Year: 2014

Legacy of Judge Widney Immortalized on Campus

  • Publication date August 29, 2014

The legacy of USC founder Judge Robert Maclay Widney was celebrated at the unveiling of an 8-foot bronze sculpture newly installed at the entrance of the Judge Widney Alumni House, during ceremonies held on the USC campus on August 29th, 2014.

The 1,000 lb. art piece was created by renowned California-born artist Christopher Slatoff, and the ceremony was attended by USC Trustees, senior leadership, and members of the USC community as the Trojan Marching Band led the crowd in a spirited display of cheering and music. Special honored guests at the event were the living descendants of Judge Widney, who presented USC President C. L. Max Nikias with two family artifacts: a top hat and cape owned and worn by Joseph Widney, Judge Widney’s brother and the second president of USC. The pieces have been donated to the University and will be preserved in USC’s permanent archive….Continue Reading Legacy of Judge Widney Immortalized on Campus

Top ranking for Cinematic Arts; honoring distinguished Trojans; Trustees advance USC’s mission

  • Publication date August 29, 2014

The Hollywood Reporter ranked the USC School of Cinematic Arts first in the nation. USC community remembers University and Distinguished Professor Warren Bennis, Major General Harold J. Greene, Xinran Ji, Louis Zamperini, and Professor Michael Preston. USC Marshall receives a stellar gift from Thomas J. Barrack and his family; and Andrew and Erna Viterbi give $15 million to support USC Viterbi and the USC Shoah Foundation….Continue Reading Top ranking for Cinematic Arts; honoring distinguished Trojans; Trustees advance USC’s mission

Message to Ambassadors

  • Publication date August 25, 2014

August 29, 2014 Niki and I are eager to begin a new academic year at the university—our fifth as president and first lady of USC—and hope you had a wonderful summer.  We are certainly pleased to be back, and to feel the energy of our new and returning students and faculty.  We draw such pride…Continue Reading Message to Ambassadors

Welcome, Class of 2018!

  • Publication date August 22, 2014

As the new freshman class arrived on campus with families and belongings in tow, USC President C. L. Max Nikias, Mrs. Niki C. Nikias, and USC Board of Trustees chair John Mork (left center, second row) greeted the incoming Trojans in front of Birnkrant Residence Hall.

“USC is a place today where 53,000 applicants competed for 2,700 spots in the freshman class,” President Nikias told the sea of enthusiastic faces during convocation ceremony, part of the week-long program of activities known as Welcome Week. “We searched far and wide to find you. … So if you feel very special to be here today, I’ve got news for you — it’s because you are!”…Continue Reading Welcome, Class of 2018!

University’s 131st Commencement Exercises

  • Publication date June 30, 2014
Marc Benioff receives USC Honorary Degree

USC’s commencement ceremony last month was exceptionally glorious, as we cheered nearly 16,000 new alumni, and welcomed more than 60,000 visitors to our campuses.

This year, six extraordinary individuals received honorary degrees from USC, including our commencement speaker, Marc Benioff, a pioneer of cloud computing, as well as the founder and chief executive officer of salesforce.com.
…Continue Reading University’s 131st Commencement Exercises

President Nikias voted Chairman of Association of Pacific Rim Universities

  • Publication date June 25, 2014

President C. L. Max Nikias was elected as the chairman of APRU (Association of Pacific Rim Universities) for a two-year term. APRU is a network of 45 premier research universities from 16 Pacific Rim economies. President Nikias served as the vice chairman of APRU prior to his current election as chairman, and had the opportunity to visit with APRU secretary general Christopher Tremewan during a USC delegation visit to Singapore in February of 2014….Continue Reading President Nikias voted Chairman of Association of Pacific Rim Universities

USC Shoah Foundation commemorates 20th year

  • Publication date May 30, 2014
USC Shoah Foundation's 20th Anniversary Gala - Show

Earlier this month, the USC Shoah Foundation Institute commemorated its twentieth anniversary with a gala celebration in Los Angeles. (As you may know, USC Trustee Steven Spielberg established the foundation in 1994, and it became part of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences in 2006). This year, the institute presented its Ambassador for Humanity Award to President Barack Obama, saluting his continued commitment to human rights and education. The evening also included appearances by Bruce Springsteen and Liam Neeson, the lead actor from Schindler’s List, with Conan O’Brien serving as emcee.

Two weeks before the event, the USC Shoah Foundation announced that it would establish the Center for Advanced Genocide Research, thereby expanding its rigorous study of genocides and their origins, as well as how to intervene and stop them….Continue Reading USC Shoah Foundation commemorates 20th year

USC and Mexico align to boost opportunities in education and innovation

  • Publication date May 29, 2014

USC strengthened its ties with the government of Mexico during a recent visit by a delegation led by Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jose Antonio Meade. Along with Sergio Alcocer, under-secretary for North American affairs, and Carlos Sada, consul general of Mexico in Los Angeles, Meade met with USC President C. L. Max Nikias and…Continue Reading USC and Mexico align to boost opportunities in education and innovation