University of San Francisco

Calling all USF alumni! Do you have an alumni love story to share? If so, we want to hear it! Submit your love stories today for a chance to be featured in an upcoming story: [email protected]

A message to our university community from President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J.: I was shocked and appalled by yesterday’s events in Washington, D.C. ... It was more than unsettling. It was an assault on our long-nurtured yet always imperfect democracy, our hard-won truths, and our shared national identity. As the nation moves forward, each of us acknowledges and celebrates that our personal and communal commitments, our attention and civic engagements will inform our own wor...k to advance truth, justice, and peace. We can change the world from wherever we are. Yesterday's dark events took place on the Feast of the Epiphany, the celebration of the light of Christ breaking through into human history, a light dispelling darkness. Let us pray during this moment of battle between light and darkness that goodness shall indeed win, and let us hold fast to the faith that our deepest desires will be fulfilled. Let us commit our lives to the prospect that God's kingdom of peace, truth and goodness will be triumphant, and that, in the end, love conquers all. President Fitzgerald’s full message: http://bit.ly/3s45Gvb

In a message sent to the university community this afternoon, President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. announced plans to return USF to primarily in-person instruction starting in the fall of 2021. To open safely this fall, we are building upon current testing procedures, contact tracing protocols, and safety measures including face coverings, social distancing and hygiene practices, to name a few. We are working closely with local health officials to ensure we know how the vaccin...ation process will continue to work. Classes and residence halls have been set up to best protect students, faculty, and staff. Online options will remain for students who need or prefer them. Most importantly, we will remain vigilant in all prevention efforts and will continue to prioritize the health and well-being of the USF community. Spring and summer semesters will proceed as planned with online classes and most staff working remotely. However, depending on public health guidance, we may be able to offer in-person or hybrid/hyflex classes during later summer sessions. Detailed plans for fall, including information on classes, work policies, safety measures, and more will be shared as soon as they are finalized. Please continue to stay safe and take care of yourselves and others. I join you in looking forward to the time when we can all safely gather together on campus again. President Fitzgerald’s full message: http://bit.ly/USF2021

When protesters stormed the Capitol Building last Wednesday, congressional staffer Lauren Giddings ’23 couldn’t believe what she saw. I’ve grown to love D.C., and it was really sad to see everything that happened last week, she said. I work in the Senate. I work in the Capitol building. To see a building that’s almost sacred be stormed, that was really sad. In June, Giddings started working as an intern for Sen. Lee and is now a staff assistant living in Washington. She’s... researching health care, education, labor, and pension issues, and taking USF classes remotely. Giddings works for Sen. Mike Lee, R-UT. During the vote to certify the election votes the day after the riot, Sen. Lee held a pocket-sized copy of the U.S. Constitution and called on his colleagues to uphold the document and certify the election. Giddings, who grew up in a small town near Logan, Utah, is majoring in politics and minoring in philosophy. She shares more about her experience in Washington at the link below.

USF Magazine feature: Where do we go from here? Less than a year ago, rent for a San Francisco one-bedroom apartment could be as high as $5,000 a month if you could find one. Fast forward to the end of 2020, and you’ll find special deals on apartments: First month free! The pandemic has changed San Francisco, along with the nation. But will the change be lasting? Will the need for more housing a pre-pandemic problem still be a factor?... As we head into a new decade, we wondered: What is San Francisco’s future? Three city leaders with USF ties offered their thoughts about the direction of the city. More at USF Magazine: http://bit.ly/2XetAWE

Still looking for a New Year’s resolution? The USF Alumni Book Club has you covered. By the end of this year, you’ll have read a couple new books, expanded your horizons, and may have even made new friends or reconnected with old ones. The Alumni Book Club kicks off later this week with A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. And there’s still time to register! We hope you’ll join us for this free initiative. Register now: https://bit.ly/39Z8lQc

As we move forward in 2021, we invite you to review the year that was in stories and in photos. These are 2020’s most read USF News and USF Magazine stories, including Eat Like a Don, Coffee Kings, and Stopping the Next Pandemic. : usfca.edu/news/2020-review

Bidding farewell to 2020 as we look forward, with hope, to a new year ahead. Happy New Year to our USF community!

Take a look back at the best and biggest moments of the year at the University of San Francisco.

"She told me, ‘You're going to make it, Aaron.’ I'm gonna take that and run with it. I’m gonna be something in life. I’m gonna be somebody I've come a long way to get here." USF first-year student Aaron Jackson spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle about death, determination, and success as part the Chronicle's Class of 2020 series. From the Chronicle: "For many graduating seniors, the COVID-19 pandemic meant an unexpected detour in their educational path. But Aaron, 18,... who devoted himself to academic achievement and self-improvement at Skyline High School in Oakland, has learned to roll with the punches. He was proud to receive a scholarship to the University of San Francisco, and with his work at YR Media (formerly Youth Radio) shut down for the time being, he opted to dive right into online college courses to stay focused over the summer." "I feel like USF is really on top of the ball as far as reaching out or just having students prepared for the fall semester, and as I was taking some summer classes as well. But it just really feels like USF put me at a really good advantage as far as college." - Aaron Jackson '24 Aaron's story: https://bit.ly/3dTgtBB

USF mourns the loss of Dons and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer K.C. Jones, who passed away this week. A leader on USF's national championship teams of 1955 and 1956, Jones went on to win eight titles in nine seasons with the Boston Celtics and a gold medal as part of the 1956 U.S. Olympic Team. After his playing career, he enjoyed success as an NBA coach. He and former USF teammate Bill Russell are the only Black head coaches to win multiple NBA championships. Born May 25, 1932 in Taylor, Texas, Jones grew up in San Francisco and attended Commerce High School. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Jones, and his five children.

