MEMORANDUM
To: USC Thornton School of Music Community
From: Charles F. Zukoski
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Date: March 23, 2022
Subject: Dean Search for the Thornton School of Music Dance – Next Steps
I am pleased to share with you that the search for the next dean of the USC Thornton School of Music is now entering its final stages. Over the last several months, the Search Advisory Committee has conducted an exhaustive and thorough search.
Our search consultants at ILM Partners placed postings in relevant academic and industry publications and reached out to leaders at universities with music schools and stand-alone conservatories nationally and internationally. In addition, over 120 direct outreaches were made to executives in the profession, in music industry, and in music education associations. Together with the many nominations we received directly from the Thornton community, we ended with a rich and diverse pool of candidates. I am grateful to the members of the Search Advisory Committee for their engagement, energy, and excellent advice and guidance through this process.
The committee has identified the finalists who 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 unable to attend in person, you can register to view the sessions using the Zoom links below.
Candidate #1 – March 31-April 1
Faculty Forum Thursday, March 31, 9:00-10:00am
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
Staff Forum Thursday, March 31, 2:30-3:30pm
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
Student Forum Thursday, March 31, 4:00-5:00pm
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
Candidate #2 – April 4-5
Staff Forum Monday, April 4, 10:00-11:00am
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
Student Forum Monday, April 4, 12:00-1:00pm
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
Faculty Forum Tuesday, April 5, 9:00-10:00am
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
Candidate #3 – April 11-12
Staff Forum Monday, April 11, 10:00-11:00am
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
Student Forum Monday, April 11, 12:00-1:00pm
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
Faculty Forum Tuesday, April 12, 9:00-10:00am
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
Candidate #4 – April 13-14
Faculty Forum Wednesday, April 13, 9:00-10:00am
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
Student Forum Wednesday, April 13, 3:30-4:30pm
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
Staff Forum Thursday, April 14, 4:00-5:00pm
Carson Center (CTV) and via Zoom
These visits are important both to us, as a university, and to the individual candidates. We learn about and appraise each of them while they also evaluate and learn more about us. This is an opportunity to fully present to the candidates the strengths and opportunities of our university and to being a dean here.
All who meet the candidates are encouraged to submit comments directly to me 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. Therefore, I 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