Dear Trojan Community,
I am pleased to announce that Suzanne Nora Johnson has been elected the next Chair of the USC Board of Trustees, effective immediately. This election, the result of a thorough process developed, vetted, and executed by our Board of Trustees, demonstrates the important governance reforms our Board has implemented over the last few years.
As we pass the gavel, I want to thank our former Chair Rick Caruso once again for his steadfast leadership and wise counsel. He stepped forward during a time of great turmoil at USC and led the university with extraordinary care and stewardship. He has been a visionary and energetic partner, fully embracing the university’s aspirations for excellence in every area, and setting high standards for their fulfillment. His confidence and faith in USC are inspiring, and his optimism is infectious. We would not be here today celebrating a smooth and exciting transition without his dedication to the university and this community. He enthusiastically supports our new Board Chair, and we look forward to further celebrating his service to USC at a later date.
Incoming Chair Nora Johnson is an accomplished leader with decades of experience serving on the boards of our nation’s most respected institutions. She has been a dedicated alum of USC, serving more than two decades as a Trustee, and is highly respected and admired by her colleagues and all who have had the chance to interact with her. She has been involved in some of the most significant activities of the Board over the last several years, including as chair of the search committees that helped identify and hire Athletic Director Mike Bohn and Chief Investment Officer Amy Diamond. Along with Chris Cox, she was one of the original co-chairs of the Special Committee on Governance Reform. She is deeply committed to governance and accountability, and her work has contributed to many of our process and policy reforms over the last few years.
She has served as Chair of the Board’s Investment Committee for more than a decade, expertly stewarding the university endowment and finances. Along with CIO Amy Diamond, she oversaw the endowment’s significant growth over the last two years, and has been critical in the development of our assets.
Chair Nora Johnson is an insightful strategist and an ethical and collaborative leader. She will work tirelessly to help USC advance and progress, and we will benefit greatly from her experience, enthusiasm, and energy.
I look forward to working with her in this new role, and to continuing to work with all of our Trustees to accomplish our ambitious goals for the future. Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Suzanne Nora Johnson as the new Chair of our USC Board of Trustees.
Fight On!
Sincerely,
Carol L. Folt
President