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| A MESSAGE FROM ASSOCIATE DEAN TAMMY ANDERSON
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As we close the chapter on another exciting and impactful year at Experiential and Applied Learning (ExL), I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the remarkable achievements of our students, faculty, and staff. This year has been a testament to the power of transformative education, community engagement, and the enduring Trojan spirit.
From groundbreaking overseas programs and heartfelt community partnerships, to celebrating the incredible legacy of individuals like Debbie Williams and Steve VanKanegan, ExL continues to embody the values that make USC Dornsife extraordinary. It’s been a year of milestones, meaningful relationships, and moments that have inspired joy, love, and connection in all of us.
As we look forward to 2025, I am excited for the opportunities ahead and confident that our shared commitment to innovation and service will continue to propel us forward. Thank you all for being an integral part of this journey.
Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a new year filled with discovery and success!
All the best,
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SPARK TO FLAME WITH DEBBIE WILLIAMS
Interview by Amber Harris, ExL Innovation and Implementation Manager
Our Spark to Flame series serves to dispel the notion that success is a linear path with no room for error or deviation.
In her last interview before retirement, ExL's very own Debbie Williams shares her career journey within the university after an impressive 47 year tenure.
While Debbie has worked for over nine departments since joining the Trojan family in 1977, she is finishing her time as the ExL Program and Scholarship Administrator. In this role, she manages the application process for several undergraduate scholarships including the Student Opportunity for Academic Research (SOAR) and Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF). Debbie served on the Dornsife Global and Discovery Scholarship committees and coordinated with the Fisher Fellows Director to provide support and guidance for first generation students.
She has only worked for Dornsife during her time and is the third longest reigning employee for the school.
Join us as we delve into Debbie's journey to celebrate her years of service and dedication to scholarship, service and most of all, students.
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION MIND BODY & HEALTH DEDICATES BENCH TO FORMER PE DIRECTOR, STEVE VANKANEGAN
Written by Amber Harris, ExL Innovation and Implementation Manager
After the sudden passing of Steve VanKanegan, retired director, PE Mind Body Health (PE) the faculty and staff held a memorial and dedicated a bench in honor of his 27+ years of service to the department and the university.
Located in the courtyard of the Physical Education building, it serves as a place for respite for those who knew him and for those seeking a quiet place for refuge or reflection.
His untimely passing was a huge blow to the PE family, but his life and legacy lives on in all who had the pleasure to know and to work with him. He is greatly missed.
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SVK bench located in PED Courtyard
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Daughter Madga (l) and Wife Janet (r)
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A life that touched so many
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Photo by Jaylah Wilson (Political Science major)
Paros, Greece. This photo was taken in front of a small Greek Orthodox church on the Cycladic island of Paros, Greece. The whitewashed walls and blue details are what Greece is famous for, and it was such a magical moment to experience it for the first time.
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OVERSEAS STUDIES
Written by Peter Hilton, Director of Overseas Studies
This semester we have students spending a semester (or the first semester of a full year abroad) all over the world, and we are getting several hundred students ready to spend Spring 2025 abroad. We are excited to have students going to spend a semester at SFS Center for Wildlife Management Studies in Tanzania, for the first time after the pandemic, where they will actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues related to the interactions of humans and wildlife. To see how a semester abroad on this program influenced past student Miguel Ordenana's (Class of '05, Environmental Studies) career trajectory, click here.
Every semester, Overseas Studies holds a photo and film clip contest for students who studied abroad in the prior semester. All the submissions from Spring 2024 were fantastic, and we are happy to highlight just a few.
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Video submitted by USC Madrid Spring 2024 student Rachel Carr (Spanish and Psychology double major)
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Video submitted by Holly Hodges (Cinematic Arts Production major), who studied at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
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Please follow Overseas Studies on Instagram @uscoverseas to follow students' weekly Instagram takeovers. In the last week of November a student at University College London shared his trip to the Scottish Highlands, and this week's takeover will be from a student in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. That will be the last for this semester, and we have more in store for next semester.
