MEMORANDUM
To: USC Thornton School of Music Community
From: Charles F. Zukoski
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Date: September 23, 2022
Subject: Dates and Times for Thornton Dean Candidate Visits
I am pleased to share that after a thorough and expansive process, our search for the next dean of the USC Thornton School of Music has been narrowed to three finalists. The Search Advisory Committee worked hard over the summer to identify a new pool of exceptional candidates, and I am grateful for their vision and deep care for the Thornton community. I’d also like to thank our search consultants at ILM Partners, who made more than 80 additional outreaches when the search was extended, as well as reconnecting with executives across the music industry and music education institutes.
As before, the finalists will visit USC for two days in the coming weeks. During these two-day visits, faculty, staff, and students will have an opportunity to meet the candidates in open forums. The candidates will also meet with the Search Advisory Committee, Thornton administrative leadership, USC senior leadership, the Thornton Board of Councilors, and myself.
Please hold the following forum dates and times on your calendar; the name of each finalist will be made public shortly before their visit. If you are unable to attend in person, you can register to view the sessions using the Zoom links below.
Candidate #1 – October 3-4
Staff Forum
Monday, October 3, 2:30-3:20pm
Songwriter’s Theater (TMC G102B) and via Zoom
Student Forum
Monday, October 3, 3:30-4:30pm
Songwriter’s Theater (TMC G102B) and via Zoom
Faculty Forum
Tuesday, October 4, 8:30-9:30am
Songwriter’s Theater (TMC G102B) and via Zoom
Candidate #2 – October 6-7
Student Forum
Thursday, October 6, 10:30-11:30am
Songwriter’s Theater (TMC G102B) and via Zoom
Staff Forum
Thursday, October 6, 2:30-3:30pm
Songwriter’s Theater (TMC G102B) and via Zoom
Faculty Forum
Friday, October 7, 9:30-10:30am
Songwriter’s Theater (TMC G102B) and via Zoom
Candidate #3 – October 10-11
Staff Forum
Monday, October 11, 2:30-3:20pm
Songwriter’s Theater (TMC G102B) and via Zoom
Student Forum
Monday, October 11, 3:30-4:30pm
Songwriter’s Theater (TMC G102B) and via Zoom
Faculty Forum
Tuesday, October 12, 8:30-9:30am
Songwriter’s Theater (TMC G102B) and via Zoom
These visits provide an important opportunity to learn about and appraise each of these candidates – and allow them to do so for us – while showcasing the best of USC and the benefits and opportunities of being a dean here. I hope you will take this opportunity to participate in these forums and give these candidates the chance to get to know what makes the Trojan family so special.
All who meet the candidates are encouraged to submit comments regarding the strengths and potential challenges of each candidate; your individual evaluations are very important to President Folt and to me. I would like to remind you that our process prohibits any group or constituency from taking any vote or lobbying in any organized manner for any candidate during this process. You may email your comments in confidence to me at uscprovost@usc.edu. I will share the feedback I receive with President Folt, who will make the final selection of the dean.
The dean of the USC Thornton School of Music plays a vital role in the life of the entire university. Recruiting and hiring an outstanding dean is one of the university’s highest priorities. I again urge each of you to participate in the forums for these candidates and to share your comments with me.
| cc: | Office of the President |
| Academic Deans | |
| President’s Senior Leadership Team | |
| Provost’s Leadership Team | |
| Academic Senate | |
| Staff Assembly | |
| GSG President | |
| USG President |