July 1, 2025
Dear Trojan Family,
It is a privilege to begin serving as USC’s interim president today. The Trojan Family is unique in its power, reach, and distinction, and I step into this role eager to strengthen our common bonds and advance USC’s place in our world.
As you know firsthand, USC is more than a university. It’s a catalyst for change that benefits not just our students and patients, but the broader community and nation in profound ways. Our core mission – to develop the human mind and spirit through excellence in teaching, research, artistic creation, and professional practice – has never been more important or urgently needed in the 145 years since our founding.
With more than 500,000 members, our Trojan Family contributes to USC’s success in countless ways. You nurture the students whose USC journeys transform them into Fulbright scholars, startup founders, and award-winning artists. You support the championship student-athletes whose success helped USC achieve its highest-ever finish in the Director’s Cup this year. And you champion world-class research that improves and saves lives.
Our work together is even more critical during this period of unprecedented change and uncertainty. While these challenges will test us, they also bring opportunities – to sharpen our focus, challenge assumptions, and reaffirm our purpose: creating a lasting impact on students, patients, and society. My goal is to capitalize on these opportunities to ensure a vibrant future for generations of Trojans to come.
Thank you for your continued belief in and commitment to USC, everything it stands for, and everything it can become. By drawing on the power of our Trojan Family, I have no doubt that our beloved institution will continue to grow in strength and impact.
I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can in the coming months.
Now more than ever, let’s Fight On!
Beong-Soo Kim
Interim President