USC opens up new office in New York City


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USC recently opened its first office in New York City, hoping to enhance the university’s presence on the East Coast and attract more donations.

“The New York office is responsible for creating a more visible presence for USC in New York and throughout the northeast region, and establishing support, including philanthropic support, for the university’s strategic goals and objectives,” Albert Checcio, senior vice president of university advancement, and Courtney Surls, vice president for development of university advancement wrote in an email.

The office will handle general issues regarding USC and its East Coast presence, spanning from alumni relations to student affairs.

Receiving philanthropic support from USC alumni has become a priority for the university, and this office was created largely to help achieve their fundraising goals, Checcio and Surls wrote.

“We have two primary responsibilities in the New York office. One is to assess the broader regional needs to build the visibility of the university and make recommendations to that end,” said Maria Watson, the new executive director of the New York office. “The second is to leverage significant philanthropic support from individuals for the future initiatives of USC.”

The university hopes these donations will assist students in the long-run.

“The new resources will positively impact and improve almost every aspect of campus life — from more scholarships for students, to new buildings and facilities, and to recruitment of leading faculty and researchers,” Checcio and Surls wrote.

Currently, the office is fairly small, with a staff of three.

As USC’s first office in New York City, the new regional office has been charged with making USC’s presence prominent in the northeast.

“The Trojan Family is quite strong in New York City,” Watson said. “There are 4,000 alumni and potential donors that live or work in New York City alone, and there are approximately 16,000 alumni who live in the northeast. This office will be working to engage that group of people,” Watson said.

Students are generally excited by the opportunities presented by the new office.

“I will most likely go to New York after college to work, so it’s good that they’ve opened this office [so I can] maintain this connection to the school,” said Adam Nusbaum, a freshman majoring in business administration.

USC has comparable offices in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, as well as around the globe, in countries including China, Japan, India and Mexico. The university is also planning to open a San Francisco office later this year, according to Checcio and Surls.

Since its opening, the office has invited the USC Alumni Club of New York’s board to its office for a gathering. Additionally, a series of events to commemorate the opening is planned for the coming months, according to Watson.

Checcio and Surls were not willing to comment about the cost of the new office.