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.
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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.
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Carol Kim as Vice President, Enrollment Management, effective February 25, 2026. Carol is a visionary, global-enrollment strategist known for building transformative programs from the ground up, creating international partnerships, and expanding access through innovative recruitment and financial aid models. In her new role, she will lead USC’s enrollment strategy and continue our efforts to advance our commitment to academic excellence and access.
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…
Every day, artificial intelligence becomes a more visible part of our lives — from how we learn and work to how we connect with each other. One of my top priorities as president is to harness USC’s opportunity to lead in the age of AI, and I’m pleased to announce two major initiatives that will guide how we integrate this technology across our academic mission in an ethical and responsible manner.
The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is central to providing a university environment where we can all thrive. Today, the USC Department of Public Safety posted the 2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
As we celebrate this International Day of Democracy at USC, I call on our community to reflect on the values that sustain both our democracy and our university — open dialogue, mutual respect, and freedom of expression. In the video above, our deans (plus one guest) share some thoughts on what democracy means to them.