To: USC School of Architecture Community

From: Elizabeth A. Graddy
Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Date: February 24, 2023

Subject: Dean Search for the USC School of Architecture – Campus Visits


I am pleased to share with you that the search for the next dean of the USC School of Architecture is now entering its final stages. Over the last several months, the Search Advisory Committee has conducted an exhaustive and thorough search.

To build the candidate pool, our search consultants at Education Executives contacted renown architects from around the world and sourced academic leaders at universities with preeminent schools. Additionally, postings in relevant academic and industry publications were made. More than one hundred nominees and potential candidates were contacted directly. The committee reviewed and interviewed 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, Architecture administrative leadership, USC senior leadership, the Architecture Board of Councilors and Architecture Guild Executive Committee, 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 view the sessions using the Zoom links below.
 

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 School of Architecture 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