The world is rapidly changing. Artificial intelligence has dawned, the impact of climate change has grown, new diseases have emerged and space exploration is more accessible than ever before.
San Diego has grown into a hub for technology and innovation, attracting investments from multinational corporations and pioneering startups alike. This gives the University of San Diego a unique opportunity to lead in this evolving landscape by preparing career-ready professionals who graduate with the skills and experiences to meet the needs of the future.
With that in mind, USD proudly announced the establishment of the Shiley STEM Initiative, made possible by a record-breaking $75 million gift from USD Board Chair Emerita Darlene Marcos Shiley.
Through the Shiley STEM Initiative, integrations between engineering and the natural sciences at USD will revolutionize STEM programming and create opportunities for cross-disciplinary projects, unparalleled access to undergraduate research, and curriculum expansions that will enhance the entire student journey.
“STEM fields touch all different aspects of our lives, and I believe they can be a force for good in our society,” Shiley said. “I was drawn to USD because of its emphasis on a values-based education. This gift fulfills my husband’s and my goals and makes me feel like I’ve made an impact. Now I hope it helps future students take what they learn at USD and make a positive impact of their own.”
USD has always challenged students to do more, by looking at their research through a Changemaker’s lens. That means STEM scholars at USD must not only ask the right questions, but they must also find solutions that confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love.
That’s been the university’s approach for 75 years.
Through the initiative, USD will build a world-class STEM facility that will bring together natural sciences, engineering and other disciplines. The new facility will serve as the epicenter of STEM growth and thought leadership at USD.
To honor the legacy of Donald P. Shiley, the cutting-edge facility will include a center for biomedical technology, which could translate engineering advances to medicine.The facility will feature collaborative classrooms, equipped with tools and technology used across disciplines — such as 3D printers, CAD workstations and scientific instruments. Maker spaceswill foster hands-on projects, encourage creativity, innovation and interdisciplinary learning, and provide students with the tools and resources they need to bring their ideas to life.
The university is already training the STEM workforce of the future through current programs and majors — including interdisciplinary STEM fields such as biomedical ethics, integrated engineering and cognitive science — along with minors, concentrations and certificates.
By developing integrated programming, research, faculty collaborations and spaces for STEM, USD students will be prepared to meet the growing demands of tomorrow. Estimates suggest that 85% of the jobs students will be doing in 2030 don’t yet exist, and the number of STEM occupations is projected to grow by almost 11% by 2031.
USD aims to become one of the top undergraduate STEM programs in the nation. While ushering in this new era for STEM education, the university and its students, faculty, and alumni also intend to make the world a better place for generations to come.
In fact, two USD alumni have even ventured into space in the past year — proving that when it comes to STEM at USD, not even the sky’s the limit. Learn more at: sandiego.edu/ShileySTEM.
