\u201cThe liberal arts are an incredible vehicle for success. They teach you how to think critically, communicate powerfully, and adapt quickly in a changing world,\u201d says USC Dornsife Dean James Bullock<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s why so many USC Dornsife alumni are thriving and leading today.\u201d<\/p>\n All Credit to Troy<\/p>\n Although their career fields vary widely, all 10 to Watch honorees say that USC Dornsife was an important launchpad.<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition to majoring in international relations, I minored in French and took classes studying Arabic and journalism,\u201d she says. \u201cWhat I appreciate most about my USC education is how multifaceted it was.\u201d<\/p>\n For Kaitlin Mogentale<\/a> \u201915, a unit on U.S. agriculture in her \u201cIntro to Environmental Studies (ENST 100)\u201d class not only changed what she ate but also inspired the focus of her later career. \u201cI went from being a Midwestern, meat-and-potatoes eater to a full-fledged vegan by the end of freshman year. The class sparked a deeper reflection on how our personal choices align with our values,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Shortly after graduating with her degree in environmental studies<\/a>, she launched Pulp Pantry<\/a>, one of the first businesses to turn food scraps into snacks,\u00a0 and nabbed an investment from Mark Cuban on Shark Tank. She\u2019s since launched another snack business, Trashy<\/a>, along with Scrapi, which connects those with excess food to those who can put it to use. Mogentale is also the head of business development at Divert,<\/a> which works to prevent food waste.<\/p>\n Other 10 to Watch honorees cite the personal connections established at USC as being pivotal to their success.<\/p>\n During his senior year majoring in economics<\/a> at USC Dornsife, Owen Han<\/a> \u201920 started a pop-up supper club for his friends. After graduation, his roommate and USC Marshall School of Business<\/a> alumnus Hwoo Lee<\/a> \u201919 encouraged him to parlay his enthusiasm for food into a career. \u201cHonestly, if it weren\u2019t for Lee, whom I met at USC, I probably wouldn\u2019t be doing what I\u2019m doing now,\u201d says Han.<\/p>\n Han now has millions of followers across his social media platforms, cooks with celebrity chefs\u00a0 like Gordon Ramsey and recently published a cookbook, Stacked<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nominate a Trojan to 10 to Watch<\/p>\n The annual USC Dornsife 10\u00a0 to Watch list recognizes outstanding undergraduate and graduate alumni of the College from the past decade. Nominations for the 2027 list are now open<\/a>. For current students who hope to one day make the list, this year\u2019s 10 to Watch have a little advice.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Trojan Family is very real, so make the most of it! And read your school paper,\u201d says Serhan.<\/p>\n \u201cTake advantage of all USC has to offer. Go to campus events and meet people. The genuine bond you create with fellow Trojans sticks with you well beyond your college years,\u201d says Tommy Brooksbank<\/a> \u201918, a news producer at ABC News who earned a political science degree at USC Dornsife and a degree in broadcast and digital journalism from USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cFind a good support network, whether it be friends, peers, or professors. USC has no shortage of incredible people. And explore Los Angeles! Tap into your interests that L.A. undoubtedly serves in some way. It\u2019s an incredible city,\u201d says assistant professor at Rutgers University Kiersten Formoso<\/a> \u201923, who earned her PhD in geological sciences<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Seal](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dclas-ten-to-watch-in-story-a-500x500.jpg\")
Yasmeen Serhan<\/a> \u201916 graduated with a degree in international relations<\/a> and is a digital features editor at Reuters, overseeing recurring series on global news and culture, sports and AI. She credits USC Dornsife with helping her acquire the skills necessary for a career covering foreign relations.<\/p>\n