April 4, 2023
Dear USC Community,
It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Andrew Guzman as USC’s next provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, starting July 1, 2023. Dr. Guzman is a renowned legal scholar and economist, and an innovative academic leader with decades of experience building programs across multiple disciplines. In his new role, he will also hold the Shelly and Ofer Nemirovsky Provost’s Chair.
Dr. Guzman is the dean of the USC Gould School of Law, where he holds the Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law, and is currently serving as interim dean of USC Libraries. He is also a professor of political science. Dr. Guzman will succeed Dr. Elizabeth Graddy, who has been serving as interim provost since January 2023.
In his eight years as dean, Dr. Guzman has redefined the law school in numerous ways and has worked to elevate its institutional presence—locally, nationally, and globally.
A hallmark of Dr. Guzman’s leadership is Gould’s trajectory of student success. For five consecutive years, the law school has welcomed a record-setting J.D. class which set new marks for academic achievement—in addition to being among the school’s most diverse.
Prioritizing academic excellence, Dr. Guzman has led the recruitment of renowned interdisciplinary legal scholars. He expanded clinical learning, including the new Housing Law and Policy Clinic, and oversaw the establishment of the Center for Transnational Law and Business.
As the first Latino dean of USC Gould, Dr. Guzman has been deeply committed to advancing diversity in legal education and practice. In support of students from all backgrounds, he launched the C. David Molina First Generation Professionals Program, one of the nation’s first administratively run support programs of its kind. He also appointed the law school’s first assistant dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As an administrator, Dr. Guzman strengthened Gould’s financial position, and broadened its educational mission. Under his deanship, the law school launched multidisciplinary master’s and certificate programs, as well as a new bachelor’s degree in legal studies—one of only a handful of degrees of its kind nationwide. And amid the uncertainties of the pandemic, Dr. Guzman led Gould with a steady hand, allowing the community to navigate this global crisis and emerge both strong and united.
Dr. Guzman is known for being a collaborative leader who puts students first and champions the work of faculty and staff. As provost, he will bring his deep understanding of USC’s complex and vibrant academic enterprises to continue our successful track record of recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty, staff, and students. In addition, he will work closely with Dr. Steve Shapiro, our senior vice president for health affairs.
Dr. Guzman received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University. He was formerly the Jackson H. Ralston Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley Law School, where he was also associate dean for international and advanced programs. He has a long record of scholarly publications and is a widely respected leader in the field of international law. Dr. Guzman has written two books (How International Law Works and Overheated: The Human Cost of Climate Change), a casebook (International Trade Law), and has edited several collected works.
We are very fortunate and grateful that Professor Franita Tolson and Dr. Marje Schuetze-Coburn have agreed to serve as interim deans for the Gould School of Law and USC Libraries, respectively. Having such experienced faculty step into these positions will make for a strong and seamless transition.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Elizabeth Graddy for serving as interim provost. Her wise counsel and steady hand have been invaluable to me, as well as everyone on our senior leadership team.
I also want to thank the search committee, chaired by University Professor Gaurav Sukhatme. More than 75 highly qualified candidates were evaluated in the course of the search. The committee, made up of trustees, faculty, staff, and students, showed great dedication and care throughout the process and their spirit of collegiality made for a smooth and very successful search.
I look forward to working closely with Dr. Guzman to lead this great university to an even brighter future. Please join me in warmly congratulating him on his new role at USC.
Carol L. Folt