USC announces retirement of two top USC administrators
Provost Michael Quick and Carol Mauch Amir retiring from their positions at USC.
Tommy Trojan and the entrance of Bovard Auditorium.
By: Dynasty Raines
Interim President Wanda Austin announced today that Provost Michael Quick and Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and Professionalism Carol Mauch Amir will be retiring from their respective positions.
As provost, Quick is the second-highest administrator at USC, ranking just below the president of the university. He has served in the position since April 2015. He is also Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and a professor of biological sciences in Dornsife College of Arts and Letters.
Amir is the third-highest administrator at USC. She joined the university in 1999 and in 2016, she was appointed Senior Vice President and General Counsel by the Board of Trustees, and was elected Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and Professionalism in 2018.
Interim President Wanda Austin's statement, sent to the university, said, Quick and Amir's retirements will be effective on June 30, 2019. Quick will continue in his role as a professor.
"Drawing on his own experience as a first-generation college student, Michael [Quick] spearheaded our efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout our university structures," Austin said in an email. "In returning to the faculty, Michael will continue to share his wisdom and wit with colleagues and students."
About Amir, Austin stated, "In her long career at USC, her strategic thinking and expertise have been instrumental in a number of efforts . .. Carol's leadership in building the division of the Office of Legal Affairs and Professionalism has been important to the future of USC, and exemplifies the lasting ways that we can [a]ffect culture change at USC."
In a statement provided to Annenberg Media, Quick commented on his retirement and incoming USC President Carol L. Folt.
"I have been honored to work with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to continue USC's ascent. I look forward to continuing to work with everyone," Quick stated. "President-elect Folt will be a great leader and should have the opportunity to work with a provost of her choosing
Amir said, in a statement with Annenberg media, that she is leaving the university in good hands.
"After twenty years here at USC, in the service of three presidents during important, transformative and challenging times in the university's history, I am looking forward to some time off to reflect on the next chapter in my life, " Amir said of her retirement, "I feel confident I am leaving the university in good stead as we prepare for the transition to the next presidency."
Austin said that she and President-elect Carol Folt will work to select Quick's successor with a search committee. She said the search committee will include USC faculty, and they will name an interim provost in the coming weeks.
Last Friday, Provost Michael Quick announced that Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Student Engagement Dr. Monique S. Allard has agreed to serve as the interim Vice President for Student Affairs, effective April 1, 2019.
Michael Tseng contributed to this report