues including increased access to higher education, health care reform and an improved infrastructure system.
June 2, 2007 – the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine announced the distribution of $50 million to fund new research facilities at seventeen California academic and non-profit institutions. USC and the USC Children's Hospital of Los Angeles received $5 million for construction, equipment and facility operations. To view the press release: http://www.cirm.ca.gov/press/pdf/2007/06-05-07.pdf
June 19, 2007 – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, New York Governor Michael Bloomberg and Los Angeles Mayor Villaragoisa participated in a USC Annenberg School of Communications conference on bipartisanship titled. "Ceasefire! Bridging the Political Divide."
July 16, 2007 – The USC Collaborative on E-Governance Partners, in collaboration with the California State Chief Information Officer Clark Kelso and the Microsoft Corporation, is sponsoring a one-day workshop on Privacy and Identity Management. The event was held at the USC State Capital Center.
July 19, 2007 – The School of Policy, Planning, and Development's Sacramento Center and the California Research Bureau sponsored a briefing at the California State Library on "The Changing Landscape of Transportation Decision Making" by Dr. Genevieve Giuliano, director of the METRANS Transportation Center and Richard G. Little, director of the USC Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy.
October 18-20 (San Diego) – The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) and the California Council on Teacher Education hosted a conference targeted at teacher education faculty, administrators and policymakers on the issue of accountability in teacher education. More information can be found at www.ccte.org
Visit the USC Arts and Event Calendar for information on what's occurring in Los Angeles - http://web-app.usc.edu/ecal/custom/32/