COVID-19 has reached the oval office. Social justice protests continue. There’s an open seat on the Supreme Court. Election Day looms. Time for a chat with James Taylor, professor of politics. How will the pandemic affect voting? It depends on how people view it. With more than 200,000 people passing on, the reverberation of the pandemic is something we cannot detect, in terms of voting, yet. How are those more than 200,000 families affected? And where are they located? The s...o-called red states are as affected as the blue states by this. Voting has already started, and people are translating these numbers [of deaths] into representing real peoples’ lives. What about voter turnout? Are you worried about that with the pandemic? It’s a concern. But there are a lot of people who are determined [to vote]. There’s a lot of resentment with the chicanery going on at the USPS. We assume people feel defeated by that, but it also brings out voters who resent it. More at USF News: https://bit.ly/3kfdrKi

Good morning from the Hilltop! : Gordon Mak

Wishing you health, peace, and hope this Christmas Day from your family at USF.

"Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa all of our holidays look different this year. COVID-19 keeps many of us from gathering with loved ones. Some of us have been ill. Most of us have felt the pain of separation from, or loss of, family members, friends, and neighbors. "To all of you in our beloved community, I send prayers for love and peace. As this year draws to a close, I pray that you will find some time for rest and rejuvenation. I pray that you and your families sta...y safe and healthy. And I pray that we all have faith that light will dispel the darkness. "Merry Christmas and my best wishes for a bright and joyous holiday season." - President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J.

Justice Marty Jenkins is a man of faith, of integrity, of humility, and of kindness." - USF President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom named the Honorable Martin J. Jenkins JD ’80 as his choice to be the next associate justice on the California Supreme Court. If confirmed, Jenkins will be the first openly gay justice and the third Black man to serve on the state’s highest court. He will fill the vacancy created by fellow USF School of Law alumnus Ming W.... Chin ’64 JD ’67, the state’s first Chinese American justice, who retired Aug. 31. Read more about Judge Jenkins' story at USF News: https://bit.ly/3k5RA8j

Politics major and ASUSF Senate President John Iosefo ’21 received the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs fellowship on December 17 and will be the first USF graduate to become a Rangel fellow. He begins his journey to join the United States’ diplomatic corps this spring. The fellowship is granted to 30 college graduates from across the nation and supports them financially and professionally through two years of graduate studies, internships, and mentoring. I couldn’t ...have done it without the support of people I’ve met at USF, including Peter Novak and Keally McBride, and also my friends and family, said Iosefo. Named after former congressman Charles Rangel, the Rangel Graduate Fellowship prepares young people for careers in the foreign service of the U.S. Department of State, training them to formulate and implement U.S. foreign policy. A trip to Northern Ireland in 2019 as part of USF’s Erasmus Community opened his eyes to the possibilities of diplomacy and bringing peace to the world. Our tour guide in Ireland teared up talking about the U.S. diplomats helping to end the decades-long conflict there," said Iosefo. "That got my gears turning as far as the impact the U.S. can have at home and abroad. I recognized that the U.S. does have a role in changing people’s lives and it doesn’t have to be with war. I’d love to get into those areas where the U.S. is intimately involved in peace negotiations in Europe I studied abroad in Rome and studied French at USF. I want to do the hard work of diplomacy. More at USF News: usfca.edu/news/national-fellowship

USF Magazine’s Future Issue is live online and arriving in mailboxes across the world. Dive in as USF voices discuss our campus, our city, our country, and our planet in 2030 and beyond what might be, could be, should be. USF Magazine: usfca.edu/magazine

Founder's Week continues today at 12 p.m. and we welcome you to join Sara Agah Franti and USF alumnus Michael Franti for an intimate conversation with professor and poet Dean Rader as they discuss the power of music, hope, and healing.

While the past year of remote learning had its challenges, it also had its moments. USF professors shared their favorite Zoom memories with USF News. On Veteran's Day, I mentioned that one of the students in the class is in USF's ROTC program. As soon as he confirmed that he was getting commissioned this semester, our screens filled up with Zoom hearts, and the chat was filled with messages of support to him. Eve-Anne Doohan, Communication Studies The morning after the No...vember elections I emailed my class and said we’d be starting class a little late. I told them to use the time to find ingredients and be ready join the Zoom from their kitchens. We made pancakes together. It was such a stressful time for everyone; I knew that no one would be able to focus on class. I also didn’t want to make the class all about the election we just needed a break and to connect as a community. Students’ roommates, parents, and pets popped in, which sort of made it feel like running into people on campus. Rachel Beth Egenhoefer, Design More at USF News: http://bit.ly/3aAEuOe

