USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

10/14/2026

Where can a PhD in history take you? In Ryan Linkof's case, right across the street from where he earned it.

At the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the USC Dornsife alumnus (PhD ’11) is senior curator and head of film programs.

Ryan credits his interdisciplinary studies with shaping his approach to visual storytelling, from prehistoric cave paintings to contemporary comics.

Meet Ryan and take a look inside the museum. 🎬

10/05/2026

You don’t have to leave a career you love to prepare for what comes next.

Heather Bonomo has worked as a stunt performer on everything from Captain Marvel to Better Call Saul. But industry disruptions and the rise of AI convinced her she needed more options.

She turned to our online Master of Science in Applied Psychology to help give her exactly that.

“I’m going to have options I didn’t have before I started this program.”

Congratulations on your degree, Heather, and thank you for sharing your story!

For stuntwoman Heather Bonomo, earning an MS in Applied Psychology created new career opportunities following an industry strike and rapid advances in AI.

10/01/2026

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Frederic Clark, associate professor of classics and English.

He was a gifted scholar, known for extraordinary generosity to students and colleagues.

We will miss him greatly.

Clark focused on how we came to define historical eras, as well as forgeries and frauds, as part of his research on the afterlife of classical antiquity.

09/22/2026

Prof. Andy Lakoff’s scholarship ranged from psychiatry and pharmaceuticals to pandemics and emergency preparedness. He had a remarkable gift for bringing people and ideas together across disciplines.

We remember an influential scholar, generous mentor and colleague, and former USC Dornsife divisional dean who died in July at 56.

The USC Dornsife professor and former divisional dean explored how science and technology shape modern life and brought scholars across disciplines together to tackle complex questions.

09/21/2026

After nearly two decades in Congress, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters is returning to a career path he once thought he’d pursue: higher education.

When his Senate term ends in January, he will become director of our USC Center for the Political Future, working alongside Republican strategist Mike Murphy. He succeeds founding director Robert Shrum, who will retire at the end of the year after eight years building the center and its commitment to civil dialogue across political differences.

Peters will teach in Los Angeles and DC, expand CPF’s presence at USC’s Capital Campus and help students learn how to work across political differences and turn ideas into action.

“It’s never been more important to bring people together, and there’s no better place to start than working with students and getting them engaged in civic activism.”

Welcome to USC Dornsife, Sen. Peters.

🔗 Read more: https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/senator-gary-peters-to-lead-usc-dornsife-center-for-the-political-future/

09/17/2026

Huge congratulations to Prof. Mark Thompson, a 2026 Citation Laureate recognized for the exceptional influence of his research.

His pioneering work helped transform the digital displays we use every day. Clarivate considers Citation Laureates’ research “of Nobel class,” and nearly 20% have gone on to receive a Nobel Prize. https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/oled-pioneer-mark-thompson-named-2026-citation-laureate/

09/16/2026

The Great Salt Lake wasn’t always so salty.

Our Earth scientists traced 240,000 years of its history, revealing how warming and drying transformed the lake and what its ancient past may tell us about its future.

Research led by USC Dornsife Earth scientists traces 240,000 years of change, showing that vast freshwater lakes were fleeting as warming and drying reshaped the basin.

09/14/2026

What if L.A. could lend out shade where and when it’s needed most?

Research by one of our undergrads helped identify communities most vulnerable to extreme heat. That work helped inspire the idea for a new “lending library” of portable shade structures.

Now our Public Exchange and ShadeLA partners are working to put the idea into action ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Researchers from USC are helping ShadeLA bring temperatures down across the city.