Dear Thornton Community,
We are deeply appreciative of your contributions to the search for the next dean of the USC Thornton School of Music, including the search advisory committee members, everyone who joined the candidate forums, and all of you who have sent us thoughtful comments.
So that we can match the aspirations and goals of our diverse and exceptional USC Thornton students, faculty, and staff, we are extending the search for the next dean of the Thornton School of Music.
To guide the School as the search process continues, we have appointed Dr. Josh Kun as interim dean, effective July 1. Dr. Kun is Professor and Chair in Cross-Cultural Communication in the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. He has vast administrative experience, having served as Director of the ASCJ School of Communication, a community of distinguished scholars, researchers, and industry leaders. He currently directs The Popular Music Project at the Norman Lear Center. He has won an American Book Award and a Berlin Prize, and he was named a MacArthur Fellow. We know that Dr. Kun will work closely and collaboratively with all of you during this process. Please join me in thanking him for this service.
Dean Elizabeth Daley of the USC School of Cinematic Arts will continue to chair the Thornton School of Music Search Advisory Committee, and I will continue to provide updates directly to you as the search continues. Updates will also be posted on the search website.
Thank you for your passion, for your commitment to the USC Thornton community, and for all your contributions to the search process. Our music school is unique and exceptional, and I am confident we will locate the best person to serve as our dean.
Sincerely,
Charles F. Zukoski
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
cc: Office of the President
Academic Deans
President’s Senior Leadership Team
Provost’s Leadership Team
Academic Senate
Staff Assembly
GSG President
USG President