Message to the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance Community
From: Charles F. Zukoski, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
I am pleased to share with you that the search for the next dean of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance 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 Isaacson, Miller placed postings on prominent online sites, and reached out to over 150 prospective candidates and sources. The search committee reviewed a rich and diverse pool of nominees and applicants that included directors, chairs, dance academics, and working professionals in the field, nationwide and beyond. 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, Kaufman administrative leadership, USC senior leadership, the Kaufman 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.
Candidate #1 – February 28-March 1
Staff Forum – Monday, February 28, 2:00-2:50pm
KDC 204 and via Zoom
Faculty Forum – Tuesday, March 1, 9:15-10:15am
KDC 204 and via Zoom
Student Forum – Tuesday, March 1, 10:30-11:15am
KDC 102 and via Zoom
Candidate #2 – March 7-8
Student Forum – Monday, March 7, 10:30-11:15am
KDC 102 and via Zoom
Staff Forum – Monday, March 7, 2:00-2:50pm
KDC 204 and via Zoom
Faculty Forum – Tuesday, March 8, 9:15-10:15am
KDC 204 and via Zoom
Candidate #3 – March 10-11
Student Forum – Thursday, March 10, 10:30-11:15am
KDC 102 and via Zoom
Staff Forum – Thursday, March 10, 2:00-2:50pm
KDC 204 and via Zoom
Faculty Forum – Friday, March 11, 9:15-10:15am
KDC 204 and via Zoom
Candidate #4 – March 24-25
Staff Forum – Thursday, March 24, 2:00-2:50pm
KDC 204 and via Zoom
Faculty Forum – Friday, March 25, 9:15-10:15am
KDC 204 and via Zoom
Student Forum – Friday, March 25, 10:30-11:15am
KDC 102 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 Glorya Kaufman School of Dance 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