USC appoints Beong-Soo Kim interim president, launches presidential search

USC has appointed Beong-Soo Kim as its interim president, succeeding Carol Folt, who will step down at the end of June after five years in the role. Kim, currently the university's general counsel, has been with USC since 2020 and is expected to lead during a challenging time marked by budget issues and campus unrest. The Board of Trustees praised Kim's leadership and commitment to the university community, emphasizing that he will not be a candidate for the permanent position. A Presidential Search Committee has been established to find a new president, co-chaired by trustees Carmen Nava and Mark Stevens, and will include diverse representation from the university community. Folt's tenure included significant controversies, such as a $1 billion settlement for sexual abuse and protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The search committee aims to gather input from faculty, staff, students, and alumni to define the qualifications for the next president.