Message to Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Faculty and Staff, USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Sciences and Occupational Therapy
From: Michael W. Quick, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
May 31, 2018
I am pleased to inform you that President Nikias has offered Dean Avishai Sadan another five-year term as dean of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, and that Dean Sadan has accepted this offer. This decision followed a comprehensive review of Dean Sadan’s leadership of the Ostrow School of Dentistry during which many faculty and staff sent detailed letters providing thoughtful input.
Throughout the review process, Dean Sadan was commended for his leadership, vision, and dedication to the Ostrow community, including his promotion of collegiality and collaboration at all levels. His willingness to embrace new technologies and educational platforms to ensure Ostrow remains a global dental leader was frequently noted. His commitment to diversity and inclusion, his weekly work on the clinic floor, and his expansion of mobile clinics has helped create a strong sense of community at Ostrow that is driving the school forward. Under his leadership, the school has seen improvements in school rankings, graduation rates, and first-time pass rates on license exams.
Dean Sadan was further praised for his accessibility to students, faculty, and staff, prudent management of school resources, and active engagement with alumni. He has presided over milestone fundraising achievements, including the largest naming gift ever for an occupational therapy program and almost $100 million of the school’s current ambitious fundraising campaign. He is actively involved in the recruitment of elite faculty and students and the creation of new scholarships. Ostrow’s Research Day has grown significantly during his tenure.
Opportunities for improvement include assessing and addressing the school’s aging facilities and improving communications to better inform and seek advice from Ostrow faculty and staff. I have asked the dean to update me on progress in the fall.
I want to thank the many faculty and staff who took the time to participate in the survey, particularly those who sent detailed letters providing thoughtful input on Dean Sadan’s performance. I have summarized your comments and communicated them to him.
Please join me in congratulating Dean Sadan as he continues in this leadership role. I look forward to working with him, and with you, as we continue to pursue our goal of becoming the great global private research university of the 21st century that serves the public good.
Cc: C. L. Max Nikias
President’s Cabinet
Provost’s Cabinet
Academic Senate
Academic Deans