Sep15
The Kroc School is committed to supporting students’ professional and career development throughout their academic journey. KROC 502 Pursuing Purpose: Professional Pathways in Peace, Justice, and Social Innovation is a required course that supports students in designing and navigating their career paths with clarity and confidence. Drawing upon design thinking principles, Pursuing Purpose empowers students to develop self-awareness, understand the social impact career landscape, build their professional brand, and create actionable career development plans. While we offer the course every semester, we strongly encourage students to take Pursuing Purpose in their first semester to get a headstart on the professional pathway plans.
Kroc Ambassador Program
The Kroc Ambassador Program is an opportunity for USD Kroc School students to use their leadership, communications, and networking skills to advance the reputation and recruitment efforts of the Kroc School. Kroc Ambassadors are responsible for representing the Kroc School on campus and in the community at large, coordinating recruitment events, and being promoters of the school to current and prospective students.
- Commitment and Responsibilities
- Requirements
- Benefits
- Assist with community building, retention efforts, and recruitment of new students
- Provide ideas and leadership in the area of professional and career development programs and events
- Ambassadors serve as a resource to current, prospective, and admitted students
- Assist the communications and marketing teams with social media content creation and distribution
- Assist in the creation and facilitation of professional development, informational, and recruitment events
- Consult on ways the program can better serve prospective and current students during the year and the summer
- Attending bi-weekly staff meetings and trainings (~8 total/semester)
- Willing to work 1-2 hours or longer for special events
- Be a good role model to prospective and current students with a positive outlook about university life and the Kroc School
- Respond to questions quickly and efficiently
- Adopt a mature and professional approach to conversations
All questions should be directed to Frances Laviscount, Director of Admissions.
Applicants who are newly admitted or are currently enrolled students in a Kroc School in-person or hybrid graduate program (MA in Peace and Justice, MA in Social Innovation, and MS in Conflict Management & Resolution). To apply, the applicant must be in good academic standing.
Students who are selected for a Kroc School GA position will receive $1,296.00 in funding, which will be applied toward tuition costs during the semester in which they have been selected. Assistantship awards do not cover student fees, books or other expenses.
It is expected that students collaborate for 40 hours per semester. Please note actual hours will vary by position and are typically between 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Students may not work more than 25 hours per week.
Responsibilities will vary by position. Graduate Assistantships are designed to enhance student learning by collaborating with faculty. It is an opportunity to assist in research, the design of pedagogical innovations, or related projects.
The number of GA positions is contingent on faculty demand. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for current openings.
Students will apply directly to the faculty member. Faculty will review applications and make decisions based on the fit between their research and pedagogical interests and the applicant's qualifications.
TBD
Students will be notified no later than two weeks after the deadline.
Kroc students are only allowed one graduate assistantship per semester unless special permission has been granted by Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, Frances Laviscount.
However, students are allowed to hold a Kroc School Graduate Assistantship and be a Kroc Ambassador.
Yes, contracts are renewable pending faculty invitation.
International students who do not have a Social Security Number (SSN) will not be permitted to start their graduate assistantships until they have one in place. Students can talk to the International Center for guidance on how to secure their SSN.
Kroc Graduate Assistantship Opportunities
- Dr. Topher McDougal - Fall GAship
- Dr. Dustin Sharp - Fall GAship
Supervisor: Topher McDougal
Description/Duties and Responsibilities:
This position will support a growing portfolio of applied research at the intersection of organized violence, migration, illicit economies, and peacebuilding. It will provide research assistance in three interconnected areas: (1) preparatory research and data analysis related to Prof. McDougal’s expert witness work in the Government of Mexico’s lawsuit against U.S.-based firearms sellers; (2) development of a broader Kroc IPJ research cluster on trafficking, migration, and organized crime in collaboration with Kroc IPJ staff and faculty affiliates; and (3) periodic administrative and research support for the IPJ Research Director’s wider portfolio of initiatives. Responsibilities may include literature reviews, data collection and cleaning, media and legal document analysis, qualitative coding, background memos, event support, and assistance with grant and publication development. The position reflects the IPJ’s broader commitment to integrating research, pedagogy, and practice through collaborative, justice-centered inquiry.
Qualifications:
Ideal candidates will possess strong research and writing skills, intellectual curiosity, discretion with sensitive material, and an interest in applied peace and justice research spanning policy, practice, and academia. Spanish language proficiency, familiarity with Latin America or border issues, and quantitative or GIS skills are desirable but not required.
Number of Hours:
It is expected that students collaborate for 40 hours per semester. Please note actual hours will vary by position and are typically between 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
Compensation:
Students who are selected for a Kroc School GA position will receive $1,296.00 in funding, which will be applied toward tuition costs during the semester in which they have been selected. Assistantship awards do not cover student fees, books, or other expenses.
Application Procedure:
To apply, please send the application as one combined PDF document to Topher McDougal at tlm@sandiego.edu no later than Friday, September 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
Applications must include the following:
- Cover letter (2 paragraphs is sufficient) outlining qualifications, experience as it relates to the position, and how obtaining the position will add to your professional goals.
- Current curriculum vitae/resume.
At the Kroc School, we encourage students to take advantage of professional opportunities to learn and connect with scholars and practitioners in peace, justice, and social innovation. We recognize that cost can sometimes be a barrier to participation, which is why we offer a limited number of Professional Development Grants (PDGs) to support extraordinary learning opportunities. Applications may be submitted on an individual or group basis, and students are encouraged to discuss ideas for a grant with their faculty advisor in advance of submitting an application to the Review Committee. PDGs are limited and competitive.
- PDG Examples
- PDGs that are typically not awarded
- PDG Guidelines
- 2025-2026 PDG Deadlines
- PDG Process & Application Requirements
- PDG Awards & Financials
- PDG Summary Report
- Academic learning opportunities that could not otherwise be achieved through the student’s Kroc academic program
- Co-curricular activities that enhance the student’s Kroc academic program
- Professional development opportunities that apply directly to the student’s career goals and are in line with their studies
- Presenting a paper at, or attending, an academic conference
- Traveling to work with one of the Kroc School’s institutes on a special field project
All questions should be directed to Frances Laviscount.
Questions?
If you're looking for guidance to get connected to campus resources or find a community at the Kroc School, contact Associate Director of Student Success and Career Development, Bianca Morales.