Dear USC colleagues:
We, as chairs of the search advisory committee for the USC Libraries search, write to provide an update regarding the search process.
First, a survey of the USC community about their experience and needs related to the USC Libraries was distributed a few weeks ago. Nearly 600 people responded, which is an exceptional response. Many thanks to those of you who shared your thoughts and insights.
The committee is currently reviewing all the feedback. The survey data will be synthesized into a position profile, which will be a detailed, public document. The search advisory committee will also review any additional comments from individuals or groups, including a report from the Faculty Council and other recent survey results.
In addition, we have clearly heard from the staff and faculty of the Libraries the importance of finding a leader who understands their significant work and aligns with the Libraries’ core values. These perspectives are also critical to the development of the profile.
We will send the final profile to you in January.
As for the next steps of the process, the search will continue through the spring term. The search advisory committee will be reviewing candidate materials over the course of two meetings and will provide updates to the community after each one. At the second meeting, the committee will determine which candidates they would like to interview. Those first round confidential interviews will inform which candidates are invited to second round public visits on campus in early spring. During the campus visits, the USC community will be able to provide feedback on the candidates before a final decision is reached.
In the meantime, we encourage you to send us suggestions of candidates and/or people who may be sources of candidate names who we should contact. Please feel free to submit those ideas here: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-southern-california/libraries-search. We appreciate all the recommendations and communication that you have shared with us thus far.
We will send along another update after the New Year. Thank you for your continued support as we move through this important search process.
Happy holidays to you and yours,
Dr. Amber Miller, Dean, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences &
Dr. Ishwar K. Puri, Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation and Professor