Find the place that you can call home. USF for me is my home. I think that even after I graduate, it will still be my home. Aileen Becerra ’21, McGrath Scholar, first-generation student, and aspiring advocate, is proud to call USF home. After coming to the United States seven years ago, finding a place to call home became a top priority. She shares how scholarship support was instrumental to finding a place to belong at USF. Learn more: http://bit.ly/3moyQAX

Your voice is so important. The importance of each individual voice means a lot. 100 million people sat out the election in 2016 in a country with 328 million." - Megan Rapinoe at USF's Silk Speaker Series event on Monday, October 12 More than 2,600 students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of USF registered for the event, which kicked off USF's Founder's Week. The talk with Rapinoe was moderated by Jennifer Azzi, associate vice president of engagement at USF, former US...F basketball coach, and member of the 1996 gold-medal winning U.S. women’s basketball team. Rapinoe, who has been a vocal leader for women’s equal pay in professional sports and for social justice, said her values were most influenced by her parents, particularly her mother. My mom told us early on that we had a responsibility to use our popularity and talent at sports to be a good person, she recalled. More at USF News: https://bit.ly/342InYs

A moment in time at St. Mary’s Hospital, across from the USF campus, where masked Sisters of Mercy and St. Ignatius Jesuits cared for the sick during the 1918-19 flu pandemic. Because of inconsistent efforts to close public places and require masks, San Francisco suffered the most deaths per capita of any major American city. Sentiment was so strong against wearing masks that several influential San Franciscans formed The Anti-Mask League, which held a public meeting, atten...ded by more than 2,000 people, to denounce the ordinance. There were nearly 45,000 cases of influenza in San Francisco, and approximately 3,500 residents died of the flu in the fall of 1918 and the winter of 1919. More at USF Magazine: http://bit.ly/USF1918

Join us today at 12pm as Founder's Week continues with a conversation defining equality through voice, choice, and inclusion with civil rights activist, Dr. Melba Beals, a member of the Little Rock Nine, and Shabnam Koirala-Azad, PhD, Dean of the School of Education.

Join us today at 12 p.m. as Founder's Week continues with a conversation defining equality through voice, choice, and inclusion with civil rights activist, Dr. Melba Beals, a member of the Little Rock Nine, and Shabnam Koirala-Azad, PhD, Dean of the School of Education.

Looking to become an entrepreneur or develop skills that you can apply to your organization? The University of San Francisco is offering an entrepreneurial management online program starting in February. Join us for a webinar starting at 5 p.m. PST on Thursday, December 17, where executive education staff will provide an overview of the virtual program, introduce faculty, provide a few best practices for pitching your best ideas, and answer questions regarding entrepreneurial management. Registration: http://bit.ly/3r5R1za

Happiness is a multimillion-dollar industry, catering to our deep desire to live a joyful life and to a belief that, as human beings, we deserve to be happy. Gopi Kallayil believes we can reverse that! Join us for a virtual talk with Gopi Kallayil, Google's chief evangelist for brand marketing and author of The Happy Human, as he discusses how to revel in our authentic selves.

The Silk Speaker Series at the University of San Francisco welcomes you to attend a conversation with Megan Rapinoe. A two-time World Cup champion and co-captain of the US Women’s National Team, Rapinoe is a fan favorite, a vocal leader on and off the pitch, and one of the team’s most technical players. Join us for this virtual event on Monday, October 12 for a conversation about soccer, equality for all, and Rapinoe's role as co-founder of Re-Inc., a clothing company that embraces inclusivity and gender-neutral design.

New USF-themed Zoom backgrounds are now available for download! These backgrounds were developed by the USF creative team for the Get Oriented program and our university community. Download: https://bit.ly/3jIXax1

How does music and creative expression serve as a catalyst for social change? Join us one week from today in discussion with USF alumnus Michael Franti and Sara Agah Franti on October 16 for the virtual event "Say Hey (I Love USF)." Learn more: http://ow.ly/otki50BMki9

Today, President Fitzgerald and Interim Provost Cannon informed the university community that given the priorities of safety and health, university leadership has decided that the spring 2021 semester will be primarily remote. This follows the latest guidance from the San Francisco Department of Public Health for institutions of higher education, which tells us we must continue to minimize in-person interactions as much as possible, and wherever possible continue remote ...or virtual operations. The spring semester will serve as a bridge to reopening in fall 2021 when we anticipate the release of a safe and widely available vaccine. We will continue to align our decision-making with the current scientific evidence regarding safety and to follow the guidelines provided by the SFDPH. At the same time, we must strengthen our resilience in campus operations and continue to focus on bringing our community back together. USF will continue to provide essential housing support for winter intersession and the spring semester, and we will be sending regular community updates about what is happening on campus and in our classrooms. We thank our university community members for their flexibility, for their collaboration, for their resilience, and for all the work they have done to meet these many challenges. Announcement: https://bit.ly/33H9QPq

In commencement ceremonies held online last Friday from a COVID-safe distance, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the university honored USF's Class of 2020, both undergraduate and graduate. Our newest graduates join an alumni community more than 118,000 strong.

