@USC Sol Price School of Public Policy -- shaping the world since 1929. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people and their communities.

Los Angeles, CA
Not every USC final takes place in a classroom. ⛵ Students in the USC Price Nautical Science program put their skills to the test during a two-day voyage from San Pedro Bay to Catalina Island. Aboard the Irving Johnson, they practiced nautical navigation, raised and lowered sails, steered the ship—and even took turns coiling the anchor chain below deck. Open to students across USC, the program combines hands-on experience with courses that can count toward earning a U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license. Hear from the students and faculty bringing nautical science to life at sea. 🌊⚓ 🔗 Learn more about the program: priceschool.usc.edu/news/usc…
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There's still time to immerse yourself in an academically rich and socially engaging experience in the heart of the nation's capital! Students will be supported by faculty mentors and will continue to gain confidence and build skills for their professional careers through a capital city internship. Apply and learn more here: capitalcampus.usc.edu/usc-in…
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It's #NationalPreparednessMonth! Preparing Los Angeles for emergencies, major events, and evolving security challenges requires coordination across the public and private sectors — but, how exactly do we do that? Agencies across the board, such as law enforcement, transportation, and government, play a large role in protecting the region's people and infrastructure. Join our panelists from their respective sectors to learn how Los Angeles can strengthen these complex public safety challenges. Register here: calendar.usc.edu/event/prepa…
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How can local government measure what matters most—not just the services it delivers, but whether residents’ lives are actually improving? A new $1.5 million grant from The Haynes Foundation will help USC Price researchers put resident wellbeing at the center of how Los Angeles County measures its performance. Led by Professor David Brady and Research Assistant Professor Jared Schachner, the team will work with residents, community stakeholders and county departments to develop a public-facing system tracking outcomes such as health, safety, economic security and housing stability. 🔗 Read how this timely project could help shape a more transparent and accountable L.A. County government: priceschool.usc.edu/news/la-…
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More often than not, rural America has been counted out of the conversation. Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, who serves as the James Irvine Chair in Urban and Regional Planning at USC Price, discussed the stereotypes that shape our perception of rural America. Her book, The Overlooked Americans: The Resilience of Our Rural Towns and What It Means for Our Country, reshapes our understanding of the nation’s urban-rural divide — especially in the face of policy. Listen to the episode in Washington University in St. Louis's The Source: source.washu.edu/podcast/rur…
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We’re excited to share some wonderful news for the future of USC Price! ❤️💛 Thanks to the generosity of Maribeth and Hal Borthwick and Jennifer and Chris Taylor, USC Price has received two gifts totaling $4 million to support outstanding faculty, meaningful research and new opportunities for students. The gifts will establish the Dr. David C. Sloane Chair in Urban Planning and a new professorship connecting Urban Planning and Real Estate Development—an investment in the people and ideas that will help shape the school’s next 100 years. We are deeply grateful to the Borthwicks and Taylors for their generosity and commitment to the USC Price community. 🔗 Learn more about these gifts and the impact they will make: priceschool.usc.edu/news/don…
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Healthcare organizations need leaders who can navigate change, manage complex operations and make decisions that improve outcomes for patients and communities. Careers in healthcare management span hospital administration, operations, consulting, health information, clinical management and executive leadership. At the USC Price School of Public Policy, students develop interdisciplinary expertise in leadership, finance, policy and organizational management to prepare for these evolving roles. Learn more about the opportunities available in healthcare management and what it takes to build a career in the field. Read more here: uscprice.page/4yEZ3B4
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An opportunity can change a career — especially when someone helps you see it in the first place. USC Price alumna Vrushangi Shah, MHA ’22, went from learning what a healthcare administration fellowship was to completing one at UCLA Health. Now, she’s helping others navigate those same opportunities through “The Fellowship Review.” Her work is giving graduate students and early-career professionals more insight into fellowships, mentorship and building a career in healthcare administration. Learn more about Shah’s journey and how she’s helping make the path forward more accessible for others here: uscprice.page/471mNU0
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What can history teach us about presidential leadership? Join USC Price for a conversation with award-winning historians Beverly Gage and Sean Wilentz, former Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan, and moderator Lindsay M. Chervinsky in person at the Ford Orientation Center - Smith Theater and virtually. The discussion will explore how presidents across different eras approached leadership, power and public service—and what those lessons can tell us today. Learn more and register: uscprice.page/3TZEGQ1 @MountVernon
