Message from Dean Howard Gillman
Dear Friends,
This is a tremendously exciting time to be named Dean of USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences. I have been privileged to be a part of this dynamic community for the past 17 years of my life, as both a faculty member and a university administrator. Like you, I am deeply proud of how our institution has evolved and thrived through the years.
By any measure, USC College has become one of the most innovative liberal arts colleges within a research university today. Our academic programs are first-rate, our students are sought after, diverse, and accomplished, and our research enterprise continues to bring unforeseeable benefits to the nation and world.
These accomplishments have been fueled by the dedicated efforts of our volunteers and the generosity of our many individual and corporate donors. Because of their belief in our College’s mission, and what we can do for society, our Tradition & Innovation fundraising initiative has already raised more than $200 million toward our $400 million goal. I can not overstate the importance of this effort. In essence, it provides the College with critical resources so we can respond to the demands and opportunities of a changing world, while upholding the core values of scholarship and service that have defined our academic community for more than 125 years.
Charitable gifts are invigorating USC College in extraordinary ways, by creating new opportunities for our research enterprise to impact society; by redefining the scope and character of undergraduate education; and by significantly improving the quality of our Ph.D. programs so we can attract the best students. Gifts fund some of the College’s most critical needs including endowed chairs, interdisciplinary research, facility enhancements, and new academic programs and partnerships. And every year our alumni and friends help fund hundreds of scholarships and fellowships for deserving students who may otherwise not be able to finance a college education.
I am humbled and deeply honored to serve as Dean of your College, especially at a time when we are so clearly poised to reach the next level of excellence. The road ahead is overflowing with opportunity that is uniquely ours to grasp. But we all must play a role.
I respectfully ask you to join me in this important effort.
Sincerely Yours,
Howard Gillman
Dean of USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences