Dear members of the USC Iovine and Young Academy community,
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Anijo Mathew as the next dean of the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology, and the Business of Innovation, effective August 1, 2026.
Following a national search that attracted an outstanding pool of candidates, Dr. Mathew emerged as a visionary academic leader whose career reflects the qualities that define the Academy itself: creativity, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to preparing students to lead in a rapidly changing world.
Dr. Mathew joins USC from the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, where he serves as dean and professor. Throughout his career, he has brought together design, technology, business, and human-centered innovation to help organizations navigate transformation and create meaningful impact. Dr. Mathew also brings valuable entrepreneurial experience. He founded and led Vamonde, a technology venture that connected storytelling, culture, and place through digital experiences deployed in cities around the world.
Throughout the search process, Dr. Mathew impressed us with his deep appreciation for the Academy’s founding vision and his enthusiasm for its future. He brings a compelling vision for how the Academy can continue to serve as a bridge to the dynamic creative and innovation ecosystems beyond the university, while expanding opportunities for collaboration across USC’s schools and disciplines.
I would like to thank Interim Dean Josh Kun for his exceptional leadership. Dean Kun has provided thoughtful stewardship of the Academy while advancing its mission and supporting its students, faculty, and staff during this interim period. We are deeply grateful for his service and for the many contributions he continues to make to USC.
I would also like to thank the members of the dean search advisory committee, co-chaired by Emily Roxworthy, dean of the USC School of Dramatic Arts, and Amy Cheung, associate provost. The committee’s diligence, insight, and commitment were instrumental in the success of this search. I am equally grateful to the many students, faculty, staff, alumni, Board of Councilors members, and community partners who shared their perspectives throughout the process. Your engagement reflects this community’s extraordinary commitment to the future of the Academy.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Mathew to USC and IYA. I look forward to working with him as we continue to advance the Academy’s bold vision and strengthen its impact across our university, our city, and the world.
Sincerely,
Andrew T. Guzman
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs