'USC is not afraid to change.' New provost vows to rebuild lost trust in higher education

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Set us as preferred USC has named David Madigan, a statistician and former Northeastern University provost, as its chief academic officer, and he vows to make the university a leader in restoring American trust in higher education and adapting to rapid advances in artificial intelligence.Madigan, 63, will become provost and executive vice president for academic affairs on Oct.

13, the university announced Wednesday, in the most significant academic appointment of President Beong-Soo Kim’s first year at the helm.Madigan arrives as USC emerges from a financial crisis, fights a faculty union drive and faces political and funding pressures from the Trump administration — all while artificial intelligence reshapes learning, teaching and research.“I really believe in the power of the great American research universities,” Madigan said in an interview.

“Somehow or other, we’ve lost our way a little bit.”The problem predates recent federal cuts challenging higher education, he said, emphasizing a decline in public trust in universities and affirming that USC is well placed to address it.“USC is not afraid to change,” he said.“We have to be ready to adapt and change, and kind of restore our position, restore the trust of the American people.”In a statement, Kim said Madigan brings “the experience and leadership we need to build on USC’s extraordinary strengths, advance our academic mission, and help USC shape the future.”Madigan will oversee 18 schools and academic units along with student life, libraries and enrollment services.

USC’s budget staff reports to Gregg Goldman, hired in June as its first executive vice president for finance and operations.Madigan said he will approach his role with “transparency and authenticity.”“These are not for-profit corporations.We’re not Goldman Sachs.

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