University of Southern California President Carol Folt announced her plans on Friday to retire as president of USC on July 1, 2025.
In her letter to “the Trojan Family,” Folt wrote that “serving as the 12th president of the University of Southern California is one of the greatest privileges of my life. Working with so many of you to achieve the promise of our incredible Trojan Family brings me joy and inspiration each day.”
Folt added, “after more than 20 years of leadership at three great universities, however, I am excited to embrace the freedom that comes with a next big leap, and to pass the baton to the next president who will be able to build upon our accomplishments and create a new chapter for this extraordinary institution.”
Folt, who became president of USC in 2019, will remain at the university as a tenured faculty member. She saw USC through a series of challenges, including the pandemic and recent campus protests, and she was tasked with restoring its reputation after it had been rocked by a series of high-profile scandals.
Before becoming USC’s president, Folt was the chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and acting president of Dartmouth College. She earned her BA in aquatic biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1976, followed by a Master of Arts in biology in 1978.[She received her PhD in ecology from the University of California, Davis in 1982.
Folt’s decision comes following her being the target of sharp faculty and student criticism over her handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the USC campus last spring. In addition, while USC had extended Folt’s contract earlier this year, it did not specify the length of the new contract, raising questions about her future as president.
Folt cited five transformational presidential “moonshots” she oversaw during her presidency as particular accomplishments. These initiatives included a $1 billion investment in Frontiers of Computing and USC’s new School of Advanced Computing, Health Sciences 3.0, Athletics Reimagined, Sustainable Urban Futures and USC Competes. She also pointed to USC’s recent move to the Big Ten, which she said will “ensure the competitive success of USC programs and athletes.”
USC Board of Trustees Chair Suzanne Nora Johnson said Folt was hired at “one of the most important moments in the school’s history.” In a letter Friday to the USC community, Johnson praised Folt’s leadership skills and “innate ability to connect with community members on a personal level.”
“Her dedication to solving the difficult issues before her — whether past or present — have never impeded her focus on what lies ahead,” Johnson added. “Her keen strategic eye towards the future, and the groundbreaking initiatives she has launched as a result, will benefit both the current and next generations of Trojans, and [undoubtedly] contribute to USC’s long-term sustainable excellence.”
Johnson said that the search process for USC’s 13th president would begin soon.