Reasons you should join the USF Alumni Book Club: 1) Connect with fellow alumni 2) Reading has health benefits (it’s true!) 3) Embrace lifelong learning... The Alumni Book Club will officially kick off in January with A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. If you have one hour a week and an internet connection, you’re set. You won’t want to miss out on this virtual book club. The commitment is low and joining is free! Learn more and sign up: https://bit.ly/39Z8lQc

This Friday, December 11, USF’s 162nd commencement ceremonies will be streamed on USF’s website, YouTube channel, and Facebook page. Please join us as we celebrate our graduates and acknowledge the work they’ve done in their time at USF as well as the obstacles they’ve overcome in this year of pandemic. Visit the link below for the ceremony schedule, information on regalia and diplomas, and the virtual commencement tool kit.... Congratulations to our winter 2020 graduates! Commencement Information: https://bit.ly/3m1IKZc

When Evelin Trejo MPH-MSBH ’16 was in high school, her tutor told her mother that Evelin should stop thinking about college and start learning enough math to become a cashier. My mom looked at her, said ‘Thank you’ in the little English she knew, and told me to just keep walking back into class until I graduated, Trejo said. Today, Trejo is a clinical research coordinator at UCSF’s location at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital a place she had navigated as a child,... translating her brother’s kidney condition for her mother. At San Francisco General, Trejo has become a translator on a larger scale she demystifies health care for an entire community. She’s built a research program for hematology and oncology; ensured that the Latino population has access to cancer health care, screenings, and clinical trials; built and maintained a cancer survivorship program; and gone door-to-door to recruit plasma donors for COVID patients. For her work, Trejo in August received the UCSF SPIRIT of DOM (Staff Professionalism, Inspiration, Responsibility, Integrity, and Teamwork of the Department of Medicine) award. More about her journey at USF News:

The power of philanthropy is alive and well at USF and it is days like Giving Tuesday where we can see the generosity and steadfast spirit of our community in action. We are grateful to the hundreds of supporters who invested in our students and greater USF community as part of this national day of giving. - Chantel Smith, Associate Vice President of Annual Giving and Operations The impact you made on Giving Tuesday will be felt by USF students for years to come. Thank you! Learn more about your impact: https://bit.ly/37CcqXw

USF’s new residence hall and dining area, which feature some of the City’s best views, are approaching completion. Perched on the eastern side of Lone Mountain, the new residence hall has space for 600 students and is slated for completion in February. Plans are being made to move students into the new housing next fall. The new Lone Mountain dining center is set for completion next month after an expansion and renovation of the former Wolf & Kettle Cafe. Features include:... an authentic Italian pizza oven a tandoor grill beer and wine taps floor-to-ceiling windows with views from downtown San Francisco to the Pacific Ocean More updates on Hilltop construction, including renovations to the Sobrato Center at War Memorial Gymnasium, are available here: https://bit.ly/3osw2o9 Photos: Lone Mountain dining center.

What are you thankful for? This year, the university community is thankful for the opportunity to give back to communities in need. Darlene Isola ’73, MA ’79, Kevin Hanley ’71, David Philpott ’93, MA ‘97 and Kevin Leong ’70, MHROD ’93 led USF’s 25th annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Thanks to partnerships with the San Francisco Groceries for Seniors and the Lucky Store on Fulton and Masonic, these USF alumni made sure local families had a warm meal this Thanksgiving. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2JrXLGn

Leaders and mentors show up in many ways, whether they are direct or indirect. The more you understand how they impact your life, leadership, and philanthropy, the more you will find comfort in knowing that there is a network of like-minded individuals that are there to guide you in your pathways toward personal fulfillment, career development and philanthropic priorities. Join us as we celebrate the generosity of how mentors give back in an engaging conversation with author Mary Stutts. She will discuss how to develop your leadership, connect with mentors, and discover your philanthropic passions.

Today is Giving Tuesday, a global celebration of generosity! Each and every day, USF students generously live out the university’s mission to do good for others. USF is committed to helping students continue their important work in 2021 and beyond. But we can’t do it without you. With your support, USF students will be equipped to pursue their dreams and change the world. Will you join us today? Give today: usfca.edu/givingtuesday

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday and Women in Leadership & Philanthropy invite you to celebrate what giving back looks like through the lens of mentorship and philanthropy. Join us tomorrow for The Power to Transform Your Leadership & Philanthropy, a virtual event led by Leslie Martin '10 and Mary Stutts, author and advocate. They will discuss how leadership, mentorship, and finding your philanthropic passions has the power to change the world. Register now: https://bit.ly/3eSTt6j

How has generosity changed your life? For some students generosity has meant scholarships to attend USF, mentorship from a professor or using their USF education to give back. No matter what generosity looks like, we are thankful for how it can make a big difference. Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, a 24-hour global celebration of generosity. Doing good for others is at the heart of what USF stands for. You can be one of the first to join us in celebrating the work our students do each and every day to make the world a better place. Give early: usfca.edu/givingtuesday

San Francisco shocked No. 4 Virginia on Friday, scoring the biggest upset of the young college basketball season and the program's biggest win in decades. ‘For us to be able to compete like this on a national stage, on national TV, against one of the winningest programs in the country, this is a big, big step for our program,’ said Todd Golden, the Dons' 35-year-old coach. More from ESPN: https://es.pn/3o5As41