PRISON EDUCATION PROJECT
Written by Kate Levin, Assistant Professor, Co Director of Prison Education Project
This was an exciting and meaningful semester for the USC Dornsife Prison Education Project. We offered eight distinct classes, virtual and in-person, across three different facilities, and welcomed 43 volunteer course assistants.
In October, USC-PEP collaborated with one of our community partners, The Social Impact Center, to run the first USC-adjacent expungement clinic, which offered legal and practical assistance to community members seeking to expunge their records — a critical reentry step that helps remove barriers to housing and employment, and promote stability and well-being.
USC-PEP also hosted an educational event on prison labor, the criminal legal system and sentencing policy, and state ballot propositions. Speakers Elizabeth Nomura of the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, Jared Villery of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, and Ernst Fenelon, Jr. of the Prison Education Project joined a large group of USC students, faculty, staff, and community members to talk about the lived experience of local and national policy around incarceration.
We also recently celebrated the release of our 2024 National Systems-Impacted Writers Contest anthology, for which we received hundreds of submissions from systems-impacted writers and artists throughout the country.
USC-PEP's Readers' Circle continues to offer editorial services to hundreds of incarcerated writers across the country, enlisting members of the USC community as volunteers. We welcome new volunteers and encourage anyone interested in learning more about the Readers' Circle to sign up here.
JEP STUDENTS BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS AT MANUAL ARTS HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH 826LA AND LIVING ADVANTAGE, INC.
Written by Kathrin Rising, JEP Communications Director
At the core of USC’s Joint Educational Project are the relationships that form between students, local schools or community-based organizations. This semester, seniors Jonathan Kim and Varun Bansil showcase how it can be both through their work with community-based organizations Living Advantage, Inc. and 826LA which both have a program based at Manual Arts High School.
Jonathan Kim, an English major hoping to become an educator, works with 826LA’s writing program. During a recent college essay-writing session, he helped a student recognize his own strengths – guiding him to see how overcoming language barriers and supporting his younger sister demonstrated true leadership. “I know now that I want to educate and ensure students of all backgrounds have their needs met,” Jonathan shares. “They’re great kids, you know?”
Across the hall, Varun Bansil brings similar dedication to Living Advantage, Inc. A biology major who has volunteered for four semesters, Varun has become a consistent support for students navigating academic challenges. His approach goes beyond tutoring – he creates spaces where students feel comfortable learning and growing.
The partnerships between JEP students and community organizations like 826LA and Living Advantage, Inc. are built on mutual respect and genuine curiosity. Jonathan discovered how writing could be a tool for self-discovery. Varun found that tutoring is about more than academic support – it’s about connection and understanding.
To learn more, click here.
EXL LAB: TRANSFORMATION SERIES V—JOYWritten by Kiel Shaub, EXL Lab Academic Curator, Lecturer Physical Education & Mind, Body, Health
This fall, the EXL Lab proudly presented the fifth installment of our Transformation Series, dedicated to exploring the profound and transformative power of Joy in Action.
Inspired by the wisdom of the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu in The Book of Joy, our program sought to answer an intriguing question: Can we access Joy by giving Joy to others? Through an innovative, experiential format, we put this idea to the test.
Each week, student-led groups—our spirited “Joy Squad”—embarked on immersive “Joyneys” across campus. These Joy-filled explorations highlighted the places, practices, and experiences that brought each group genuine delight. The evenings culminated in communal meals at new local restaurants, fostering meaningful conversations and deep connections over shared food and laughter.
So, did sharing Joy bring Joy? Absolutely—and then some! Here's what one participant, Michelle, had to say:
“This was my first program in the Transformation Series, and for a few months before, I had been emotionally closed off from others. This program helped me navigate being emotionally vulnerable again, allowing me to open up and be more present. Another thing this program changed about my understanding of Joy is the value of sharing it with others. I used to view Joy as a personal experience, something that was solely mine. But now, I realize that sharing Joy with others is just as important. I genuinely looked forward to Wednesday nights to go to the sessions.”
