USC Media and Public Relations

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NPR News' "Morning Edition" highlighted recent USC Price School graduates LaMikia Castillo and Julia Capizzi as part of a new, "global" generation that is changing the American dream. They are more diverse, worldly and interested in traveling internationally than their parents, the story reported. In many cases, they're more interested in helping others than in their own advancement. "My American dream is for other people to be able to achieve whatever it is they would like to achieve," Castillo said. "It's more about trying to make a difference in the world." Capizzi said part of her dream is being willing to travel anywhere to achieve her goals and explore the globe. "The larger world is an extension of me, so I feel an obligation to know what that is. Otherwise I feel like I'm walking around with blinders on."

The Daily Beast featured research by Thomas Valente of the Keck School of USC and colleagues on how social networks can be used for health education. The researchers are looking to understand the science behind social influence, with the goal of using that influence to prevent disease. "There's a whole bunch of stuff that we know about human behavior: how it works, how to influence it and change it," Valente said. "And now we have these new platforms where we want to ... graft these theories and ideas onto this new technology."

USA Today reviewed "Shadow of Night" by Deborah Harkness of the USC Dornsife College. Harkness, a historian of science, married historical fact with supernatural fantasy while writing the book. The book has been described as "Harry Potter for grown-ups," featuring a romance between a witch and a vampire. The book is the second volume of a planned trilogy.

Forbes featured research by Andrew Curtis of the USC Dornsife College using geospatial video to collect data about disaster areas, which can be used in relief efforts. The story highlighted Curtis' recent work studying the cholera outbreak in Haiti. Curtis used small, GPS-encoding cameras attached to car windows in order to record video and maps of risk hotspots that could spread the disease. These included open sewer trenches and potentially contaminated water on routes to local water pumps. "Ultimately, what you're trying to do is identify where the riskiest locations are," he said. The story also noted his previous work charting the recovery of neighborhoods hit by Hurricane Katrina. Prior to this, agencies like the Red Cross had to document disaster damage by hand on a paper "street sheet."

Poets & Quants included the USC Marshall School in a list of the best one-year MBA programs in the U.S. The story noted that the one-year program has an international business consulting project with more work experience than is typical for such programs. Another Poets & Quants story mentioned the Marshall School's accelerated MBA program.

The Huffington Post ran a column by Cari Guttiard of the USC Annenberg School about working for Charlotte Beers, a key figure in the advertising world and former Under Secretary of State. She was an extraordinary figure who shattered glass ceilings in whatever position she worked in, Guttiard wrote. "If there is one word to describe Beers -- at least from my time working with her -- it is fearless, a term I wish more women embodied and would wear proudly," she wrote.

The Huffington Post highlighted USC for having the oldest film school in the country. The USC School of Cinematic Arts was established in 1929.

Science Daily featured research by Muller Fabbri of the Keck School of USC and a colleague identifying a cell mechanism that promotes cancer's growth and spread in the body. The study looked at how tumors can cause immune cells to discharge chemicals fostering cancer growth. "In this study we discovered a completely new mechanism used by cancer to grow and spread, therefore we can develop new drugs that fight tumors by entering this newly identified breach in cancer's fortress," Fabbri said.