Dear Glorya Kaufman School of Dance community,
With this announcement, I am initiating the fifth-year review of Dean Julia Ritter and requesting your participation in the process.
Deans are typically appointed to five-year terms and undergo a review at the beginning of their fifth year. These reviews assess the dean’s leadership in supporting academic excellence, recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty and staff, upholding USC’s unifying values, advancing fundraising efforts and stewarding the school’s budget, and fostering a positive school culture.
I am seeking nominations, including self-nominations, of faculty and staff from the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance to serve on the review committee. Please submit nominations to deanreview@provost.usc.edu by Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
Based on your nominations, I will appoint a review committee charged with soliciting feedback from faculty, staff, students, the school’s Board of Councilors, and other members of the school community. Because confidentiality is essential to an effective review process, each committee member will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement as a condition of service.
I am very pleased that Lisa Leeman, Professor of Cinematic Arts and Mona and Bernard Kantor Endowed Chair in Production has agreed to chair this committee. Once the review committee has been established, Professor Leeman will notify the school community of the committee membership and the opportunities for faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders to participate in the review and provide feedback.
The committee will work independently from the Office of the Provost and will conduct confidential surveys and listening sessions. After gathering feedback from the community, the committee will prepare a confidential, anonymized report assessing the dean’s leadership and the progress made in advancing the school’s mission and priorities. After reviewing the report and discussing its findings with the committee, I will appoint two additional senior faculty members to provide further guidance. President Kim and I will then make a final decision regarding Dean Ritter’s reappointment to an additional five-year term.
Thank you for your interest in helping us conduct a fair and thorough review of Dean Ritter and for your continued service to the University and the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance.
Sincerely,
Andrew T. Guzman
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs