Dear USC Rossier Faculty, Staff and Students,
As we begin the new academic year at USC Rossier, I want to welcome all of our new students and wish continued success to our returning students. I also want to express my gratitude to our faculty and staff, whose dedication will ensure that our students become the kinds of educational leaders that will advance educational equity—as teachers and admission officers, as researchers and administrators, as counselors and advisors.
This fall we are commemorating the centennial of USC Rossier as a school of education. We have actually been preparing teachers at USC since the 1890s, when we were a small department of pedagogy in the College of Liberal Arts. Our early success led to the establishment of a formal school of education in 1918, and over the ensuing decades we have grown and adapted while expanding our impact in our neighboring district, across the country and around the world.
But this is also a time for reflection and renewal at USC. At convocation last Thursday, interim president Wanda Austin appealed to the strength of the USC Trojan Family as she invited all of us to begin the process of rebuilding community right here at USC.
Varun Soni echoed these words when he spoke at the annual kick-off event for USC Rossier faculty and staff last Thursday afternoon. As the Vice Provost for Campus Wellness and Crisis Intervention, Dr. Soni reminded us that wellness and community are shared responsibilities. He called on each of us to be part of a culture change that will help us create the conditions whereby our whole community can flourish and thrive.
Our foundation as a school of education is built on 100 years of innovation and renewal. I believe we have the ideal conditions at USC Rossier to begin this new year with hope, healing and justice.
Thank you for joining us in our shared mission.
Fight On!
Sincerely,
Karen Symms Gallagher, Ph.D.
Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean
USC Rossier School of Education
Waite Phillips Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0031
Asst: hardison@usc.edu
213.740.5756 (office)
213.821.2158 (fax)