As we come to the end of an unprecedented academic year and approach the holiday season, I want to pause and take this opportunity to acknowledge the resilience and resolve of our USC community and thank each of you for your extraordinary efforts. During these most difficult times, your unwavering dedication and collective commitment to USC’s academic excellence has been a source of true inspiration and hope as we look to the New Year.
I’m proud of how each member of our community rose to the daily challenge of living through a global health crisis and rallied together to rapidly transition to remote learning with tremendous flexibility and ingenuity. In addition, I am grateful for how you continue to strive to maintain the critical sense of community that is so vital to our Trojan Family.
Like you, I miss seeing my friends and colleagues on campus—the serendipitous chats under the Tommy Trojan statue and invigorating walks down Trousdale Parkway, weaving in and out of students on skateboards. I know, this loss of physical connection has been hard, but I am confident that our university community will emerge from this year better and stronger and ready to face any challenge that might be thrown our way.
COVID-19 will continue to impact our community, our university, and, indeed, our world, but with vaccinations already underway at our hospitals–hope is on the horizon. May a vaccine find you and yours and I wish you a restful, peaceful, and, most of all, healthful holiday season.
Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year!
–Charles F. Zukowski, December 19, 2020