As President Barack Obama visited the USC campus the Viterbi Office of Doctoral Programs and the Center for Doctoral Programs and the Center for Engineering Diversity hosted 27 talented undergraduate and graduate students who anticipate pursuing Ph.D. studies to

Reaching out and hosting doctoral prospects - like these five

preview our doctoral programs.

The visitors were the inaugural class of the REACH Program, a three-day, all-expense paid, doctoral preview program. REACH stands for Recruiting Engineering Achievers. REACH is a Viterbi actively recruits high achieving students from all backgrounds into its doctoral degree programs, and particularly students historically underrepresented in the field.

Organizers of REACH are Senior Associate Dean Timothy Pinkston; Associate Dean Margery Berti and Tracy Charles of the Office of Doctoral Programs; and Traci Thomas Navarro and Kevin Henry of the Center for Engineering Diversity.

During their stay, the students met with current students and talked over research opportunities with faculty in their areas of interest.

John Brooks Slaughter, "Mr. Opportunity."

Highlights of their visit included USC Professor of Education and Engineering, Dr. John Brooks Slaughter's inspirational talk "Mr. Opportunity's Knocking; Open the Door," on recognizing and seizing opportunities during one's academic and professional life, as well as the "Preparing for a Career in Academia" Mentoring Panel, where five distinguished Viterbi faculty offered strategic advice and discussed their academic paths and those of their PhD students successfully placed in university positions in the US and abroad.

The visit coincided with President Obama's rally on campus and many of the students took a break to see and hear him. Their visit wrapped up with an informal evening at L.A. Live.

The organizers say the REACH event was highly successful, and expect that many of the students involved will seriously consider applying to USC for their doctoral programs

The Reach of REACH - in addition to 27 prospects, numerous Viterbi students and faculty particpatedin the program. Far left, second row, Dean Tim PInkston and Tracy Charles. Far right, same row, Dean Margery Berti