Did you know April is National Volunteer Month? It’s a great reason to participate in USC’s Day of SCupport on April 29 and celebrate being a member of the Trojan Family while helping the community.

In this month’s newsletter, find out: 

AI tools like ChatGPT may be influencing more than writing. It could be changing how people reason, communicate and interpret the world, say USC Dornsife researchers.

Why it matters: As AI use surges globally, its use could standardize expression, a process researchers call “cultural homogenization.”

How they did it: Researchers reviewed studies across psychology, linguistics and computer science to evaluate how people and AI interact in different cultures.

Problem: They found that most AI models reflect a specific “WHELM” worldview: Western, high-income, educated, liberal and male.

What’s next: Researchers call for more diverse training data and inclusive evaluation standards.

Which USC Dornsife PhD program was recently ranked No. 1 for placing graduates in permanent academic positions?

A - Economics

B - Creative Writing and Literature

C - Political Science and International Relations

D - Philosophy

Older Americans are willing to travel far for medical care — sometimes farther than policymakers and experts assume.

Why it matters: As hospitals close in some areas and practices consolidate, older adults may tolerate long trips for care — but not equally.

What’s new: A USC Dornsife study found that many age 65 and older are willing to travel more than an hour for medical care.

What they’re saying: “This shows older adults place a high value on access to care,” said Soeren Mattke, professor (research) of economics and study senior author. “They are often willing to travel significant distances before delaying or forgoing care.”

Yes, but: The averages mask important differences.

The big picture: As health care systems change, policymakers debate how far is “too far” for patients to travel.

The findings also have implications for telehealth.

In his words: “Telehealth is an important tool, but it’s not a cure-all,” Mattke said. “We still need to think carefully about where services are located and how patients physically get there.”

Dexter Holland, frontman for iconic punk rock band The Offspring, will return to his alma mater to deliver the 2026 USC Dornsife commencement address. A triple alumnus with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the College, Holland’s ventures outside music include the hot sauce company Gringo Bandito, a solo flight around the globe, and a scholarship in honor of one of his favorite professors.

Descending at 40 mph, Prof. Karen Lloyd takes the world’s longest elevator 1.2 km deep into the Earth’s crust to search for life thriving in one of the most extreme environments.

Professionals seeking to better understand people and drive results can gain practical, real-world skills with the M.S. in Applied Psychology. This program equips students to apply behavioral science to marketing, workplace culture and organizational effectiveness.

Join Darby Saxbe, professor of psychology and author of Dad Brain, in conversation with Dean James Bullock for a Dornsife Dialogue about the science of fatherhood and how it reshapes men’s brains and identities.

Learn how African Americans during the Great Migration and Jim Crow era created recreational and relaxation spaces at Southern California beaches and inland locations

D - Philosophy

The School of Philosophy ranked No. 1 in 2026 for placing PhD graduates in permanent academic positions: 72% of its graduates secured those roles. The faculty was also ranked No. 7 in the nation and No. 8 in the English-speaking world by more than 200 philosophers worldwide.

“A tapestry project like this was ‘Big Art,’ the equivalent of today’s ‘Big Science.’”

Lisa Pon of art history in the The New York Times on the Met’s exhibit of artwork by Raphael.

“Many promising exercise-related pathways in mice turn out to be more complicated in humans.”

David Raichlen of biological sciences and anthropology in The Washington Post discussing recent exercise research.

“We’re not seeing any evidence for harm in the ecosystem or harm for human health.”

Noelle Held of biological sciences in the Los Angeles Times on coastal water quality after the L.A. wildfires.

Honored Across the Aisle. Media and political luminaries from both parties — including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and former U.S. Rep. David Dreier — recently gathered to honor Robert Shrum, director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, at gala events in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The events raised nearly $1 million in support of CPF. 

Here, Shrum and his wife, Marylouise Oates, display a commendation given to Shrum by the County of L.A. (Photo: Iliana Garcia.)