Year: 2015

Mark and Mary Stevens name brain research institute; Quick appointed provost; Nikias OpEd on Cal Grants

  • Publication date April 30, 2015

In recent weeks—and with great pride—our community has celebrated the landmark gift from longtime benefactors Mark and Mary Stevens. Their exceptionally generous $50 million gift—which names the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute—will dramatically advance the university’s pioneering brain research, allowing our researchers to expand the understanding of the human mind and discover new ways to treat and prevent the most perplexing and tenacious brain disorders of our time…Earlier this month—following a rigorous, national search—Michael Quick assumed the role of provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at USC….Continue Reading Mark and Mary Stevens name brain research institute; Quick appointed provost; Nikias OpEd on Cal Grants

USC delegation brings key concerns to Washington

  • Publication date April 24, 2015
USC Chief of Staff Dennis Cornell, President C. L. Max Nikias, and Trustees Bruce M. Ramer and Christopher Cox pose with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in Washington D.C. (USC Photo/Eric Abelev)

WASHINGTON — With cherry blossoms blooming and spring in full swing, USC President C. L. Max Nikias led a delegation of trustees, senior administrators and deans to the nation’s capital Wednesday. Running two concurrent tracks led by Nikias and Provost Michael Quick, delegates discussed with lawmakers a number of pressing issues affecting higher education including research funding,…Continue Reading USC delegation brings key concerns to Washington

USC delegation brings Cal Grants plea to Sacramento

  • Publication date April 9, 2015
Stopping during their visit to Sacramento are, from left: Trustee Christopher Cox; Randolph Hall, vice president of research; Martha Escutia, vice president, government relations; Thomas Sayles, senior vice president, university relations; Provost Michael Quick; Gov. Jerry Brown; Trustee Robert Padgett; President C. L. Max Nikias; Trustee Lisa Barkett and husband Bill Barkett; and Dean of Financial Aid Thomas McWhorter. (USC Photo/Eric Abelev)

USC President C. L. Max Nikias led a delegation of trustees and senior administrators to the State Capitol in Sacramento today to speak with Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers including Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff, Assemblymember Reggie Sawyer-Jones and Senator Kevin De Leon. USC delegates stressed the importance of maintaining the current level of Cal…Continue Reading USC delegation brings Cal Grants plea to Sacramento

LA leaders convene to advance Biotech corrider; Ray Irani donates $15 million to USC Village

  • Publication date March 26, 2015

USC hosted a summit to advance support for building a biotech corridor in Los Angeles. Such a hub would create thousands of new jobs in our region—and keep talented graduates of our local universities close to home. The summit drew distinguished leaders from business, academia, and government, including Los Angeles County supervisors Hilda Solis and Mark Ridley-Thomas, as well as Bill Allen of the Los Angeles Economic Development Council…Our distinguished trustee, Dr. Ray Irani, generously pledged $20 million to the university, of which $15 million will create the Ray Irani Residential College at the USC Village. Irani College—one of nine new residential colleges planned for the USC Village—will be a supportive community that integrates living, learning, and extracurricular activities for up to 320 students. Taken together, the nine residential colleges will add as many as 2,700 student beds to our University Park Campus, and increase the number of students in USC-owned housing by nearly 40 percent…Continue Reading LA leaders convene to advance Biotech corrider; Ray Irani donates $15 million to USC Village

President Nikias addresses Mexico’s Council of Foreign Relations

  • Publication date March 5, 2015
USC President C. L. Max Nikias addressed Mexico’s Council of Foreign Relations (COMEXI) on Thursday, March 5, 2015; here, Nikias is seen with COMEXI President Jaime Zabludovsky. (USC Photo/Eric Abelev)

Hghlighting the potential of educational diplomacy, USC President C. L. Max Nikias spoke this morning to members of Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales (COMEXI), Mexico’s Council of Foreign Relations. COMEXI’s members include foreign and Mexican diplomats, industry leaders, elected officials and various government and non-governmental organizations.

In his remarks, Nikias stressed the important and evolving role research universities will play in supporting and promoting global partnerships and development and described the initiatives USC is undertaking to be at the center of this international push….Continue Reading President Nikias addresses Mexico’s Council of Foreign Relations

USC honors Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, José Antonio Meade Kuribreña

  • Publication date March 4, 2015
Undersecretary Alcocer accepts Judge Widney Award on behalf of Foreign Secretary Meade

At a special reception and dinner Tuesday at Mexico City’s historic Palacio de Autonomía, USC President C. L. Max Nikias honored Mexican Foreign Secretary José Antonio Meade Kuribreña with the inaugural Judge Widney Award.

Nikias presented the award in recognition of Meade’s leadership and the important gains Mexico’s foreign ministry has made in establishing educational diplomacy and building research and innovation partnerships between Mexico and the United States….Continue Reading USC honors Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, José Antonio Meade Kuribreña

USC delegation strengthens Mexico ties

  • Publication date March 3, 2015
CONACYT’s Maria Dolores Sanchez Soler and USC President C. L. Max Nikias sign an agreement to create up to 30 postdoctoral fellowships for Mexican scholars to study at USC. (USC Photo)

USC President C. L. Max Nikias is in Mexico City with a delegation of trustees, senior administrators and deans to strengthen partnerships with leading Mexican institutions and foster ties with alumni, parents and prospective students.

The delegation was invited by Mexico’s foreign secretary, José Antonio Meade Kuribreña.

“Over the last four years, USC has nearly quadrupled its Mexican student base, as a result of an enhanced focus on research partnerships, scholarship agreements and student mobility collaborations,” Nikias said….Continue Reading USC delegation strengthens Mexico ties

Mexico City presidential delegation kicks off

  • Publication date March 2, 2015

USC’s Mexico City presidential delegation is officially underway, with a full schedule of events and meetings that began today. The visit brings together Trustees, Deans and senior administrators who will work towards deepening USC’s ties with Mexican universities, companies and other institutions. President Nikias has identified Mexico as a key priority for USC and over the last four years, the university has increased efforts to build partnerships for research, student mobility and scholarships. These efforts have yielded impressive results with the number of Mexican students enrolled at USC quadrupling since 2010….Continue Reading Mexico City presidential delegation kicks off

Los Angeles has the right DNA to become biotech hub

  • Publication date February 26, 2015

By C. L. Max Nikias Originally published in The Los Angeles Times Op-Ed section on February 25, 2015 As the Great Recession decimated U.S. job growth, one sector continued to thrive: biotechnology. Encompassing everything from medical device manufacturing to biopharmaceutical development and the latest diagnostic tools, this industry will no doubt frame humanity’s most important…Continue Reading Los Angeles has the right DNA to become biotech hub