Join Us for the Culmination of the Transformation Series: LOVE
If the idea of exploring transformational Joy resonates with you, we warmly invite you to be part of our culminating program in the Transformation Series this spring, where we will delve into the universal yet deeply personal topic of Love.
Through thought-provoking discussions, creative exercises, and collaborative activities, we will explore the myriad ways Love shapes our lives and relationships. Like Joy, this program will be an unforgettable journey—one that promises to be as enriching as it is uplifting.
Whether you are a student, faculty member, or administrator, we welcome you to join this Lovely experience. Together, let’s close this series with a celebration of connection, compassion, and creativity.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore Love in action—stay tuned for registration details!
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ExL SAYS FAREWELL TO DEBBIE WILLIAMS
Written by Amber Harris, ExL Innovation and Implementation Manager
After 47 years of excellent service, ExL's Programs and Scholarship Manager says goodbye.
Debbie Williams has been a USC Trojan since 1977. She has had the pleasure of working in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences her entire career at USC. Debbie has taken on many positions and responsibilities during her tenure at USC to eventually become the Program and Scholarship Administrator for the Experiential and Applied Learning Department in 2018. In this role, she manages the application process for several undergraduate scholarships including the Student Opportunity for Academic Research (SOAR) and Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF). Debbie currently serves on the Dornsife Global and Discovery Scholarship committees and coordinates with the Fisher Fellows Director to provide support and guidance for first generation students.
She is the proud mother of three, grandmother of three and mentor of three. Mentoring single mothers who have returned to the workforce after experiencing life’s challenges and helping two beautiful granddaughters grow into intelligent, confident, powerful women are her most proud achievements.
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WE LOVE YOU DEBBIE...
We at JEP, and later ExL, were fortunate when she was unexpectedly “gifted” to us by Dornsife. I admire Debbie for the depth of her wisdom and experience and I love her for her kindness, flexibility and no-nonsense attitude. I will miss her hugs, which are surely among the best on the planet! ❤ - Susan Harris, Director USC Joint Educational Project
Debbie's positive outlook and unwavering dedication to USC and beyond brightened our JEP office for a number of years. We are thrilled for her next adventure. -Dr. Dieuwertje Kast Director of STEM Education Programs, USC Joint Educational Project
Debbie, You know it's been a pleasure working with you but more importantly sharing time in our lives. The things that made us laugh in the good times and cry in the other times. You are a good - no- a great person and I hope that you retiring brings you much joy to continue in this journey of life. Love you. - Susana Cervantes, Procurement Specialist, Dornsife Business Office
USC-PEP team wants to offer our deepest thanks and good wishes to Debbie Williams. Debbie was crucial to getting our program off the ground in its earliest days, and has continued to be an incredible source of support since. We are so grateful to you, Debbie!
Dearest Debbie,
Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement after 47 incredible years at USC! It is an honor to celebrate you! Your dedication and passion have left a lasting impact on so many, including me. We will all miss your presence dearly. I will miss our heartfelt and transparent conversations that allowed us to deep dive into spilling, soul-full talks.
As you embark on this exciting new chapter, I hope you fill your days with joy, adventure, and plenty of time with your beloved grandchildren. They are so blessed to have you in their lives!
Wishing you all the happiness in the world as you embrace on this new journey.
With love, great admiration, and respect,
Sharon, USC Joint Educational Project
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Debbie, Sable and Sharon at BAA Gala 2022 at the Ritz-Carlton, Marina Del Rey
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Debbie's retirement celebration with Susana Cervantes (l) and Dan Bayer(r)
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For more information on how to ExL in Experience, visit the ExL website. | |  | 
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