University of Southern California — Organization

About

The University of Southern California (USC) is a major private research university located in Los Angeles, California, founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney. It is the oldest private research university in the state and enrolls over 47,000 students. USC offers extensive academic programs across sciences, arts, professional fields, and public policy, emphasizing interdisciplinary study and collaboration. The university is renowned for its film school and Marshall School of Business, with significant contributions to entertainment, media, and business industries. It has produced numerous influential alumni known for innovation and entrepreneurship, maintaining strong ties to technology, entertainment, and business sectors. USC is a founding and charter member of CENIC, providing high-performance networking for education. The campus features a diverse Greek life community, including multicultural, Asian, professional, and historically Black councils, with eleven fraternities disaffiliating in 2022 to form the University Park Interfraternity Council.

USC's founder, Robert M. Widney, played a pivotal role in Southern California's development by bringing the Southern Pacific Railroad to Los Angeles, establishing the city's first horse-drawn trolley, organizing its first chamber of commerce, and serving as the first president of USC's board of directors who helped secure the university's endowment.

Despite its academic prestige, USC has faced several controversies. Notably, it was involved in the 2019 Varsity Blues admissions scandal, where actress Lori Loughlin and others were accused of bribery to secure fraudulent admissions. The university has also been criticized for its handling of sexual misconduct allegations, racial discrimination lawsuits, financial opacity in athletics funding, and faced backlash in 2023 after canceling a valedictorian's commencement speech due to antisemitism concerns related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, which led to protests and disinvitations. These incidents highlight ongoing scrutiny of USC's governance, admissions practices, and campus culture.

Key Relationships

Amber D. Miller

advisor

As dean of the Dornsife College from 2019 to 2024, Miller advised university leadership on academic policy, interdisciplinary research, and STEM diversity initiatives, overseeing operations that intersect with major funding sources and policy debates.

Since 2019

Amber D. Miller

affiliated

As a long-time professor and dean at USC, Miller built extensive institutional ties, including oversight of interdisciplinary programs that intersect with philanthropy, potentially carrying over relationships to foundation grantmaking in education and science.

Amber D. Miller

employs

The University of Southern California employed Amber D. Miller as an assistant professor starting in 2002, promoting her to full professor of physics and astronomy, and appointing her as Dean of the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences in 2013, a role she held until September 2024 overseeing multidisciplinary academic programs.

Since 2002

Haim Saban

patron

Haim Saban has donated tens of millions to USC, including funding for the Saban Capital Group Center for Political Finance and Policy and research initiatives; this affiliation enhances his influence in academic and entertainment sectors tied to media policy.

Since 2000

Edward G. Atsinger III

alumni

Edward G. Atsinger III graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration from USC in the late 1960s, linking him to a vast alumni network that includes media executives and conservative influencers.

Miriam Adelson

trustee

Voting member of the board of trustees. (relationship to Miriam Adelson)

Key Facts

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Key Relationships