Dr. Gleb Nikitenko EdD ’10 says that entrepreneurship is in the Jesuit DNA and this year on Small Business Saturday, we are excited to share how USF students are changing the world right here in San Francisco for our local businesses. Our students are the heart and soul of the USF community. It is important that they see themselves as essential contributors to our economic ecosystem." - Dr. Nikitenko Dr. Nikitenko’s students engaged with the Greater Geary Merchant Associatio...n to help develop their online marketplace. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this partnership might be more important than ever to helping rebuild the small business community. Read more: https://bit.ly/370avfn

USF men’s basketball upset the No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers 61-60 today! UVA is the defending national champion. The last time Dons men’s basketball defeated a top-five team was in 1981. Go Dons! #USFCA : Johnnie Izquierdo / Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In this season of gratitude, five USF students and a recent graduate talked with USF News about the gift of giving. Jared Bague ’22, Erica Divinagracia ’22, and Nathan Te ’22 helped feed frontline pandemic workers in the Philippines. Adrian Aguinaldo ’23 and Amanda Higashiguchi ’23 gave menstrual products to homeless people on Oahu. Leada Malek ’12 launched a physical therapy practice that delivers care to anyone, anywhere. More at USF News: https://bit.ly/3mfA8PJ

Family. Health. Safety. Education. Love. Whatever you are thankful for this year, please know that USF is thankful for you. Happy Thanksgiving from your family at USF.

Can you remember a mentor who shaped your life? This year on Giving Tuesday, Women in Leadership & Philanthropy is celebrating all the ways that mentors give back by hosting the virtual event, The Power to Transform Your Leadership & Philanthropy. Mary Stutts, one of Savoy Magazine’s 2019 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America, will share insights on the impact of philanthropy and strong leadership that she gained as a successful author, advisor, speaker, advocate, and b...oard member for various organizations. The first 150 registrants will receive a complimentary copy of Stutts' book, The Missing Mentor. Register today: https://bit.ly/3eSTt6j

"Wherever we find ourselves, the feast of Thanksgiving invites us to find some light in the darkness. For my siblings and me, this is our first Thanksgiving without our mother. I am grateful for her life and for the life she gave me. "For USF faculty, staff, and administrators, we are working harder than ever to educate and support our students in a remote environment with unprecedented pressures. We are grateful for each other’s partnership in mission. "For USF students, dis...persed around the globe, you are facing challenges that you never dreamed of. I am sure you are grateful for each other’s support and friendship, as well as for the work of your faculty and staff mentors. "Rather than curse the darkness, let us light candles. Their light will show us each other’s faces the faces of faith, hope, and love. "This Thanksgiving, be blessed and be blessings for others." - President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. in his message of Thanksgiving to the USF community Fr. Fitzgerald's message: https://bit.ly/3pXPhHB

Kevin Zwick, a 2002 alumnus of USF's master's in nonprofit administration program, was named in June as CEO of United Way Bay Area. Zwick talked with USF News about his priorities and challenges, including affordable housing and equity for all. How has the pandemic affected your work? Like many nonprofits on the front lines of the pandemic, we’ve seen an increase in demand for our programs. Our rental relief fund that provides critical rent assistance has more than 10 times ...the requests for funding than we can support. Our 2-1-1 helpline, for those in search of resources during the pandemic, has received 50,000 calls a number we usually receive in a year in the past four months. How did the MNA program prepare you for the work you’re doing? Some of my fondest memories are the lifelong friends and colleagues I met in the program ... I feel very lucky to have taken classes from the program founder, Michael O’Neill, whose belief in the power of the voluntary sector to make change inspired me to seek a career in nonprofit service and leadership. More at USF News: https://www.usfca.edu/news/Zwick-leads-local-poverty-war

Burl Toler ‘52, a linebacker and lineman for the famed 1951 USF Football team, was a standout two-way player who earned All-American recognition and was selected in the NFL Draft. But he went on to make history in something greater than his playing career and he helped change the world of professional sports. Burl Toler became the first-ever Black NFL referee in 1965 and was the first minority official in any major North American professional sport. Toler continued to pave ...the way as the first African American to officiate the Super Bowl in 1980. Tonight, Toler’s legacy lives on as the first-ever all-Black officiating crew takes the field for Monday Night Football. More at the San Francisco Chronicle: http://ow.ly/DdmS50CsQn8

I love helping others and working with a younger generation. I want to teach the students I work with, my scholars, that their voice is important. Even more important than mine as they are the future leaders of the world." - Rayburn Tang '22 Tang is able to take his passion for psychology and pay it forward to future generations. He is marching ahead towards global change thanks to the Kai Chong Tong Scholarship. Curious about how scholarships like this help first-generation students change the world from here? Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2KkRqwA

