About USD
- Mission and Vision
- History
- Catholic Identity
- USD Facts
- Administration
- Strategic Initiatives
- More About USD…
Founded in 1949 in the heart of San Diego, USD has grown to become a premier institution dedicated to providing academic excellence, Catholic intellectual and social traditions, and a top-notch liberal arts education for scholars of all faiths. USD is committed to the intellectual, spiritual, and overall development of its student body.

USD’s mission captures the values that have made it a prominent Catholic university, a vibrant institution of quality higher education, and an Ashoka U Changemaker Campus.
Academics
A USD education combines the vibrancy of the liberal arts with academic rigor in a supportive learning community. USD offers a wide variety of majors and specializations, allowing students to pursue their passions. Faculty members are distinguished scholars and devoted teachers who promote an interactive learning environment.

Faculty collaborate one-on-one with undergraduate and graduate students on research, scholarship and creative activity, allowing students to experience the excitement of original discovery.
Admissions
- Undergraduate
- Graduate
- School of Law
- Summer and Intersession
- Financial Aid
- Tuition and Fees
- More Admissions…
USD’s emphasis on academic excellence, intellectual rigor and global citizenship showcases our commitment to each student. USD offers the intellectual environment that will inspire you to begin shaping your future. By becoming a Torero, you are becoming part of the more than 60-year-long history of dedicated Changemakers.

Our students strive for academic excellence and take great pride in serving their communities. At USD, students learn to think critically, act globally and work collaboratively to achieve their full potential.
Experience
- Torero Life
- Housing and Residential Life
- Dining and Cafés
- Sports & Recreation
- University Ministry
- Diversity
- More Experience…
USD offers students endless opportunities to connect with the campus, the community, and each other. With nearly 200 clubs and organizations, countless sports and residence hall activities, guest lectures, community service opportunities and wellness programs, Toreros have every resource necessary to maximize their USD experience.

USD has an active, thriving campus community. In addition to its sublime setting — enhanced by an average 300 days of sunshine each year — USD offers students an abundance of academic programs, facilities and resources.
Directory
- People
- Offices & Departments
- Site Index
- Social Networking
- More Directory…
Even to the casual eye, it's apparent that the campus runs like a well-oiled machine, in large part due to our hard working team members, all dedicated to making sure that the USD student experience is reflective of the distinctive quality that the university is known for.

More than 1500 full-time and 750 part-time employees worked at USD in 2011, in capacities ranging from faculty to food service to administration to groundskeeper.
Gateways
- Prospective Students
- Current Students
- Faculty
- Staff
- Parents
- Alumni
- Visitors
- Athletics
The USD community is comprised of many diverse individuals. To assist with the various aspects of personal and professional development, the university provides various offices, programs and services. Gateways provides links to some of the areas that might be of interest to you.

From the moment you step on our beautiful campus you can see that USD is exceptional.

Susie Babka

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Assistant Professor <br />
Theology & Religious Studies<br />
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Susie Paulik Babka, Ph.D., is excited to be a part of the community at USD that seeks to intertwine Beauty with Justice. Beauty is that which draws us out of ourselves toward something deeper; Justice is the practical work of transforming this world into the world intended by God: a world that celebrates the dignity of every human being, our inherent interdependence, and the worth of all creation.

Babka is currently working on a book, Christology of the Mercy Seat: Imagining the God Who Suffers and articles exploring the relationship between abstract art and spirituality and the incarnation and interreligious dialogue.

Her interests are in Christology; the doctrine of God (Trinity); the problem of catastrophic suffering; theological aesthetics and the connection between art and the sacred; feminist and liberation theologies; the Frankfurt School.

Educational Background

PhD, University of Notre Dame
MA, University of Notre Dame
MTS, Duke University Divinity School
BA, University of Notre Dame, Theology
BA, University of Notre Dame, The Program of Liberal Studies

Contact Information

e-mail: sbabka@sandiego.edu

phone: (619) 260-2754

Public Affairs

Degheri Alumni Center
Phone: (619) 260-4681
news@sandiego.edu