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🗓️ One week away! There's still time to register for the USC Schaeffer Leadership Lecture featuring The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown and Robert Putnam. Don't miss this timely conversation on active citizenship and the future of democracy at USC's Capital Campus in Washington, D.C. 📅 Wednesday, September 23, 2026 🕥 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Reserve your spot today: uscprice.wufoo.com/forms/m6e… Questions? Contact Vanna Quiroz at geovanna@usc.edu
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Celebrating four remarkable careers and the lasting impact Genevieve Giuliano, Eric Heikkila, Dowell Myers and David Sloane have made on the USC Price community. ❤️💛 Read about the retirement celebration honoring these distinguished Urban Planning professors and the legacies they leave behind: priceschool.usc.edu/news/ret… ✌️
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Could a federal tax credit bring film and television jobs back to the U.S.—or leave taxpayers footing the bill? USC Price Professor Michael Thom says evidence from similar state programs shows they create few jobs while costing taxpayers millions that could be spent elsewhere. Read his analysis of the proposal and what past incentives reveal: priceschool.usc.edu/news/tru…
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What does the future of public policy, health policy and urban planning look like? USC Price’s three new department chairs have a few ideas. Professors Elizabeth Graddy, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula and Geoff Boeing share their visions for preparing students for a changing workforce, advancing innovative research and ensuring USC Price continues to shape the fields it serves. Meet the new chairs and learn about their priorities for the years ahead: priceschool.usc.edu/news/usc…
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The Trump administration was found to have used flawed EPA research to justify eliminating vehicle emissions standards. A study examining the EPA's cost-benefit analysis, highlights errors in the agency's accounting of fuel savings, technology costs, and mileage pricing. USC Price Professor Antonio Bento, a contributor to this study, highlighted the benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs for clean-vehicle owners. Learn about the impact of this recent rollback in @AP: uscprice.page/4xkf1j0
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Could a few extra pills in an initial prescription shape sleep medication use years later? 💊💤 New research from @USCSchaeffer found that patients who initially received longer prescriptions for common sleep medications—including Ambien and Lunesta—were considerably more likely to still be filling them one year later. The study analyzed nearly 20 years of prescription data from approximately 130,000 U.S. patients. What researchers discovered raises important questions about how the very first prescription can influence long-term use. Read the full story at the link in bio: uscprice.page/4An1hXx
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The Trump administration said eliminating vehicle emissions standards would save consumers money. New research says that claim doesn’t add up. A study published in Science and co-authored by USC Price Professor Antonio Bento identified selective assumptions, inconsistent interpretations of evidence and an accounting error in the EPA’s analysis. Correcting those three problems would reduce the rollback’s estimated economic benefits by nearly $1.5 trillion—overturning its economic justification even before considering the health and environmental benefits of reducing pollution. So, what went wrong with the math—and what could it mean for consumers? Read the full story: priceschool.usc.edu/news/tru…
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What did summer look like at USC Price? ☀️✌️ From alumni leading California cities to students tackling real-world challenges, new faculty joining our community and a Fulbright alum making an impact abroad, there was plenty to celebrate this summer. Catch up on the stories you may have missed in our summer recap newsletter: uscprice.page/4dgHZsA
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Do Your Friends Vote? Your social circle could impact voter turnout. Voter turnout in this fall’s midterm elections will be shaped by an underappreciated factor: friends and family. Join USC researchers and leading voting rights advocates on Sept. 15, International Democracy Day, for a discussion of new research exploring how our social circles influence whether we cast a ballot. This webinar will examine election poll data from the past decade to understand how voter intentions are shaped by personal relationships, as well as by economic, policy, and structural factors. Register here: usc.zoom.us/webinar/register… @USCSchaeffer
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How can active citizenship strengthen our democratic future? Active citizenship goes beyond voting. It means staying informed, participating in civic life, engaging with our communities, building trust across differences, and taking an active role in addressing society's challenges. Join the @USCSchaeffer and @USCDornsife's Center for a Politcial Future for a conversation between The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown and Robert Putnam as they explore the role citizens and communities play in strengthening democracy—and how civic engagement, social connection, and collective action can help shape a more resilient democratic future. 📅 Wednesday, September 23, 2026 🕥 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 📍 USC Capital Campus, Washington, D.C. Register to join the conversation: uscprice.page/4rd5QiZ
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What does it take to lead when the stakes are high? For USC alumnus and U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin Goff, the answer started with two very different classrooms: history and ROTC. While studying history at @USCDornsife and training through @USCArmyROTC at the USC Price School, Goff built both the perspective and leadership skills he now uses as a Fire Direction Officer at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. Read more about Goff’s journey from USC student to Army officer and the people and experiences that shaped his path: priceschool.usc.edu/news/us-…
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