New Student Convocation: Spring 2022

January 7, 2022 Good morning, Trojans, and welcome to our first Convocation at the University of Southern California, in 2022! With me today on the platform are senior leaders of the university, deans of our schools, members of the Board of Trustees, and today’s speakers. I hope you’re feeling the joy and excitement of the…

New Student Convocation: Spring 2021

January 8, 2021 Hello everyone, and welcome to our spring 2021 New Student Convocation. Congratulations to you all! I’ve been thinking a lot about what I wanted to say to you today. We’re here to celebrate and mark a new, exciting phase in your lives – the start of your time at USC. And that…

137th and 138th Commencements Address

May 14-20, 2021 Greetings, everyone! And welcome to the 2021 and 2020 Commencement at the University of Southern California. Here we are in the historic LA Coliseum – the first class to graduate here in 70 years – and we even lit the torch in honor of you, our graduates. I can’t tell you how…

New Student Convocation: Spring 2020

January 10, 2020 Hello, and Happy New Year! New Trojans and Trojan parents, welcome to the University of Southern California’s New Student Convocation. It’s both an honor and a privilege to be leading today’s celebration. Students, today you begin your USC journey. Enjoy the anticipation and enjoyment that the start of a new adventure brings. …

New Student Convocation: Fall 2020

August 6, 2020 Congratulations students. You’re about to begin your USC journey, and it will last your entire life. And parents, you are now a part of our Trojan family, too! I know the pandemic looms large right now. But it won’t define you or your USC experience, and it sure won’t hold you back.…

Virtual Conferring of Degrees: Class of 2020

May 15, 2020 Good morning, and welcome to University of Southern California’s virtual conferring of degrees for the Class of 2020! And welcome to all the Trojans and families around the world joining us as well. This is a ceremony for the record books. And you’re lucky: you’ll get a second ceremony – I promise…

New Student Convocation: Fall 2019

August 22, 2019 Hello, and welcome to the University of Southern California’s 2019 Convocation. And welcome new Trojans, members of the Class of 2023, families, friends, esteemed guests, and platform party! Students, today we begin our USC journey together. I’m new too, as president. You are my very first entering class, and you’ll always be…

Presidential Inauguration: The Decade of Collaboration on Warp Speed – Unleashing the Power of Trojans Together

September 20, 2019 Good morning. Just a few months ago – on a crisp, bright morning – my husband, David, and I took a walk in Griffith Park. We were there to witness a once-in-a-decade or so event – the desert superbloom of 2019. Stretched across the bright green hills was a carpet of wildflowers…

A message from President Folt sharing some highlights from a monumental year at USC
139th Commencement Address

Greetings everyone! Welcome to the 2022 Commencement at the University of Southern California. Take a deep breath – we’re here in this glorious place, taking part in a university’s most historic pageant of celebration – graduation! We’re fully in-person – proudly wearing our colors and marks of distinction. And we’re together, after times none of…