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| A MESSAGE FROM ASSOCIATE DEAN TAMMY ANDERSON
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As we begin engaging in experiences beyond our laptops after a challenging year, I’m pleased to see a surge of enthusiastic interest in experiential learning programs from our students. The growing interest and commitment from our faculty and staff enabled the Office to expand opportunities for students to get first-hand, practical experience that applies academic experience, and deepens learning in a myriad of creative and “out-of-the-box” ways.
Although the onset of COVID temporarily paused some of our programs, our able directors pivoted and still offered enriching experiences, despite the limitations of the pandemic. Seeing the impact and resurgence of our programs has deepened my commitment to ensure that we continue to expand our current programming.
I had the pleasure of hearing from many students who shared how their learning and, in many instances, their lives were positively influenced by participating in ExL programs. In this issue, you will hear from Fisher Fellows and alumni of the Washington DC Program. They recount how finances played a major role in their journey, affirming my commitment to offer these experiences to as many students as possible regardless of financial hardship. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the Office of Experiential and Applied Learning awarded $384,595 to students in need this year.
Our focus for the upcoming year will be to launch more exciting and dynamic programs, increase our engagement with faculty, and to utilize our outside partnerships to further the mission of the office.
It has been a busy yet fruitful year and mark my words: the excitement of Learning Through Experience really expands this Fall; we have some wonderful surprises and programs for you at ExL.
I wish you all a wonderful, restful summer and always continue to ExL.
Best,
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SPARK TO FLAME WITH SUSAN KAMEI
Interview by Gabriella Marquez, ExL Communications Intern
Our Spark to Flame series serves to dispel the notion that success is achieved only by crafting and following a well thought out plan, executed by a definitive end date.
Success, like life, is a journey with many destinations along the way. Some of our most lauded faculty did not take a linear path to achieve the accomplishments seen today. Some found success after many years in a different sector, while others discovered that remaining open to embarking on new possibilities actually deepen their passion, thus strengthening their flame. Our hope is for students to not only be inspired, but remain patient as they journey to unearth their own spark.
This issue's conversation is with Susan Kamei. Susan is the granddaughter of Japanese immigrants who teaches undergraduate students about the constitutional, historical, and political issues of the Japanese American incarceration and the importance of those issues today. She also serves as the managing director of the USC Spatial Sciences Institute.
She recently authored When Can We Go Back to America? Voices of Japanese American Incarceration during World War II and received the 2018 USC Undergraduate Student Government Community Achievement Award for her contributions to the USC community and for enriching the educations of students of color and LGBTQ students. She was also recognized for her leadership and service in business, academia, and the community with the “Woman of Courage” Award in 2000 from the Friends of the Los Angeles City Commission on the Status of Women.
Find out what was the spark that led to her impressive career in her interview with ExL Communication Intern, Gabriella Marquez.
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WASHINGTON DC PROGRAM IN DC
Since 2015, the Dornsife Washington DC Program has provided students with a unique, semester-long opportunity to study and work in the nation’s capital. Led by its director, Associate Professor Jeffrey Fields in the department of Political Science and International Relations (POIR), this immersive program provides a tailored “D.C. experience” allowing students to take courses drawn from areas with direct policy relevance such as international relations, the political process, and economics. In addition, students are required to complete an internship at a government agency or non-governmental organization. To date, close to 150 students have participated in the DC program and have found success working on the hill, politics or in the private sector.
During spring break, Professor Fields traveled with his current cohort (the DC program was hosted locally due to COVID restrictions), to host his annual Washington DC Alumni reception where many past students gathered to share experiences during their time in the program. Find out what some of our Washington DC alums had to say.
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FISHER FELLOWS SUPPORT USC LATINO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP GALA
Written by Amanda Bloom, Director, Fisher Fellowship
It was a star-studded night for the Fisher Fellows! Evelyn Marquez, Raymiro Gomez- Galiano, Giancarlo Rodriguez, Blanca Godoy, and Damaris Ortega (L to R) joined their director, Amanda Bloom, for the LAA's Annual Scholarship Gala at the Intercontinental Hotel.
The food was fabulous and the Fellows looked snappy! This inspiring program profiled the finalists for the Hubbard Service Award. USC's marching band made a special appearance and Evelyn's folklorico dance group performed on stage. The gala was a very special opportunity for new Fellows to make their debut within USC's greater first-gen ecosystem. A big thanks to the Office for Experiential and Applied Learning for supporting this memorable excursion! With the gala behind them, the Fellows are planning the Fellowship’s annual service recognition dinner on Friday, April 15th.
They look forward to honoring the graduating Fellows and spotlighting their extraordinary service. In terms of summer plans, our Fellows are expanding their geographic horizons! Evelyn Marquez is participating in a Maymester program in Italy and Blanca Godoy has been accepted to a Julymester in Barcelona, Spain. Luis Tun will intern for Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City and Rhondaya Fishburne is headed to Bonn, Germany for a month-long service trip sponsored by her church.
Internships are popular this year. Quynh Nguyen will intern with the Los Angeles Federation of Labor and Jocelyn Leon scored a competitive 10-week internship with a hospital in her hometown of Houston, Texas. Raymiro Gomez-Galiano has been accepted to Marshall’s Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship program and he’s thrilled to start coursework this summer. Along with developing the new Julymester program in Barcelona, Amanda is laying the groundwork for a Spring 2022 abroad program that takes first generation students to Sicily, Italy to research creative approaches to complex global issues such as the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean.
The Fellows all look forward to another academic year of experiential learning opportunities!
