Message to the USC School of Cinematic Arts Community from Charles F. Zukoski, USC Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
July 9, 2021
Dear USC School of Cinematic Arts Community,
On behalf of President Folt, I am pleased to announce that Elizabeth Daley has been reappointed Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. We look forward to continuing to work with Dean Daley 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 process 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 feedback from the review, Dean Daley was praised as a formidable leader, who in the past three decades has built a powerhouse school. She was noted for expanding the curriculum, hiring excellent, collaborative faculty, and leading SCA throughout the pandemic. To that end, her strong engagement and communication with faculty, staff and students during the last academic year was particularly praised.
Dean Daley was also lauded for her concern for students; for example, she worked with George Lucas and Melody Hobson to create the George Lucas Family Foundation Endowed Student Support Fund for Diversity, which has earmarked $20 million since 2016 for scholarships for diverse and underserved students. She is focusing on equity and inclusion in her efforts to diversify the undergraduate and graduate student and faculty ranks. In addition, she is focused on expanding career opportunities for graduating students and alumni, many of whom go on to be leaders in the field.
I want to thank the SCA dean review committee for their service. The committee was chaired by University Professor Geoffrey Cowan, with members representing the breadth of the school. This was an enormous effort which resulted in a thorough and balanced analysis. I discussed all of the feedback with Dean Daley.
The School of Cinematic Arts leads the nation in quality and impact. During her tenure, Dean Daley has established an environment leading to these strengths, and she is poised to continue her leadership of the school and service to the university with enthusiasm and vigor. Please join us in thanking Dean Daley for her continued work.
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
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GSG President
USG President