On behalf of Interim President Beong-Soo Kim, I am delighted to announce that Laura S. Abrams, MSW, PhD, a professor in the Department of Social Welfare, Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLA, has agreed to serve as the next dean of USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, effective July 1, 2026. Abrams will also be appointed as the David Lawrence Stein/Violet Goldberg Sachs Professor of Mental Health.
Category: Faculty
December 17, 2025 The annual, previously scheduled safety drill for USC’s Department of Public Safety, the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department and others will take place on Friday, December 19, at USC’s University Park Campus. This drill, which has been planned for months, will proceed as scheduled and will simulate an active shooter scenario…
I am writing to let you know that Joel Curran, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, will be leaving USC on December 31 and returning to his native North Carolina to consult and be closer to his wife and family.
At USC’s recent AI Summit, we shared an exciting announcement: As part of our commitment to expanding equitable and responsible AI, ChatGPT Edu will be available for our university use in 2026. All active USC students, faculty, and staff (including Keck Medicine of USC) will gain unlimited access to ChatGPT Edu, which includes OpenAI’s most advanced models like GPT-5.
Over the last several months, our university has undertaken an extraordinary effort to strengthen its financial foundation and prepare for uncertainties facing all of higher education.
We are excited to share some preliminary information about our upcoming 2026 commencement and event schedule in order to assist graduates and their families with their planning.
Earlier today, I sent this letter to the U.S. Department of Education regarding the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. I appreciate the various points of view shared with me by many members of our community. Although USC has declined to join the proposed Compact, we look forward to contributing our perspectives, insights, and Trojan values to an important national conversation about the future of higher education.
Today, I’m excited to introduce the USC Open Dialogue Project, a university-wide effort that will help us strengthen these essential values. This project will offer a range of programs and events, creating meaningful opportunities for Trojans to listen, engage, and grow — even when we disagree.
October 9, 2025 I am honored to chair the President’s AI Strategy Committee, which will bring together faculty and leaders from across USC to guide how we integrate artificial intelligence ethically and responsibly into our teaching, learning, and academic lives. As Interim President Kim has noted, this is a pivotal moment: AI is reshaping every aspect…
October 9, 2025 Safety and emergency preparedness are a top priority for the university. Since 2008, USC has participated in the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill every October as part of our extensive emergency management program. We urge all staff to participate in this year’s Great ShakeOut, an international earthquake drill on Thursday, October 16, at 10:16…