As part of a new series celebrating ICT staff and faculty whose children are also proud Trojans, we begin with Dr. Randall W. Hill, Jr., Vice Dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Omar B. Milligan Professor of Computer Science (Games and Interactive Media), and Executive Director of the USC Institute for Creative Technologies. His daughter, Aria Haver-Hill, earned her master’s in Biomedical Engineering from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering in 2025.
For Dr. Randall W. Hill, Jr., USC has been both a professional and personal anchor for more than three decades. A 1993 Ph.D. graduate in computer science, Dr. Hill is Executive Director of the Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT), Research Professor of Computer Science, and Vice Dean of the Viterbi School of Engineering. Over the past 30 years, he has helped advance research in AI and simulation while shaping ICT as a hub of innovation. Watching his daughter, Aria Haver-Hill, navigate the university where he once studied offered him a unique perspective on student life.
“I was touched that she would choose the university where I work and where I completed my PhD.,” Dr. Hill said. “I was also very proud that Aria was accepted into the Viterbi School of Engineering at such a prestigious university.”
Aria, who attended USC from 2020 to 2025 and earned a master’s in biomedical engineering, described USC as a natural choice. “Although I applied to other engineering universities in California, I was most eager to hear from USC because I didn’t really imagine attending any other school,” she said. While her father’s role offered familiarity, she emphasized the independence of her own experience. “It definitely felt comforting to have my dad so close during college. I knew he would be there if I had questions or needed help. Though being on separate campuses (UPC and ICT) gave me confidence that I would have the independence I needed to grow.”
Experiencing USC through Aria’s perspective provided Dr. Hill with fresh insight into campus life. “Having Aria at USC gave me the opportunity to hear about life in the dorms, first-hand accounts of the classroom environment with different professors, and the rigorous demands of her program. It was also rewarding to hear about her social experiences and the friendships she formed.”
They often crossed paths on campus. “We have had numerous spontaneous meetings on campus,” Dr. Hill said. “Usually this came about when I had a break in my schedule and would text Aria, and she would skateboard her way to meet for coffee or a meal.”
Aria described these encounters similarly: “I would occasionally have lunch or a snack with my dad on main campus for a meeting. Sometimes we would run into a friend or two, and it was usually just a short laugh or smile. To the university, he has his roles and titles, but to me, he’s just my dad, and that’s how I would introduce him to my friends.”
Dr. Hill’s connection to USC extends beyond Viterbi and ICT. His wife, Marianne Haver-Hill, taught a master’s-level course in Nonprofit Management at the Price School of Public Policy from 2015 to 2016. “Seeing the family involved across multiple facets of the university—from research to teaching—offers a broader perspective on USC’s mission and community,” he said.
Family engagement also includes enduring traditions and campus events. Dr. Hill, his wife Marianne, Aria, her brother Austin, and his wife Katy have long attended USC football and basketball games together.
“On football gameday, we put on our USC gear and leave the house three hours before kickoff. Our family has a tradition of tailgating on campus with a close circle of friends and sharing a meal together before walking to the Coliseum. We enjoy seeing not only the game but also the Spirit of Troy and Traveller, who gallops out each time the Trojan team scores,” Dr. Hill said.
Reflecting on the shared connection, Aria emphasized the personal significance of her father’s presence on campus. “It is a literal family! We all have a sense of belonging from our meaningful connections at USC.” Dr. Hill added that her presence on campus deepened his understanding of the university’s mission. “The university’s mission to educate and develop the next generation of citizens and leaders became more personal to me having Aria as part of the student body. Her presence and her story gave me a deeper appreciation for the experience students have at USC. We are investing in the future, and I want to help my daughter make the world a better place.”
Some moments stand out in particular. Years before graduation, Aria asked Dr. Hill to hand her the diploma at both her undergraduate and master’s ceremonies, a gesture he recalls vividly. “Both of those graduations were very special moments on the stage for the two of us. I was probably more nervous than she was and I beamed with pride as she walked out on that stage. It was over in a moment, but it is a memory I will forever cherish.”
Beyond individual milestones, Dr. Hill noted that while he and Aria are the only USC alumni in their immediate family, they have many friends who are Trojans. Long-standing practices, such as visiting their 100-year anniversary paver inscribed with “The Haver-Hill Family – Fight On!” and attending games – maintaining their connection to the university across generations to come.
//