Interim President Wanda Austin received her doctorate from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering in 1988, and has served as a USC trustee since 2010. (Photo/Steve Cohn)
The Trojan Family’s Points of Pride
“We build lives. We do our best to do good for others, and we give back to our communities.”
Reading USC Trojan Family Magazine has always been a joy for me. I graduated with a doctorate from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering in 1988, so I have seen this magazine grow and change over the decades. Like you, when a new issue arrives, I always look for familiar places in the pictures and in the stories, and like you, I always smile when I see a student or faculty member doing good in the world. This is the special pride that comes from being a Trojan.
This issue highlights USC builders, and inspires this same feeling of pride. The cover story tells us about alumni who are reimagining Southern California’s landscape, playing important roles in the architecture and development of our region. These are builders in a literal sense. They have dedicated themselves to making a meaningful difference, and they never shy away from the toughest questions in their profession. They might advocate for affordable housing, guard the historic character of a community, or work tirelessly to create a more livable neighborhood for residents. Their excellent work deserves our admiration.
In a broader sense, though, all Trojans are builders. After we take our graduation photos in front of Tommy Trojan — and show off our hard-earned diplomas — we make our way in the world. We build families and careers. We build lives. We do our best to do good for others, and we give back to our communities.
In my role as interim president, I have learned a great deal about the lives you have built since leaving our campuses, and I have seen the creative ways that you apply your USC education in our world. You make us proud.
When this issue lands in your mailbox, we’ll be at the height of the 2018 holiday season. During this time of year, we focus on helping others. We have family and loved ones in our hearts, but we also have our Trojan Family raising our spirits.
With a new year ahead, let’s keep the Trojan spirit in our hearts more deeply than ever, and let’s continue to do good for the world. As the pages in this magazine remind us, we have much to be proud about regarding our work and our university.
Fight On!
