Message to the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Community from Charles F. Zukoski, USC Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
July 9, 2021
Dear Dornsife Community,
On behalf of President Folt, I am pleased to announce that Amber Miller has been reappointed Dean of USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. We look forward to continuing to work with Dean Miller for another five years as she further advances the school towards a bold vision for the future.
This decision followed a comprehensive review process that was revamped last year in collaboration with the Academic Senate. The procedures included a survey and listening sessions with faculty, students and staff that provided important, thoughtful input. Details of the process are available here: https://www.provost.usc.edu/about/dean-review-process-2019-2020/.
In the feedback from the review, Dean Miller was praised for her strong commitment to academic and research excellence, community building and her advocacy for the College throughout the university. She was particularly credited with her focus on diversity, equity and inclusion and the recruitment and retention of excellent faculty. Dean Miller has a particular focus on enhancing education excellence across all levels, notably she guided the Dornsife Signature Experience for undergraduates, the Dornsife Toolkit and the PhD Academy.
Dean Miller’s vision for the College includes increasing its relevance to society at large, and to the urban issues in Los Angeles. To that end, she was cited for promoting new engaging initiatives such as the Academy in the Public Square, The Public Exchange and the Center for the Political Future. She has sought to grow research and promote scholarship across disciplines, including creating a new seed funding program to encourage faculty-led initiatives.
I want to thank the Dornsife dean review committee for their service. The committee was chaired by Distinguished Professor Mahta Moghaddam, with members representing the breadth of the College. This was an enormous effort and resulted in a thorough and balanced analysis. I discussed all of the feedback with Dean Miller.
The faculty and staff of Dornsife are recognized globally for exceptional education, research, and engagement programs that are enormously important during these disruptive times. During her tenure, Dean Miller established an environment sustaining and expanding these strengths, and she is poised to move the College forward with increased vigor and impact. Please join us in thanking Dean Miller for her continued service
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