USC Names Beong-Soo Kim as 13th President After "Next Generation" Leader Navigates $200M Deficit, 1,000+ Layoffs

The University of Southern California unanimously elected Beong-Soo Kim as its 13th president Wednesday, elevating the 53-year-old lawyer who wasn't even in the candidate mix seven months ago but won over trustees after navigating a $200 million deficit, overseeing more than 1,000 layoffs, and steering the university through federal scrutiny and unprecedented higher education pressures.

Kim, who served as interim president since July 2025 after explicitly stating he would "not be a candidate for the permanent position," emerged as the board's top choice from a pool of more than 1,000 candidates following what Board Chair Suzanne Nora Johnson described as "widespread confidence in Beong's leadership."

"As a next-generation president, we believe that he can dramatically accelerate USC's institutional advancement as a distinctive leader in higher education during a time of unprecedented change," Johnson said in a statement announcing the appointment.

The selection represents a remarkable about-face for Kim and the university, as his interim performance so impressed trustees, faculty, students, and alumni that what began as a placeholder role transformed into a permanent presidency at one of the nation's largest private universities with 46,000 students across 23 schools.

The Personal Connection: From Korean Immigrant Parents to University President

Kim brings a deeply personal connection to USC that influenced both his willingness to take the job and the community's embrace of his leadership.

Born and raised in the Los Angeles area—specifically Harbor City and Woodland Hills—Kim is the son of two Korean immigrants who attended USC as international graduate students. His parents' decision to pursue advanced degrees at USC in the 1960s or 1970s created the foundation for their son's eventual rise to lead the institution.

"My parents were international students here, so I've always had an incredibly strong emotional attachment to the university, and I've always believed in its potential to extend its impact across the world," Kim said in an interview.

While attending Calabasas High School, Kim studied cello with Eleonore Schoenfeld, a professor at the USC Thornton School of Music. This early connection to USC faculty presaged his later deep involvement with the university, and his classical cello training—under both Eleonore and Alice Schoenfeld—instilled what Kim describes as "a deep-seated belief in the power of the arts to expand human empathy, understanding, and community."

Kim's academic credentials are impeccable: He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College, where he wrote for The Harvard Crimson, led the Harvard CIVICS program, and played in the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra. He subsequently earned a master's degree from the London School of Economics as a Rotary Scholar and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

From Federal Prosecutor to General Counsel to President

Kim's path to the USC presidency wound through federal prosecution, private practice, corporate leadership, and university administration.

After law school, Kim spent nine years as a federal prosecutor at the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, handling fraud cases and eventually becoming chief of the Major Frauds section. While at the U.S. Attorney's Office, he taught trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at USC's Gould School of Law, maintaining his connection to the university.

Following federal service, Kim worked as a partner at Jones Day before moving to Kaiser Permanente, where he spent nearly six years as vice president. In July 2020, Kim joined USC as senior vice president and general counsel.

As general counsel, Kim played a key role in several major strategic initiatives, advising the senior leadership team and Board of Trustees on matters affecting the university, Keck Medicine, and athletics. He was significantly involved when USC's athletics programs faced leadership transitions in 2023, serving as a member of the department's interim leadership team.

His work establishing the current medical enterprise organization and its governing model demonstrated capacity to handle complex institutional restructuring—experience that would prove valuable when he inherited the interim presidency amid severe financial challenges.

The Seven-Month Proving Ground

When Carol Folt announced her retirement in November 2024 after six years as USC's 12th president, the Board of Trustees appointed Kim as interim president effective July 1, 2025, while launching a comprehensive presidential search.

Kim made clear he would not seek the permanent position, telling the board and community he saw his role as maintaining stability during the transition. However, Johnson later revealed that the board encouraged Kim "not to lead as an interim president but as president for an interim period of time."

That distinction proved crucial. Rather than simply managing day-to-day operations while awaiting a permanent successor, Kim tackled major challenges head-on.

