Beong-Soo Kim, USC’s senior vice president and general counsel, was officially elevated to interim university president today with the departure of Carol Folt.
“It is a privilege to begin serving as USC’s interim president today,” Kim wrote in a message to the USC community Tuesday. “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.”
Kim was chosen by the USC Board of Trustees in February to take over the presidency on an interim basis upon the departure of Folt, whose last day in the job was Monday. Folt will remain with the university as a tenured professor.
A search for Folt’s replacement is continuing. Kim is not a candidate to become the next full-time president. The university created a website to provide updates on the search process at https://presidentialsearch.usc.edu/.
In his campus message Tuesday, Kim noted uncertainties facing USC, and higher education in general, amid mandates from the federal government and threats to federal funding.
“Our work together is even more critical during this period of unprecedented change and uncertainty,” Kim said. “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.”
Folt joined USC in 2019 after leading the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for six years. She previously worked at Dartmouth College, where she served as interim president, provost, dean of faculty and a professor of biological sciences.
“Serving as the twelfth president of the University of Southern California is one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Folt said in November when she announced her decision to step down as president. “Working with so many of you to achieve the promise of our incredible Trojan Family brings me joy and inspiration each day. After more than 20 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.
“My north stars always have been: students at the center; academic excellence (in research, teaching, creative practice, and visionary discoveries); safe, welcoming and sustainable campuses; tackling grand challenges; and building ethical, human-centered and empathetic teams. With these principles in mind, over the last five years, we have created a forward-looking vision that will serve our students, faculty and staff well as they look to better the country and the world.”