Diego Berdakin is a LA-based entrepreneur and investor, dedicated to civic advancement. Berdakin has been involved in various philanthropic endeavors including underwriting a course at the School of Cinematic Arts Summer Program in association with USC's Neighborhood Academic Initiative, which prepares high schoolers from South and East LA (USC’s neighborhood schools) for college. He is also a founding member of the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles, which harnesses private partnerships to support city programs. Berdakin has been teaching at USC's School of Cinematic Arts since 2012 and has also taught courses at the USC Marshall School of Business and USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

Beginning in the fall semester of 2023, Berdakin will be teaching a new course at SCA titled "Digital Media Techniques of Entertainment and Fake News," which explores the impact of fake news, algorithms that discourage truth in media, and how fake news shapes public opinion and pop culture. The course will invite special guests from the entertainment and media industries to delve further into these areas. Berdakin expressed excitement about advancing understanding of the ethical implications of misinformation in the digital age.

“Dean Daley brought me to USC’s faculty over 10 years ago and in that time I have encountered some of the most curious and creative people I’ve ever met among USC students. Advancing our understanding of the ethical implications and societal impact of misinformation in our digital age is a challenge I’m looking forward to tackling with the support of Dean Daley and the rest of the incredible SCA faculty and student body.”