Michael Quick announced as new provost


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President C. L. Max Nikias officially announced current interim Provost Michael Quick’s appointment as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs Sunday afternoon in a memorandum addressed to academic deans, faculty and staff.

Quick’s appointment to provost of the university will be effective as of April 1.

“I consider this to be the most significant appointment in my cabinet, as this role is vital to USC’s academic mission and will play a decisive role in the university’s continued ascent,”  Nikias said in a statement released by USC News. “Following an exhaustive search, Professor Michael Quick emerged as our top candidate, as he possesses the rare combination of abilities, experience and knowledge that will best serve our large, complex and very ambitious research university.”

Quick’s position as provost grants him the title of chief academic officer of the university and makes him the second highest-ranking university official.

Quick’s predecessor, Elizabeth Garrett, left her position as provost of the university in 2014 to assume the role of president of Cornell University. Following her departure, Quick was selected by university officials to act as interim provost on Dec. 1.

Quick will oversee an array of academic divisions on campus including: Student Affairs, USC Libraries, Research Advancement, Information Technology Services, Student Religious Life, Academic Space Planning, Global Initiatives, Academic Planning and Budget and the USC Stevens Center for Innovation. Nikias’ memorandum also noted that Quick will assume the role of chair for the Keck School of Medicine of USC’s Operations Oversight Committee.

Quick holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Emory University and has held a position as a postdoctoral research fellow for the California Institute of Technology. Quick joined USC in 2002, when he served as an associate professor of biological sciences in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. He was promoted to professor and vice dean for research within Dornsife. Shortly after, Quick became the executive vice dean for academic affairs and was later named executive vice provost.

“In each of these roles, Professor Quick has proven to be an inspiring and tactical leader, demonstrating tremendous foresight, intellect, and resolve in advancing the university’s initiatives,” Nikias said in the memorandum.

The official search for a new university provost began immediately after Garrett resigned from her position. This resulted in the creation of a provost search faculty advisory committee consisting of Nikias, 14 university administrators and three representatives from search firm Isaacson, Miller.

The memorandum noted that Isaacson, Miller contacted 200 qualified leaders in academia from multiple universities and colleges. In addition, the university advertised the search for a new provost through various publications and websites. Students and faculty in the USC community were also encouraged to nominate possible candidates for provost through an application process. In total, Nikias said that more than 200 candidates were interviewed by the provost search faculty advisory committee for the position.

During his term as provost, Quick will oversee the progression of undergraduate and graduate research, undergraduate curriculum and graduate programs.