Mary Wardell-Ghirarduzzi is changing the world. From here, or from anywhere someone has internet access. She is USF’s vice provost of USF Diversity Engagement & Community Outreach (DECO), and she and her team regularly hold diversity, equity, and inclusion training sessions for USF students, faculty, and staff. The sessions have seen a 10-fold increase in attendance over a year ago. The top three topics: Centering Equity and Anti-Racism, Microaggressions 101, and Whiteness 1...01. In the 10 years DECO has been educating the USF community, she has never before seen this much demand. The racial reckoning in the United States has created a desire for education, she said, and online learning, due to the pandemic, has opened up sessions to more community members allowing for access and equity. DECO launched a student advisory board this fall, and Wardell-Ghirarduzzi is part of an effort among Jesuit universities and colleges to use Ignatian spirituality for anti-racism and racial justice. I think it’s this notion of seeing God in all things and seeing that as an invitation for us to think deeply about the issues facing the world we live in, she said. This racial crisis is like an existential threat to us and our nation. More at USF News: https://bit.ly/36ULfqT

It's been a big year for politics major Zoe Baker ’21. It started in January with a Washington, D.C. internship with the current Vice President-elect. By November, she was helping the ABC News Decision Desk project the 2020 election. When her internship with Senator Kamala Harris ended in March because of the pandemic, Baker wanted to stay involved in politics. USF in DC Director Ken Goldstein hired her and data science major Annika Cowen ’21 to help him with projections ...of the 2020 elections for the ABC News Decision Desk. Their job: Give Goldstein, working his ninth presidential election, the information he needed to help the network project the outcome of the presidential election and the Congressional races. I got to play a bigger part than I could have ever imagined, Baker said. I learned a lot, and I had a lot of fun doing it. On election night, Baker and Cowen helped analyze a variety of data indications of the early vote, polls, exit polls, and precinct results to inform the decision making. They had real jobs in real time in a real election, said Goldstein. I’m pretty confident no college students have ever been more involved in election night work projecting races. Working to project an election unlike any other, the Decision Desk team was on call until four days after Election Day. More at USF News: https://bit.ly/2UFdFz9

A teacher of color saved my life. That person showed me that education could be humanizing, empowering, and inclusive. As a teacher of color, I want to bring my knowledge and experience into spaces that need representation. - Thu Huong Cao MA '22 Thu knows firsthand that walking into a classroom and seeing teachers who can relate to your experiences changes everything. Thu has embraced change as a life mission with the hope of offering the next generation of students the sa...me opportunity she had as a young student. The School of Education is proud to announce that Thu is the first recipient of the Marin Diverse Educator Scholarship, which funds the education of teachers of color pursuing a degree at USF and teach (or plan to teach) at a K-12 public school in Marin County. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3nCEqAY

The USF Honors College is pleased to name W. Kamau Bell as this year’s J. Paul Getty Visiting Artist/Scholar. His work includes the CNN original documentary series - United Shades of America, a Netflix special - Private School Negro, and a memoir - The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell. The USF community is invited to join Mr. Bell on Thursday, November 19 as he discusses the role of comedy in social transformation and his work as the ACLU’s Celebrity Ambassador for Racial Justice. Registration is available here: bit.ly/WKBELLUSFCA

Volunteer Fire Captain Michael Carlson spent 32 days fighting fires in Northern California this past summer and fall. The University of San Francisco School of Law alumnus has a day job as vice president and general counsel at Caymus Vineyards. When Carlson fights a fire, he practices law on the side. His typical firefighting stint lasts 10 days, and his schedule is 24 hours on and 24 hours off, so when he’s not leading his team as a fire captain, he responds to work emails ...on his laptop. Of the 18 stations in the Napa County Fire Department, 12 are staffed by volunteers like Carlson. The Glass and Hennessey fires hit close to home, he said. When you watch a house, vineyard, or winery go up right here in the valley, that gets to you. But it also galvanizes you, because the work you do is so important. A native of the North Bay, Carlson has a strong desire to serve a community that he loves. I think that service thing started for me when I studied at USF," said Carlson. "I had great friends and great professors. I learned about integrity and honesty there, and giving back. It all started with USF. #USFCA Full story: https://bit.ly/3nByCaC

Today, we recognize the six Jesuit priests and two lay people who were martyred for speaking out against injustice while living on the campus of the Jesuit Central American University in El Salvador. On November 16, 1989, six priests Ignacio Ellacuria, Ignacio Martin-Baro, Segundo Montes, Amando Lopez, Juan Ramon Moreno, and Joaquin Lopez y Lopez their housekeeper Elba Ramos, and her daughter, Celina, were killed by Salvadoran army soldiers. The Jesuits had spoken agains...t the kidnapping, torture, and murder of civilians, many of them poor, at the hands of El Salvador’s military regime. One year ago, USF honored them with the installation of a new memorial on Lone Mountain. Wooden crosses painted with each victim’s name, along with eight stone plaques, stand at the eastern edge of the Lone Mountain summit. With this memorial, we honor the martyrs in El Salvador and we reaffirm our Jesuit mission to struggle against injustice and seek the truth. - Donal Godfrey, S.J., associate director for faculty and staff spirituality #USFCA #AMDG

Happy Saturday from the Hilltop! : Ryan Fitzsimons (Instagram: https://bit.ly/32FJufR)

As USF embarks on a strategic planning process, the university seeks community and stakeholder feedback on five guiding values and seven strategic priorities that form the foundation for a new university strategic plan. USF community members are invited to sign up for a listening session or complete a survey to provide input on guiding values and strategic priorities. We are grateful to our university community for their time and feedback. More information: https://bit.ly/32IpuJD

