Cesar Reyes’ favorite USC moment is the thrill he felt when he confirmed that he and his colleagues had achieved a feat 175 years in the making — creating a new variant of a chemical reaction that was first described in 1850. Thanks to the generosity of one university alumna, Reyes, a PhD candidate in organic chemistry at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, was able to share that thrill with the broader scientific community.
Reyes attended the American Chemical Society’s National Conference this past spring in San Diego, supported by the Drs. Olsen (Carl J., Ph.D. Chem and Willa, M.D.) and Patricia Crawford Brown Travel Award.
Established with funds from Brown’s estate and directed to USC Dornsife by her lifelong friend Willa O’Day Olsen ’58, MD ’62, the travel award helps graduate students like Reyes in USC Dornsife’s Department of Chemistry afford the daunting costs associated with conference attendance, so they can take their work to the national stage.
Reyes presented his research on photoswitches — molecules that change shape when exposed to specific wavelengths of light. Photoswitches are promising candidates for a range of applications, such as electronics, energy storage and targeted drug delivery — areas of interest for Reyes.
“My long-term goal is to contribute to drug discovery and accelerate chemical synthesis at the industrial level,” he said, adding that the spring meeting was an important step in his career path. “Attending the American Chemical Society National Conference was an exciting opportunity to share my findings, connect with experts and explore potential career paths.”
Reyes’ fellow PhD candidate Zhaohong Sun also used the award to present at the conference — his first oral presentation at a national level. His research focuses on energy-efficient syntheses of nanocrystals with applications in photovoltaics, batteries and quantum technologies.
“It was especially exciting to hear feedback that will shape the next phase of my research,” Sun said. “Given my passion for both research and teaching, I plan to pursue a postdoctoral position after graduate school as I work toward a tenure-track faculty position at a university.”
Donor creates opportunities, honors legacies
Brown’s estate gift is a testament to the deep and enduring ties she formed at USC. A proud USC Dornsife alumna, she graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing. She went on to a pioneering career in food publishing, serving as a founding editor at Bon Appétit and editor-in-chief at Cuisine, while mentoring generations of writers and editors.
Brown’s connection to USC extended beyond academics. A member of the same sorority as Olsen, she built a six-decade friendship that shaped both women’s lives. When Brown passed away in 2024, she entrusted Olsen with dispersing a significant portion of her estate — funds that now open doors for USC Dornsife chemistry students.
Olsen consulted her son and daughter-in-law, both chemists, before finalizing the award, ensuring it would maximize impact by supporting student travel to conferences.
USC Dornsife donor invests in chemistry’s future
By funding conference travel, the award helps students gain priceless professional experience, deepen their research knowledge and form connections that will shape their careers — and it reflects Brown’s enduring legacy as well as Olsen’s lifelong commitment to USC.
While much has changed at the university since Olsen first enrolled in 1954, her pride as an alumna has remained constant. “There’s really nowhere better you could go,” she reflects.
To future award recipients, she offers simple advice: Make the most of this opportunity to advance your research and expand your professional network.