September 21, 2020
Dear Trojan Community,
We wanted to update you on our search to hire the inaugural Vice President and Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer (CIDO). We have been working diligently to find the right CIDO candidate who has an inspiring vision to lead our University through a lasting and significant transformation, one who will provide strategic leadership in the University’s efforts to create a climate that prioritizes and champions inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging. We are committed to a search process that finds the best and right candidate for USC.
Over a series of four Listening Sessions with members of the University community and through comments submitted via an online form, we received input from community members about your key priorities, expectations, and vision for this new role. Participants in the sessions identified a broad array of responsibilities that should be associated with the CIDO. We appreciate and are being responsive to that feedback.
To achieve the collective vision for this role and for the future of our community, our Committee determined that it is necessary to expand the effort to a national search. The listening sessions and our internal review process led us to believe that external voices will bring new paradigms and fresh perspectives on our diversity challenges, and we require this input to enrich our future dialogues on inclusion, equity, and belonging. The internal candidates with whom we have met will continue on to the next phase of the recruitment process, along with any external candidates who are considered.
Applications for the position will be accepted on a rolling basis until our CIDO is selected. You may also continue to submit nominations, of internal or external candidates, to Maryam Samiyi, Director of Talent Acquisition. Please review the job description for more information about the role.
We look forward to this next phase of our journey toward becoming a more diverse, equal, and inclusive University.
Sincerely,
The CIDO Search Committee
Meseret Alemu, Director of Campus Affairs, Graduate Student Government
Erika Chesley, Associate Director of Engagement and Communications, Auxiliary Services; President of the Staff Assembly
Dr. Donna Elliott, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Medical Education; Vice Dean for Medical Education; Chair, Department of Medical Education; Keck School of Medicine of USC
Dr. Alan Green, Professor of Clinical Education, USC Rossier School of Education
Dr. Shaun Harper, Provost Professor in USC Rossier School of Education and USC Marshall School of Business; Clifford and Betty Allen Chair in Urban Leadership; USC Race and Equity Center Founder and Executive Director
Jaya Hinton, Co-Director of Black Student Assembly, Undergraduate Student Government
Rebecca Lonergan, Professor of Lawyering Skills, and Associate Director of Legal Writing and Advocacy Program, USC Gould School of Law; Immediate Past President of the USC Academic Senate
Dr. Varun Soni, Dean of Religious Life, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life; Vice Provost of Campus Wellness and Crisis Intervention
Christine Street, Associate Vice Provost, Institutional Accessibility and ADA Compliance
William Vela, Director, La CASA
Co-Chair: Felicia A. Washington, Senior Vice President of Human Resources
Co-Chair: Charles F. Zukoski, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
cc: President’s Senior Leadership Team
Academic Deans
Provost’s Leadership Team
Academic Senate
Staff Assembly
GSG President
USG President