“WE ARE THE HEART OF THE UNIVERSITY. And for millennia our
world of scholarly inquiry and scientific discovery has been the driving force for human progress and enlightenment.” —DEAN HOWARD GILLMAN
“Right now all of us are sharing a transforming moment in USC’s history … when the College stands so strong, when the College is a mighty force for change — changing individual lives, changing society, changing the world.” —EDWARD P. ROSKI JR., CHAIR,
David is a USC Presidential Associate, a USC trustee, vice president of the Hedco Foundation, and chairman of the board of the USC Brain and Creativity Institute. “The innovation and quest for excellence that I see in USC’s faculty and students has impressed me,” Dana said. “They are fine stewards of the funds we have provided and bold visionaries who will bring forward ideas and innovation that others might not.” Dana earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Drexel University. She is a board member of the USC Brain and Creativity Institute and the USC-Huntington Institutes, and is president and founder of Lazarex Cancer Foundation. “This historic investment by Dana and David in USC’s humanities, social sciences and sciences — the largest naming gift in the history of higher education for a college of letters, arts and sciences — is both transformational and inspirational,” Nikias said. The unprecedented gift will expand core support for world-class scholarly research, outstanding Ph.D. training, and distinguished undergraduate programs throughout USC Dornsife. “The Dornsifes’ commitment to improving our world will be a permanent source of inspiration for our faculty, students, staff and alumni,” said Gillman. David, the president of the Herrick Corporation, the largest steel fabricator on the West Coast, provides the steel for many of the buildings forming the Los Angeles, San Francisco and other city skylines. He said his ability to run his company and oversee multiple outreach projects is due in large part to having a wonderful partner in Dana. Dana said that she and David understand gratitude. “I think the two of us together are one plus one equals 10,” she explained. “We have a common desire to use our blessings in a way that makes the world a
12 | USC Dornsife Magazine
USC BOARD OF TRUSTEES
better place.” The Dornsifes believe higher education is the best hope for solving the biggest problems facing the world today. “Dana and I gave this gift because we firmly believe the College is the best place to creatively address these significant challenges.” Dana and David have carried on a legacy of giving to the university begun by his parents Ester and Harold. With only 18 cents in his pocket, Harold followed his compass westward in 1934. Harold’s long over-the-road journey to USC in a Studebaker turned into a real-life tale of the quintessential Trojan Family. Gaining entry to USC by way of a basketball scholarship, he used his enterprising nature to finance his trip from rural Indiana to Southern California by dropping off a factory-minted car to its new owner. Harold later earned a bachelor’s degree in 1938 and a master’s of science in 1942. Harold, an engineering major, met his future wife Ester, a pre-med student in the College, on the steps of Bridge Hall. David said that his parents actually met a few days earlier at a USCCal football game after-party dance. They both pretended to be from Cal, temporarily suspending their Trojan allegiance, as a result of USC’s defeat. “They had enjoyed each other’s company and were pleased to find the other at USC,” David continued. Ester and Harold married and had a son, David, and a daughter, Dody Jernstedt. David, accepted at both the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Oregon, chose USC where he studied business and graduated in 1965. Originally intending to play football, David opted for the shot-put and was a member of USC’s two-time national championship track and field team. Ester and Harold were the lead donors for the Hedco Neurosciences
BOVARD PHOTO BY PHIL CHANNING; GILLMAN, DORNSIFE AND NIKIAS PHOTO BY STEVE COHN
USC Dornsife Dean Howard Gillman, Dana and David Dornsife, and USC President C. L. Max Nikias