Marking a new era for USC, President Kim announced plans for the university’s first comprehensive redesign of its undergraduate general education program in decades
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The University of Southern California installed Beong-Soo Kim as its 13th president today during a ceremony at its University Park campus, where he outlined an ambitious vision for USC to reinvigorate its educational programs, deepen its interdisciplinary research impact, and strengthen ties with industry and community partners.
Addressing thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends, Kim called on the Trojan community to build on USC’s pioneering history and distinctive strengths to help shape the future of higher education and society.
“The measure of a great university is not simply what we achieve, but what we make possible for others,” said Kim. “I am deeply grateful to our Board of Trustees and the entire Trojan community for entrusting me with the leadership of this extraordinary institution. USC has always been a place where people challenge conventional thinking, move the horizon, and turn bold ideas into meaningful change. Together, we will build on that spirit—to create a university that not only anticipates the future, but helps define it, opening new possibilities for generations to come.”
Kim was unanimously elected as the university’s 13th president on February 4, 2026 by the USC Board of Trustees, after serving as Interim President since July 1, 2025. Having joined USC senior leadership in 2020, Kim now holds the Robert C. Packard President’s Chair.
“Beong has proven himself a leader who moves with both conviction and care,” said Suzanne Nora Johnson, chair of the USC Board of Trustees. “In a moment of unprecedented change for higher education, he is setting a bold course for USC, one grounded in innovation, open dialogue, and a deep belief in our Trojan Family. His vision is already strengthening USC as a force of good for our students, faculty and staff, and the communities we serve.”
Drawing on USC’s pioneering history, interdisciplinary strengths, and deep ties to Los Angeles, Kim challenged the Trojan community to look beyond the immediate challenges facing higher education and embrace a larger ambition: not simply to adapt to a changing world, but to help shape what comes next.
His vision centered on three priorities: reimagining education to prepare students for a rapidly changing world; bringing together USC’s academic and research strengths to tackle society’s greatest challenges; and deepening partnerships with industry and communities to expand the university’s impact. Underlying these priorities is a commitment to advancing human flourishing and developing graduates with the creativity, compassion, courage, and judgment to lead.
Kim announced that USC will begin its first bottom-up redesign of undergraduate general education in decades. He also called for more experiential learning and immersive experiences, greater interdisciplinary collaboration, and stronger connections with the industries and communities that make Los Angeles a global center of innovation.
Acknowledging declining public trust in higher education, Kim emphasized that universities must earn that trust through listening, a willingness to change, and meaningful action. He called for responsible stewardship, strategic focus, and a renewed commitment to demonstrating the value of higher education through its impact on students and society.
Looking toward USC’s 150th anniversary in 2030, Kim challenged the university to build on its founding spirit of innovation and expand the boundaries of what is possible—for its students, Los Angeles, and the world.
Kim’s connection to USC spans generations. The son of Korean immigrants who both attended graduate school at the university, he was born and raised in the Los Angeles area and attended local public schools. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Harvard College, earned a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, and received his law degree from Harvard Law School.
Additional images from today’s events will be published online here.
About USC
Founded in 1880, the University of Southern California is one of the world’s leading academic research institutions with 23 schools, a multi-billion-dollar health enterprise, and a vast research and development engine. The university enrolls 46,000 highly accomplished undergraduate and graduate students and employs 4,600 faculty who are members of major national academies, and MacArthur, Academy Award, and Pulitzer Prize winners, among many others. USC has a nationally recognized athletic program and a passionate global network of 500,000 alumni – the Trojan Family. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, USC is a powerhouse of innovation and impact with a global reach.
Media: uscnews@usc.edu
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SOURCE University of Southern California
