In a unanimous vote, the USC board of trustees officially named Beong-Soo Kim as the university’s new president.
Kim, who has held the role on an interim basis since July 1, dropped the “interim” from his title immediately and formally became USC’s 13th president.
“USC is a very special place, and we are uniquely positioned to advance our mission and impact during this period of change across higher education,” Kim said in a statement. “Our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, groundbreaking research and global impact positions us to shape the future – not just respond to it. Together with our accomplished faculty and dedicated staff, we will prepare the next generation not just for the jobs of tomorrow, but to provide the leadership and solutions our world needs.”
When Kim took the reins from prior president Carol Folt, he had to lead the university through a variety of tough issues, including a $200 million budget deficit and mounting pressure from the federal government on higher education courtesy of the Trump Administration. Kim oversaw more than 1,000 layoffs and other budget cuts during this time.
Now, it seems the board will trust him to continue navigating the public discourse on higher education and the advent of new technology powered by artificial intelligence.
“The Board’s unanimous vote reflects what we learned throughout the search process: widespread confidence in Beong’s leadership,” said Suzanne Nora Johnson, chair of the USC Board of Trustees. “As a next-generation president, we believe that he can dramatically accelerate USC’s institutional advancement as a distinctive leader in higher education during a time of unprecedented change. During his service as interim president, we recognized his demonstration of our core values, which included his impeccable character, his engagement and respect for all members of our university community, his courage in making and owning difficult and complex decisions, and his commitment to excellence in all that we do.”