During my time in Taiwan as part of the Fulbright International Education Administrators Program, I encountered a phrase etched into the windows on the 101st floor of Taipei 101: “Stay rooted but aim high.” At first, it felt like a simple and inspiring message. As the program continued, it became something more. It gave me a way to make sense of what I was experiencing and how I want to approach this work moving forward.

While many travelers see Costa Rica through the glossy brochures of pristine rainforests, a group of University of San Diego students recently went deeper, trading typical tourism for critical thinking and thick description.

Driven by a lifelong connection to the Spanish language, Emma Alvarez ’26 leveraged the Knauss School of Business' Madrid Center to secure two high-impact internships in Spain.

The Spring 2026 semester has arrived, and the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) is delighted to welcome the newest international students and scholars as they begin their academic programs and research visits. As part of our commitment to student success, OISS provides an international orientation program that combines regulatory-mandated information sessions that cover critical topics under student status compliance, along with vibrant social events designed to help international students connect with peers and gain a head start on their university journey. Our goal is to ensure every student is well-positioned to navigate basic federal regulations pertaining to student visas, explore university life, acclimate to a new environment, and take full advantage of opportunities that enhance their well-being both on and off campus. For the spring semester, OISS plans to continue hosting its signature programming, which includes our weekly Coffee Hour for community building and various excursions around San Diego to explore the local culture. We will continue to provide timely, relevant information through specialized workshops focused on visa compliance, employment authorization, tax filing and career planning. In this regard, OISS recognizes its unique role in promoting a sense of safety and community rooted in compliance education and providing leadership and guidance in a constantly changing immigration landscape, taking its lead from Pres. Harris’ words, “We have a unique and important opportunity at USD to channel our collective talents, explore what it means to be human and advocate for the dignity of all..”  

The University of San Diego is once again among the top study-abroad institutions in the country, according to data from the 2023–24 Open Doors report released today.

"Are you the Instagram girl?"  It’s the question that has become the most common greeting 22-year-old Donatella Falcomer receives on campus. For the past two years, her face has been synonymous with the University of San Diego’s (USD) social media presence, appearing in videos that have collectively reached hundreds of thousands of prospective students and beyond.

Students from the University of San Diego experienced a powerful blend of academic exploration and cultural immersion during a Spring Break field trip to Barbados, held March 8–15. The trip was a joint effort between the Department of Political Science and International Relations, the Department of Communication and the Africana Studies program, made possible by a generous gift from the Chapman Family Foundation.

The scent of the California air was Tatum Tande’s first clue that she was in the right place. During her initial campus visit to the University of San Diego (USD), the Minnesota native took a deep breath while walking along Mission Beach, watching retired people glide past her in their rollerblades while the waves of the Pacific Ocean sparkled. “This is what I want to be,” she remembers thinking. “This is where I want to live for a long time.”