The Honorable Martin J. Jenkins JD '80 was confirmed to the California Supreme Court this week. From CBS News: "California made history on Tuesday when it confirmed its first openly gay state Supreme Court justice, according to a press release. Associate Justice Martin J. Jenkins, 66, is also the third-ever Black man to serve on the Golden State's highest court. "Jenkins' appointment was approved by a unanimous vote in the Supreme Court courtroom in San Francisco, officials ...said. "A report from the state's Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation concluded that Jenkins, a Democrat, is 'exceptionally well qualified' the highest possible assessment to serve on the court. "He is praised for his brilliant intellect, first-class temperament and boundless humanity," the report added." More at CBS News: https://cbsn.ws/36ygwzo

Joe Cotchett's personal philosophy for philanthropy exemplifies what it means to live out USF's Jesuit mission: The pants or skirt you go to heaven in have no pockets. We can't exist in today's society without helping young kids move ahead and move forward. As university students across the nation continue to battle the challenges that 2020 has brought forth, the need for giving is more important now than ever. Cotchett shares his insights behind why he established an endow...ed scholarship fund and why giving to USF students is so important to him. Read more: https://www.usfca.edu/news/making-tomorrow-better

Staff Sgt. Xavier Bianchi ’20 served in the U.S. Army for eight years in the 173rd Airborne Brigade and was deployed to Afghanistan twice. He left the Army in 2015 due to injuries relating to combat. Although surfing was a passion and he had surfed since he was a kid, Bianchi was told he would never surf again because of his injuries. Bianchi credits Operation Surf in Southern California, an organization that works with veterans, with helping him surf again. When I paddle ou...t, all the bad things wash away, he said. He and a group of veterans decided Northern California veterans needed their own surfing group. In 2017, they started Veteran Surf Alliance, a nonprofit that helps veterans struggling with PTSD and transitioning from the military to civilian life. VSA teaches veterans to surf in Santa Cruz and Pacifica. It’s easy to indulge in self pity, but when you see guys missing limbs going out into the waves, you say, ‘I can do this,’ said Bianchi. More at USF News: https://bit.ly/2IlbRJo

"This election is historic. California Sen. Kamala Harris is the first woman and the first person who is Black, of South Asian descent, and the daughter of immigrants to be elected to the vice presidency. Further, election results in many states on the local and federal levels have brought more diversity, including different voices and different life experiences, to our government. "Your participation and advocacy at USF and in your own communities have contributed to the...se changes and post-election hope for the future: you voted, you encouraged others to vote, and you supported and dialoged in your classes and virtual meetings about the future direction of this republic. Thank you. And thanks again to the USFVotes team at the McCarthy Center for its leadership. "President-elect Biden has announced his commitment to uniting our divided country. With this difficult work being a new White House priority, the transformative power of education and USF’s values as a Jesuit institution devoted to social justice are more relevant, important, and necessary than ever before. As individuals and as members of the USF community, we are called to build a more just, humane, and ecologically sustainable world, to connect across differences, and to recognize, defend, and lift up the dignity of all persons. It is the work we need to do to change the world from here." - USF President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. President Fitzgerald's full message: https://bit.ly/3eQEjyn

This week, USF recognizes the nationwide First Generation Celebration and the impact our first generation students have on our university community. Thirty-two percent of USF first-year students identify as first gen and more than a third of alumni were first-generation students. USF’s Muscat Scholars Program (MSP) marks 25 years of support for first-generation, first-year students this year. The program will host events throughout the week as it celebrates the achievements o...f USF first gen students and graduates. I have experienced so much personal growth and truly found a community, especially through MSP, said Juliana Molina '22. I don’t know where I would be without all of them. In fact, I do not think I can count the number of mentors I have on one hand." The commitment to first-generation students at USF comes from the top, where President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J., knows the power of education for first-generation college students. He was one. He is the son of factory workers, the middle child among five children, and the first in his family to attend and graduate from college. Education was a gateway to working with your mind rather than with your back, which is what my parents did, he said. More at USF News: https://bit.ly/3nc6L0P

November is Scholarship Month! Here at USF, making education accessible to first-generation and under-represented students is a priority. Thanks to support from community members like you, we’re proud to offer scholarships to over 70 percent of USF students, of which 37 percent are first-generation. Learn more about how USF is closing the gap: http://ow.ly/Mczl50CaSrj

"I know that many members of our global community faculty and staff as well as students, alumni, family, and friends are asking what this unsettling time means for USF, our city, our country, and our world. I want you to know: Our work to teach, mentor, research, and learn continues.... Our work to advance the cause of social justice continues. Our work to strengthen our community continues. USF’s mission, vision, and values form the foundation of our work and connect our beloved community as we move forward and for this, I continue to be hopeful. Our work together is more important than ever." - President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. President Fitzgerald's full message to the university community: https://bit.ly/3oYcGYW

"As a university, we assert our desire for elected leadership that is humanizing, compassionate, and inclusive. We value critical thinking, challenging conversations, and active work to build and support the community while analyzing how the distribution of power impacts both individuals and systems. In the coming days and weeks, we encourage everyone to set aside time for hope and healing and to continue the work of advancing justice." The Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public S...ervice and the Common Good at USF and the USFVotes team shared a message of gratitude for the millions of Americans who engaged in the democratic process, as well as the essential workers of our democracy postal workers, local election officials, and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who served as poll workers. Read more from the McCarthy Center and view a calendar of post-election resources across the university here: http://bit.ly/USFCA2020.