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION & MIND BODY HEALTH SAYS FAREWELL TO STEVE VANKANEGAN
Written by Jennifer Guinter, Lecturer
After over twenty years with USC, Steve Vankanegan will be stepping down from his role as director of Physical Education and Mind Body Health (PEMBH). At the start of his time at USC, the department consisted of just a handful of classes. Physical Education became an independent department in 1999, and slowly but steadily, Steve has helped expand the department to now include 27 instructors who combined, teach over 140 sections of 30 unique classes.
This is an incredible feat, considering that USC does not have a physical education requirement, and most other university PE programs have lost funding over recent years. This could not be possible without a focus on fun as well as fitness, which has been a huge driving force in how Steve approached all of the classes that he’s taught and helped faculty create— an approach that has positively impacted the lives of thousands of USC students each year.
Students and faculty alike have always appreciated Steve’s willingness and ability to make himself available to talk and problem-solve. During the pandemic, many classes had to be temporarily cancelled due to remote learning. Steve tirelessly supported everyone in creatively navigating those challenges. He has been instrumental in supporting the return to all of those classes being offered on campus again and has been very supportive during the process of the department name change to Physical Education and Mind Body Health (PEMBH) as well as the groundbreaking addition of the Mind-Body Studies minor.
We want to thank Steve for his hard work and dedication to making USC a more well-rounded experience for all students. We wish him well as he continues to enjoy the many benefits of getting outside and staying active, and inspires others to do the same.
Editor's Note: USC alum and current part time lecturer Dr. Marcos Briano, Jr. will take the helm beginning Fall 2022. While Dr. B has big shoes to fill, the PEMBH program is excited to welcome him as the new director and look forward to their programs continuing to ExL.
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|  | The Fisher Fellows with benefactors Sam and Jessica Fisher.
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FISHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM HONORS FIRST GEN GRADS AT SOIRÉE
The Fisher Fellowship program concluded the year by hosting an end of the year soiree highlighting the program's achievements and honoring its graduate students. As a program, the Fisher Fellows currently mentor 19 students who participate in multiple community service projects, but also engage in countless experiential learning opportunities including Maymester programs, Problems Without Passports opportunities, study abroad, alternative breaks, unpaid internships, and competitive research positions.
This year, the program honored three of their graduates for their outstanding scholarship, and dedication to community service. Meet Rita Ohan, Rhondaya Fishburne, and Cheyenne Clopton; hear their inspiring stories below.
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Rita OhanHometown: San Diego, CA
Major: Human Biology
Minor: Dance
Rita Ohan is an Iraqi-Armenian student who grew up in Romania and now lives in the San Fernando Valley. Growing up, Rita experienced homelessness after her family's home burned down. She is motivated to be a role model for other first-generation and low-income students who have also experienced housing insecurity. She hopes to support them despite the educational impediment of her socio-economic and cultural inhibitors.
After graduation, she plans to attend medical school. She wants to become a physician and offer her diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic perspectives to a team of other health professionals.
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As a female, Armenian, first-generation student... I face the responsibility to amplify the voices of those who face barriers to opportunities because of their socioeconomic or immigration status.
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Rhondaya Fishburne
Hometown: Queens, NY
Major: International Relations
Accessibility has always been a prominent obstacle in Rhondaya's educational journey so she had to be resourceful in obtaining access to a higher education. In high school, she applied for and was selected to participate in USC's Bovard Scholars program. Once admitted to the University, she worked at the USC Ticket Office to support herself and pay for her education.
Growing up in a low-income, single-parent household, Rhondaya learned the importance of community and finding resources. She is a Junior Correspondent for Glimpse from the Globe, which is a student-led foreign affairs publication that spotlights climate change and human rights. She is also involved with the USC Christian Challenge–with whom she facilitates group meetings and event planning. Within Fisher Fellows, she worked on two fundraising campaigns: the Homelessness Initiative and the Adopt-a-Family campaign for the Westminster Free Clinic. These funds were used to support students experiencing homelessness and to sponsor two families during the holidays. She has continued with her commitment to supporting the homeless population by volunteering at the Hope Center, a food pantry that serves displaced communities in Hollywood.
After graduation, she hopes to return to Capitol Hill and serve the American people through public service. She aims to create impactful change that helps amplify the voices of minority communities.
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My life was a reflection of the values that the fellowship was looking for: perseverance in the face of adversity, a compassionate heart and a commitment to service.
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Cheyenne CloptonHometown: Kansas City, MO
Majors: Philosophy, Politics & Law and
Non-Governmental Organizations & Social Change
Cheyenne Clopton is a double major in politics, philosophy, and law; and non-governmental organization and social change.
As a Fisher Fellow, she's been involved in tutoring K-12 students, volunteering at clothing drives and interning with Strategic Actions for a Just Society (SAJE). In 2019, she participated in the Alternative Winter Break: Puerto Rico program, led by Fisher Fellows director, Amanda Bloom.
As she finishes her senior year, Cheyenne hopes to leave a legacy by starting a project focused on giving back to local schools. After graduation, she intends to go to law school. She feels empowered to enact social justice and make an impact in the legal sector.
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With the help of Fisher Fellows, I was able to stay in Los Angeles and volunteer for SAJE...where I researched housing inequalities.
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ExL CONGRATULATES 2022 GRADUATE, SIONEH AZARIAN
Sioneh Azarian is a graduating senior who will earn a bachelor’s degree in English literature. After transferring to the University in fall 2019, she began working in the ExL office and assisted with managing the Faculty Led Programs (no longer in our office) and curating content all of ExL's social media platforms.
She recently spent her spring semester in the Dornsife English Honors program working on a critical research project about Shakespeare’s heroines and the art of adaptation.
After graduation, Sioneh plans to take a year off to study for the LSAT and plans to attend law school with aspirations of becoming an intellectual property attorney.
Thank you for your great work, Sioneh. We wish you the best!
Fight On!
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For more information on how to ExL in Experience, visit the ExL website. | |  | 
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