In the News: October Media Mentions

Image courtesy of Christina Merino, Whittier Daily News/SCNG

Check out the latest University of La Verne media coverage and mentions showcasing a creative student, our national rankings, alumni updates,  and other features from the month of October: 

• Adrianna Procida, a current creative writing student at the University of La Verne,  shared with Whittier Daily News the story behind her self-published and self-illustrated book, “What Can’t Be Seen,” a story that aims to teach others about blindness and mental health.
• The University of La Verne and its latest Wall Street Journal rankings were featured in a special Spectrum News 1 segment produced by reporter Ariel Wesler.   
•  University of La Verne received five top-ranked awards for 2024 by Intelligent.com. This includes the #5 Best Online MBA in Information Technology Degree Programs of 2024. 
• Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Reporter David Allen profiled Professor of History and University Archivist Ben Jenkins on his research on the citrus industry and railroads through his new book, “Octopus’s Garden: How Railroads and Citrus Transformed Southern California.”   
• The University of La Verne celebrated the inauguration of President Pardis Mahdavi on October 13 as the institution’s 19th President. 
• Several of our alumni were recently mentioned including:
  • Donna Lee, MS ’98, who was named California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Selection Hall of Fame. She founded and coached the Valencia High School softball program for 24 years. 
  • Luis E. Ponce ’17, who was named the new factory manager for Nestlé Purina PetCare in Maricopa, California.  
  • Nicholas Prytherch ’17, MBAX ’19, who joined the board of CureDuchenne, a Newport Beach-based global nonprofit committed to finding and funding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

• President Pardis Mahdavi shared her newest book The Book of Queens: The True Story of the Middle Eastern Horsewomen Who Fought the War on Terror during Medora’s Book Club opening at Casa del Herrero in Montecito, California. She also wrote an article for The Conversation about the injustices set against Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi. 
• University of La Verne President Emerita Devorah Lieberman was inducted into the 2023 Hall of Champions for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) for her embodied commitment and contributions to Hispanic and Latinx success in higher education.

To keep up with the University in the news, see all media highlights, updated regularly.