{"id":6780,"date":"2025-02-05T21:21:22","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T05:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/?p=6780"},"modified":"2025-02-05T21:21:22","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T05:21:22","slug":"usc-names-beong-soo-kim-interim-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/usc-names-beong-soo-kim-interim-president\/","title":{"rendered":"USC Names Beong-Soo Kim Interim President"},"content":{"rendered":"

USC Names Beong-Soo Kim Interim President<\/h1>\n

New Leadership at USC<\/h2>\n

USC announced Wednesday that Beong-Soo Kim, a former federal prosecutor and the university’s general counsel, has been named its interim president and will take over after its current leader, Carol Folt, leaves her position at the end of June.<\/p>\n

Guiding the University Through Crises<\/h3>\n

In his role as general counsel, Kim has guided the university through crises including a $1-billion settlement in 2021 with alumnae victimized by campus gynecologist George Tyndall, in what was the largest sex abuse payout in higher education history. Last spring, he advised Folt as she grappled with turmoil over pro-Palestinian activism and canceled commencement events.<\/p>\n

New Challenges Ahead<\/h4>\n

He will take the helm at USC during a time of budget shortfalls, labor strife, and uncertainty as President Trump threatens to punish campus protesters and reel in so-called elite, \u201cMarxist\u201d universities.<\/p>\n

Board of Trustees Praise Kim’s Leadership<\/h2>\n

Announcing the decision in a campuswide letter Wednesday, Board of Trustees Chair Suzanne Nora Johnson and Vice Chair David C. Bohnett praised Kim, who has worked at USC since 2020, for his \u201cimpeccable character, strong and collaborative leadership, and a broad understanding of our academic research and medical enterprises, as well as our athletics programs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kim’s Qualifications<\/h3>\n

Kim, 52, previously worked as a vice president and assistant general counsel at Kaiser Permanente and as a partner at the Jones Day law firm. He served in the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles for nearly nine years, until 2012. Earlier, he was an adjunct law professor at USC.<\/p>\n

Personal Interests<\/h4>\n

An amateur musician, Kim has a reputation for being calm and cerebral, and aware of the complexities in running a university. He has also been known to play the cello on his porch during impromptu pandemic-era concerts.<\/p>\n

Reaction from the Community<\/h2>\n

John Manly, the Orange County lawyer who represented dozens of Tyndall sexual abuse victims, said he dealt with Kim in a \u201cpositive\u201d way through intermediaries.<\/p>\n

Looking to the Future<\/h3>\n

As USC enters a new era, Kim \u2013 and the future permanent president \u2013 faces growing challenges to the campus and higher education. There have been widespread complaints about departmental cuts and hiring freezes. The university saw tumult after reducing the long-standing benefit of free tuition for family members of employees who served for 15 years or more. USC is also challenging a unionization drive among thousands of adjunct, part-time, and non-tenure-track faculty.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Beong-Soo Kim’s appointment as interim president comes at a critical time for USC, and his leadership will be crucial in navigating the challenges facing the university. With his experience in crisis management and his commitment to the university’s academic, research, and health care missions, Kim is well-positioned to lead USC forward.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n