This story was reported for Annenberg Radio News by Maggie Bell and Lexi Rosser on November 12, 2024.
USC President Carol Folt announced her plans to retire in an email Friday morning, after a five-year term in the university’s top office and criticisms over her handling of the Spring 2024 pro-Palestinian encampments and her decision to veto 2024 valedictorian Asna Tabassum’s commencement speech.
Folt has served as the university’s 12th president since July 2019. She announced in an email to the university community that she will leave the office July 1, at the end of the academic year.
“Serving as the twelfth president of the University of Southern California is one of the greatest privileges of my life,” she said in the statement. “After more than twenty years of leadership at three great universities, however, I am excited to embrace the freedom that comes with a next big leap, and to pass the baton to the next president who will be able to build upon our accomplishments and create a new chapter for this extraordinary institution.”
In the statement, Folt addressed the challenges faced during the pandemic, initiatives launched that expanded university facilities, and steps taken to address the university’s inaction regarding the suffering of Japanese American students during World War II, among other injustices.
Folt did not address her handling of the pro-Palestinian encampments and her decision to disallow valedictorian Asna Tabassum’s commencement speech.
Before serving as USC president, Folt served as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and acting president of Dartmouth University.
“While Carol’s retirement marks a moment of transition for USC, thanks to her leadership the university is well positioned for the future,” said Suzanne Nora Johnson, chair of the USC Board of Trustees in the statement. “Her dedication to solving the difficult issues before her – whether past or present – have never impeded her focus on what lies ahead.”
Johnson added that the search process for the 13th university president will begin soon.
Annenberg Media reached out to USC PR asking for further details regarding whether a search committee for the 13th university president has been assembled yet and when the university can expect an announcement on her replacement, and if there will be an interim president come July.
USC PR referred us to the original email sent out by Carol Folt and the Board of Trustees.
This is a developing story.