On October 9, over Homecoming Weekend, the University of San Diego (USD) community came together to celebrate the incredible achievements of eight spectacular alumni.
The annual Alumni Honors Ceremony is a cherished tradition that highlights individuals who embody the university's mission and values through their ethical leadership and positive global impact. Each alumnus is recognized with one of the following honors:
- Bishop Charles Francis Buddy Award for extraordinary contribution and commitment to humanitarian causes.
- Mother Rosalie Clifton Hill Award for extraordinary service and commitment to the University of San Diego.
- Author E. Hughes Career Achievement Award for consistently excel in their profession and positively impact their field.
- Emerging Leader Award for a "rising star" in their profession who is positively impacting their organization and community.
Of those eight individuals, we are pleased to share that two Kroc School alumni were recognized.
Momo Bertrand, Master of Arts in Social Innovation 2019, was recognized as a rising alumnus for his early career contributions as an Education Specialist for The World Bank. In addition, Christian (Chris) Burgos Nolan, Master of Arts in Peace and Justice 2019 was also recognized as an Emerging Leader Award for her community efforts in San Diego.
About Momo Bertrand:
Momo Bertrand was raised in Cameroon, in Central Africa. After graduating from the Catholic University Institute of Buea in Cameroon with a bachelor’s degree in management, Bertrand launched a digital marketing agency that served a number of clients, including two Fortune 500 companies. He also wrote a novel about a child displaced by a terror attack and sold it to raise money for the thousands of refugees who were crowding the northern part of his country.
Bertrand began working as an education specialist for World Bank and recently published a report for World Bank titled, “100 Student Voices on AI and Education” as well as a report on “Investing in Inclusion,” a guide on disability inclusion for universities. He has devoted his career to bettering educational systems in West Africa and remains dedicated to training the next generation of Changemakers and storytellers, and ultimately, changing the narrative of Africa.
About Christian Burgos Nolan
Christian (Chris) Burgos Nolan is currently the Outreach Coordinator for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. She is a passionate community advocate with a background in outreach, program management, and volunteer coordination.
Her work experience includes leading the Truth Commission in Culiacán through the Kroc School’s Cross-Border programs, demonstrating her early dedication to social justice. She also ran various programs at Mama’s Kitchen, where she supported clients facing critical illnesses. In her current role, as an outreach coordinator at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Nolan provides food and other resources to the community in need.
Her commitment to San Diego’s most vulnerable populations exemplifies the university's call to service. She remains committed to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for people to access the resources they deserve, ensuring her impact is both immediate and sustainable.
The recognition of Momo Bertrand and Christian Burgos Nolan perfectly illustrates the powerful and multifaceted influence that alumni from the Kroc School of Peace Studies are having on the world.
From the global scale of The World Bank, where Momo Bertrand shapes international education policy and challenges narratives about the African continent, to the vital local efforts of Chris Burgos Nolan, who provides essential resources and advocates for social justice right here in San Diego, these Kroc alumni are fulfilling the school's mission. Their work embodies the spirit of ethical leadership and the pursuit of peace and justice, demonstrating that a commitment to positive social change can translate into profound and lasting impact across diverse professional fields, both globally and within our own community.
