Carol Folt, president of the University of Southern California, has revealed plans to resign from her administrative role at the end of the school year for a return to teaching.
“Serving as the 12th president of the University of Southern California is one of the greatest privileges of my life,” she said in an announcement on Nov. 8. “Over the last five years, we have created a forward-looking vision that will serve our students, faculty and staff well as they look to better the country and the world.”
In June, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into USC for potential violations of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In August, Folt received a plan for how to address campus antisemitism.
Suzanne Nora Johnson, chair of the school’s Board of Trustees, said “I offer our deep appreciation of Carol Folt, as well as our admiration for her exceptional tenure as the 12th president of USC.”
Folt stated that “looking forward, I am enthusiastic about exploring opportunities ahead as a tenured faculty member.”
Johnson wrote that “Carol’s leadership skills, and her innate ability to connect with community members on a personal level, have been on display throughout her tenure.”
