A Message to USC Faculty, Staff and Students of the USC School of Pharmacy
October 8, 2015
On behalf of President Nikias, I am writing to announce the appointment of a search committee to identify and recruit outstanding candidates for the Dean of Pharmacy. Dean Pinchas Cohen of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, and Randolph Hall, Vice President of Research, will lead the committee. The search committee will also include eminent professors; a roster accompanies this memorandum. Leonard D. Schaeffer, USC trustee and Judge Widney Professor and Gavin S. Herbert, USC life trustee have agreed to serve as advisors to me. I will also be seeking the wise counsel and expertise of the USC School of Pharmacy Board of Councilors during this process.
The USC School of Pharmacy is one of the most distinguished parts of the university. Its consistent top-ranking among private pharmacy schools, its expanding interdisciplinary research and its pioneering programs to prepare future pharmacists attest to its success. Because of this, I view the appointment of our next dean of Pharmacy as a signature moment in my role as provost and in our quest to firmly establish USC’s preeminence in the health sciences. Please rest assured that this search has my full attention and that its successful, timely completion is an extremely high priority for me, as it is for the entire University community.
As the search committee moves forward, the same five rules of engagement will guide its work as have been observed in other dean searches: (1) The final choice of the dean is made by the president. (2) During the entire process, there will be no votes by any group or constituency. (3) Those who are asked to interview the final candidates will be invited to send their comments regarding the strengths and possible weaknesses of the final candidates to me directly and confidentially. (4) There will be no final vote within the advisory search committee. (5) All nominations will come before the advisory search committee without filtering.
On behalf of the search committee, I want to encourage your participation in identifying and recruiting the next dean of the USC School of Pharmacy. The search will be supported by Dr. Warren Ross of Korn Ferry, who will assist us in locating and recruiting candidates. Korn Ferry has significant recent experience in recruitment in the health professions, including the recruitment of Steve Gruber as Director of the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. In the near future, we will provide information about the ways you can provide your nominations and input. We will keep you informed of our progress in the search.
cc: C. L. Max Nikias
Ginger Clark
President’s Cabinet
Provost’s Cabinet
Academic Deans
Academic Senate
Board of Councilors of the USC School of Pharmacy
USC School of Pharmacy Dean Search Committee
Co-chair: Pinchas Cohen, Dean, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Co-chair: Randolph Hall, Vice President of Research
Special advisors: Leonard D. Schaeffer, USC Trustee and Judge Widney Professor and Gavin S. Herbert, USC Life Trustee
Nicos Petasis, Harold E. and Lillian M. Moulton Chair and Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacology
Roberta Diaz Brinton, R. Pete Vanderveen Endowed Chair in Therapeutic Discovery and Development
Frances Richmond, Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Director of International Center for Regulatory Sciences
Annie Wong-Beringer, Professor of Clinical Vice Chair for Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Economics & Policy and Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs
Kathy Rodgers, Associate Professor of Pharmacy
Bradley Williams, Professor of Clinical
Dana Goldman, The Leonard D. Schaeffer Director’s Chair of the USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics and Professor; Director of the Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics