What is BiGI?
BiGI was created by Dr. Kimberly A. White-Smith, Dean of the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego, and Pamela Gray Payton, Vice President and Chief Impact and Partnership Officer at the San Diego Foundation, in response to long-standing disparities in educational access, opportunity and outcomes experienced by the Black community in San Diego County. BiGI is open to and serves all students who face disproportionality in educational access and outcomes.
The inequitable distribution of highly qualified teachers, supportive learning environments and essential academic resources has historically limited pathways to educational attainment for too many students. These longstanding gaps served as BiGI’s north star, guiding the creation of a comprehensive model designed to close opportunity disparities for those disproportionately affected.
These disparities often obscure or suppress the inherent genius within children, making it harder for their gifts, talents and possibilities to be fully recognized and nurtured. BiGI exists to illuminate that genius. Our work is to cultivate the brilliance that resides in every young person and to collaborate with school leaders, teachers and caregivers to build new possibilities for the future where these scholars can truly shine.
BiGI prepares sixth through 12th grade students to graduate from high school and pursue college or university — including USD — with the confidence, preparation and skills needed to achieve their academic and career aspirations.
6th-12th
grade students
7
year program
60
students per cohort
100%
of demonstrated need will be met after being accepted to USD
Nurturing Genius
Starting Summer 2023, sixth grade students, their guardians, and their educators will learn how to plan their college and career pathways through summer and Saturday programs. This includes wraparound services, STEAM academics, counseling, college workshops, and more.
What is Genius?
Genius is the unique gift and innate ability within each student to make a positive impact on their community.
What does Genius look like?
Genius can be seen in the people who surround our students — those who show generosity through selfless acts of kindness. Parents, caregivers, teachers and mentors often mode what Genius looks like in action.
How do I discover my Genius?
We invite our students to think about what they are naturally good at. It might be on the sports field, where they encourage teammates to strive for excellence. It could be in the classroom, helping classmates understand a homework assignment. Or It might be at home, when giving a loved one a hug after school.
“BiGI compassionately nurtures the next generation of scholars. Each learning experience is infused with excellence and rooted in cultural relevance. Our success lives in the ways our scholars grow into their genius — held in love, honored in their full humanity, prepared for college, careers, and community contribution, and living with the deep knowing that they matter in the world.”
Our Goal
By bringing together students, families, educators and community partners, BiGI is creating pathways that bridge gaps in educational opportunity, ensuring every student has the chance to succeed. We work to expand opportunity and transform what learning can look like when students are empowered to bring their full selves to the classroom.
Our program grew out of the demonstrated needs of the San Diego region’s families and children, and our focus is on fostering an environment where every student feels respected, supported and empowered to succeed.
BiGI benefits a variety of youth, including those who are disproportionately represented in rates of suspensions, expulsion, chronic absenteeism, gifted program enrollment, high school graduation, college matriculation, college graduation, law enforcement referrals and special education referrals.
Additionally, we work directly with our students to impact and elevate their educational attainment and engagement, providing training to educators in neuroscience, neurobiology, trauma and mindfulness to better serve all learners, including those with learning differences, such as dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, trauma and autism.
Program Timeline
March 1, 2027
Application Opens
March 31, 2027
Application Due
April 20, 2027
Rites of Passage - rising 9th grade only
May 1, 2027
Announce acceptance into BiGI program
May 26, 2027
New Scholar Orientation
June 12, 2027
BiGI Family BBQ
June 21 - July 2, 2027
BiGI Summer Academy for returning cohort - rising 7th graders
June 21 - June 25, 2027
BiGI Summer Academy for returning cohort - rising 10th graders
June 28 - July 2, 2027
BiGI Summer Academy for returning cohort - rising 8th graders
July 6 - July 9, 2027
BiGI Summer Academy for returning cohort - rising 9th graders
July 6 - July 16, 2027
BiGI Summer Academy for new cohort - rising 6th graders
July 17, 2027
STEAM Youth & Community Conference
August 7, 2027
BiGI Induction Ceremony
September 2027
BiGI Academic Year Program Starts
Rooted in Partnership and Proven Success
Committed to providing resources to students and their families, BiGI is a partnership between the University of San Diego’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences and San Diego Foundation (SDF). We received a $1.5 million grant from the San Diego Foundation (SDF) Black Community Investment Fund to launch BiGI.
Our program is modeled after a 31-year-old program at the University of Southern California, the Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative.
Contact Us
Sean Green, Ph.D.
Director, BiGI
Assistant Dean for Innovation and Community Engagement