Join us today at 3:30 p.m. as the USF Davies Forum presents a public roundtable discussion with Dr. Angela Davis, one of the most influential figures in the American Black Civil Rights Movement. For decades, Dr. Davis has fought for racial, gender, economic, and social justice around the world. As election results continue to roll in, she joins us to discuss political activism, social justice, and prison reform in the United States. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Mary Wardell-Ghirarduzzi, USF Vice Provost for Diversity Engagement and Community Outreach. Registration: http://bit.ly/ADUSF20

Taryn Moore ’06 MA ’08, USF’s director of alumni engagement, reflects on her experience as a graduate of USF and her hope for peace on the eve of the 2020 election. Read more: http://ow.ly/5JU650C7EpC

"I never imagined joining a presidential campaign this year. I told myself I was done working on campaigns after volunteering on a few my freshman year at USF and after phone banking for Hillary Clinton in 2016. But with the help of a USF alumna last year, I worked with the Democratic National Committee advance team. "When my summer plans to intern at a federal agency were canceled due to COVID-19, I decided to use my network to find a campaign role because I wanted to do so...mething and not sit on the sidelines. I wanted to be able to say that I gave it my all and did everything I could to elect Joe Biden as president of the United States." - Ethan Tan '21 Follow Ethan Tan politics student, intern with the Biden presidential campaign, and chief copy editor of the San Francisco Foghorn as he navigates a day of classes, campaign work, and putting out the newspaper. Ethan's story: https://bit.ly/2HU1rQn

Happy Halloween from the Hilltop!

USF President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. sent a message to the university community calling for peace and reconciliation: "Today my thoughts are drawn to contemplate the notion and the practice of peace and reconciliation. Many ancient and modern religions and philosophies teach that peace is not merely the absence of violence; peace is a state of personal well-being and communal prosperity. "The peace of our hearts is established and strengthened when we care for and care abo...ut the well-being of others, all others. This active benevolence transcends differences of political opinion, culture, and nationality. As St. Ignatius reminds us, the more universal our love, the more it is divine. "I invite you to join me in praying for peace and reconciliation in the coming days. May there be peace in our streets, peace in our homelands, and peace in our world. May we be united in our shared humanity, and may our work for justice and reconciliation be made noble by the purity of our intentions. "In addition to the power that prayer brings, in these days of uncertainty and clashing ideas, opinions, and actions, I invite you to embrace civility and grace, kindness and patience, thoughtfulness and empathy. "While temporarily dispersed, our beloved USF community is strong. Together, we can create the change in the world we want to see. Let us do so with courage and commitment." President Fitzgerald's full message: https://bit.ly/3jJRSka

In the Catholic tradition, the month of November is set aside to remember and celebrate the lives of family and friends who are deceased. If you would like to submit a name or a special intention, it will be placed at Mary's altar in St. Ignatius Church and the Chapel of Our Lady of Montserrat at Loyola House on Sunday, November 1. Submit your intentions here: http://ow.ly/vOLV50C46MU

Louise Nelson MS '00 says her education at USF master’s program in organization development inspired (her) to do good for the community, for forgotten and invisible children. This year, her nonprofit music program called Guitars not Guns celebrates 20 years of teaching young people the healing power of hands-on music. We see children light up when they play a song for the first time, said Nelson. We get reports from parents and guardians who say that behaviors and gr...ades have greatly improved. It was founded in 2000, a year after the Columbine High School massacre prompted him to ask how he could help to prevent gun violence. Today the nonprofit has 19 chapters across the U.S. and Canada. Guitars not Guns is grassroots all the way. No one on the staff is paid. The classes are free. Each music class holds a maximum of 10 students with three adult instructors. Class meets for one hour each week. Since its founding, Guitars not Guns has served 4,000 young people, age 8 to 18, many of whom, through no fault of their own, have developed an angry and sad outlook on life, said Nelson. More at USF News: https://bit.ly/3dXICYe

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti honored USF alumna Rosary Celaya Castro-Olega as the first health care worker to die of COVID-19 in L.A. County. She was part of the USF nursing class of 1978 and retired in 2017 from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. In March, she took shifts at various hospitals in Los Angeles County, hoping to help out with the coronavirus pandemic. Castro-Olega and her twin daughters developed symptoms in mid-March. All three wound up hospitalized, and Castro-O...lega never came home. Rosary's story: https://bit.ly/3oijGPX Lost on the Frontline, a collaboration between Kaiser Health News (KHN) and The Guardian, has identified 1,293 health care workers who likely died of COVID-19 after helping patients during the pandemic. USF News is publishing Rosary Celaya Castro-Olega's story in partnership with KHN and The Guardian. Pictured: Rosary Celaya Castro-Olega, third from left, with members of her USF nursing class of 1978 at their 40th reunion in 2018.