As the academic year winds down and commencement caps prepare to fly, we’re pausing to appreciate the work, the wins — and the fresh start ahead with our new dean.
In this issue, be dazzled by the legally blind magician uncovering the science behind illusions, meet a graduate combining his passion for the arts and sciences to inform, and find out why our college dean of undergraduate education sees reading as a way to connect us.
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Graduating Senior Finds Magic at USC Dornsife |
Senior Tyler Gibgot was born with a rare condition that leaves him legally blind. Bright light overwhelms his vision, and faces blur — but that didn’t stop him from discovering magic.
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He picked up his first deck of cards during the pandemic.
- His visual impairment deepened his empathy and reflection, helping him focus on people’s character rather than appearances.
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He loved the tactile feel and creative freedom — and started performing for strangers online.
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That spark grew into a purpose.
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As a cognitive science major at USC Dornsife, he began studying the psychology behind magic — how it captivates attention, fuels imagination and builds human connection.
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He took that fascination abroad.
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With USC’s support, he interned at the MAGIC Lab in England, co-authoring a peer-reviewed paper on how to make magic accessible to blind audiences.
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Tyler founded a student magic club and performed across campus and in children’s hospitals, using magic to spread joy across backgrounds, languages, and abilities.
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“These experiences shaped who I am today: someone who uses magic not only as a tool for wonder but as a bridge to bring people together.”
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A Passion for Science Communication |
As a human biology major, Srikar Kolluru wasn’t content to just study science — he wanted to change how it’s shared.
Combining interests in journalism and science, Kolluru, who graduates this year, started The Nucleus, an online publication that aims to increase scientific literacy.
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Student contributors from diverse fields such as neuroscience, cinema and music create the content.
- Topics covered include health and wellness, technology and biological, physical and interdisciplinary sciences.
- This semester, the team produced print versions for the first time.
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In his words: “Our goal is to make science digestible and accessible to all,” Kolluru says.
As a USC Dornsife sophomore, Kolluru joined the Convergent Science Institute in Cancer (CSI-Cancer) as an undergraduate researcher — an experience he describes as profoundly transformative.
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- He studied how breast cancer spreads to the brain — an effort that involved working with terminal patients.
- He helped lead CSI-Cancer’s outreach programs, mentoring high school students through CURE’s Research Exploration and Career Help program.
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What else: Kolluru’s wide-ranging passions also led him to:
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- Serve as deputy photo editor at the Daily Trojan
- Volunteer as an EMT
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Lead as director of fundraising for Trojan Shelter
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In brief: USC Dornsife proved a perfect fit for Kolluru, offering the variety of academics and activities needed to explore his wide-ranging interests — including elevating science literacy for others.
In his words: “I wanted to go to a university that would allow me to integrate the academics of my major with my interests and passions in science, in research and in leadership.”
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Meet USC Dornsife’s New Dean |
James Bullock will bring a passion for interdisciplinary learning when he joins USC Dornsife as dean on July 1. He says that when he was an undergraduate, adding courses in English, philosophy, history and other disciplines outside his physics and mathematics majors had a profound and lasting influence on his scholarship. “I’m somebody who benefited tremendously from having a liberal arts education. It made me a better scientist.”
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What’s in a Book? Often, a Good Friend |
When people feel alone, many turn to books. USC Dornsife College Dean of Undergraduate Education Emily Anderson explores how reading can connect us.
Why it matters: Loneliness is on the rise, and literature offers more than just distraction — it also affords community, comfort and companionship.
Reading may look solitary, but Anderson argues that it’s deeply social.
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- While reading, “you’re with these characters, you’re with the author, you’re in another world,” says Anderson, professor of English.
- Reading aloud — to kids, partners or friends — revives ancient communal traditions.
- Storytelling started orally, and even early printed books were often shared out loud at home.
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Case in point: She read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings aloud to her sons — adding her own commentary and memorable character voices.
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- They can attest to the quality of her Gollum voice.
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What else? For those who feel isolated, fictional characters can feel like friends.
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Anderson points to All Creatures Great and Small as a book she finds comfort in when feeling lonely.
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Book clubs also forge connections and Anderson brings that spirit into the classroom. Her freshman seminar, “Our Favorite Books” (FSEM 100), lets students take the lead.
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Each week, students help select a book for the class to read and discuss.
- They explore the reading experience itself — even how it feels not to finish a book.
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Go deeper: Her latest book, Shadow Work: Loneliness and the Literary Life, explores how reading shapes solitude and connection.
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Faculty Innovators: Apply Now! |
Applications for Faculty Innovation Awards are now open. All full-time USC tenure-track and RTPC faculty whose research covers the environment or sustainability are eligible. Awards are for two-years and up to $50,000 each. Deadline: May 31.
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Professors Read Their Students’ Reviews |
Watch USC Dornsife professors react to sincere feedback from their students, learning about the impact their teaching has had on personal development and inspiration.
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LA’s Trees Absorb More Carbon Than Expected |
Professor Will Berelson and his team strategically placed a dozen sensors throughout mid-city L.A. to track carbon emissions and absorption in real time and found that trees were capturing up to 60% of the carbon dioxide emitted from cars and industry during the day.
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Signup to receive NewsRound, a weekly listing of news stories featuring USC Dornsife scholars.
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| “China has learned a lot from Hollywood … and simply does not need the Hollywood blockbusters anymore.”
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| | “Some of the questions for the Democrats’ strategy is the age question — is it time for a new generation? That is a little unique.”
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| “It isn’t the case that ignoring stress and anxiety helps it go away. You don’t have to be a psychologist to know that.”
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 | May 20, noon - 1 p.m. PT |
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 | Virtual |
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Join author Anne Choi as she discusses her research on the life and work of famed former L.A. County Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner Thomas Noguchi. Choi’s book, L.A. Coroner, reveals intimate details about Noguchi’s most controversial cases. Learn more >>
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Looking to visit the many theme parks and zoos in Southern California? The USC Ticket Office offers discounted tickets to faculty and staff.
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