Sonora High Distinguished Graduate Glenn Fox, PhD, Class of 1999
Glenn Fox, PhD, is a neuroscientist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California. He teaches a number of business classes, including Management of Small Business, Introduction to Entrepreneurship, The Science of Peak Performance, and Founder’s Dilemmas. His research focuses on the role of emotion and mental performance in high stress settings and the psychological interventions that can boost resilience and performance. Dr. Fox is also the Chief Science Officer of the C4 Foundation which serves Navy SEAL families, and serves on the board of a number of venture-backed startups and organizations.
Please share the pathway you took that led you to where you are now.
I did not have much direction out of high school; I dropped out of the first school I attended before landing at Cuesta Community College. I leaned into psychology and automotive technology classes and eventually transferred to UC Santa Cruz where I majored in psychology. I was lucky to join a research lab, which I loved because it reminded me of working in a shop with constant projects to push along and problems to solve. Psychology became my passion, and I decided to become a professor. I started volunteering in a brain-imaging lab at Stanford before getting hired there, and then I ended up at USC for my doctoral work, where I earned my PhD in Neuroscience.
My research has always been about how the mind works under pressure – I want to understand why mindset matters and how we can train our minds to better function, be resilient, connect to others, and stay motivated. After graduate school, I ran an institute working with professional athletes and NFL coaches to study how people handle stress and perform under pressure. At the time I was studying gratitude and emotion in Marines at Camp Pendleton, and developing wearable health platforms for behavior change.
I loved the work, but I hadn’t given up my dream of becoming a professor. So I reviewed my skillset and background, and decided I wanted to find a way to apply everything I knew to everyday lives and workplaces. That’s what inspired me to become a business professor. In this role, I’m fortunate that I get to work with amazing populations of people through my research and then go right into the classroom to teach my students how to be the best version of themselves, start companies, and find their own career paths.
What are some memories you have of your time at Sonora High School?
Sonora is a special place to grow up, and it offered me lots of opportunities for learning and community. My favorite memories are the things that make Sonora High unique: going to Dodge Ridge with the ski club, riding the soccer team bus to the valley, winning the VOL Championship my sophomore year, and going undefeated against Summerville all four years. We had many great adventures outside of school as well: camping in Yosemite in a blizzard, hiking and snowboarding at Sonora Pass, wakeboarding on the weekends, and hanging out at my friends’ houses.
It takes a village, so I definitely want to offer appreciation to the Newman, Carlberg, Hart, Gonzales, Kiefer, and Emery families who treated me like one of their own kids.
Finally, a huge shoutout to Mr. Pete Smith, who was my first psychology teacher at SHS and lit the fire in me to pursue a career in psychology — it literally all started there.
What future goals do you have?
I’m lucky that every day is a lot of fun, so my goals are all centered on research, writing, and doing exactly what I’m doing, while being the best dad and husband I can be. Currently, I’m working on a book about how neuroscience principles can be used to foster positive emotions and help us develop our best selves. I hope to have it published within the next year. Otherwise, I’m just glad to be in the position I am in and hope I can keep teaching and working with my own great students!
What advice would you give to current and future Sonora High students?
You can go anywhere you want from Sonora High; don’t limit your dreams and ambitions. Take advantage of the best parts of being from Sonora, but also seek as many new and big experiences as you can: visit the big cities in California, engage with your community, and expand your horizons and goals. Find mentors and peers doing the things you most admire and those who will take the time to lift you up and keep you motivated.
SHS students are welcome to visit my business classes at USC anytime!
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I have a kindergartner who takes up most of my free time, but I also still restore cars, including a 1975 Alfa Romeo Spider and a 1968 Chevy C1O. I also enjoy woodworking and design, and there is no shortage of projects around our house.