He inherited a 2025 budget deficit exceeding $200 million—a sharp increase from the $158 million deficit in 2024. Projections showed a $230 million structural gap for the 2026 fiscal year without aggressive intervention.

Kim oversaw spending cuts and more than 1,000 layoffs, painful decisions that drew criticism from labor unions complaining about lack of communication regarding the budget state. However, Kim said in interviews that USC is now "on track to eliminate the deficit by the end of the 2026 financial year."

"The university is in a much stronger financial position now, and we're really looking forward to the opportunities on the horizon," Kim told The Los Angeles Times.

Beyond financial challenges, Kim navigated extraordinary external pressures on higher education, including the Trump administration's proposed "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" sent to nine universities including USC.

The Compact called for institutions to restrict the use of race and gender in admissions, ban biological males from competing in women's sports, and cap international student enrollment—demands that conflicted with USC's values and strategic priorities.

Kim publicly declined to sign the Compact while noting USC looked forward to "contributing our perspectives and Trojan values to an important national conversation about the future of higher education."

Federal Scrutiny and Campus Protests

USC also found itself under investigation by President Trump's Task Force to Combat Antisemitism following incidents in spring 2025, including campus protests that resulted in arrests of nearly 100 people and a swastika discovered on a campus fencepost.

In spring 2024, before Kim's interim tenure, hundreds of LAPD officers swarmed the USC campus during protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict that damaged property. The protests eventually drew federal scrutiny that continued into Kim's tenure.

Managing these investigations while protecting academic freedom and campus safety required the diplomatic skills and legal acumen that trustees would later cite as strengths supporting Kim's permanent appointment.

Launching Initiatives: AI Summit, Open Dialogue, Podcasts

Rather than simply managing crises, Kim launched ambitious initiatives positioning USC as a thought leader on critical issues.

He co-hosted USC's first-ever AI Summit, bringing together students, faculty, and industry leaders to explore artificial intelligence's impact on education, business, and society, addressing both opportunities and ethical challenges. The event positioned USC as a leader in shaping conversations about responsible AI development.

USC made a $3.1 million ChatGPT subscription purchase for faculty, staff, and students, reflecting Kim's commitment to embracing technological change while navigating its implications for higher education.

Kim also created the Presidential Open Dialogue Project and established an AI Strategy Committee, launching university-wide forums addressing critical 21st-century challenges.

To extend USC's thought leadership, Kim started a podcast called "Trojan Talks," using it to communicate USC's priorities, research, and leadership to wider audiences. Guests included Dean Willow Bay, author Jonathan Haidt, and USC faculty members discussing cutting-edge research.

To involve faculty more directly in university decisions, Kim brought deans into the President's Cabinet and established a Faculty Advisory Committee reporting directly to him and representing multiple schools.

The Groundswell: Community Campaigns for Kim

According to Johnson, a remarkable development occurred during fall 2025 as Kim's interim tenure progressed: The university received a surge of community campaigns pushing for Kim to join the presidential search process.

"Students, faculty, deans, alumni, donors, parents, every category of person kept reaching out, saying we have been inspired by [Kim's] leadership," Johnson said.

Kim initially was not part of the search process involving more than 1,000 candidates. However, at the end of October, the Board of Trustees reached out asking if he was interested in participating.

"I was very happy to do so because No. 1: I love USC, I love the work that we do," Kim said. "My parents were international students here, so I've always had an incredibly strong emotional attachment to the university."

Over seven months, Kim met with more than 40,000 members of the Trojan Family on USC's campuses in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., as well as at events around the world, engaging students, faculty, staff, researchers, and alumni.

His performance convinced the search committee and trustees that they had found their next president within their own ranks.

"Non-Traditional Background" as Strength

Kim acknowledges he doesn't come from a traditional academic background—he is a lawyer and former prosecutor rather than a scholar who rose through faculty ranks to dean and provost positions.

However, he argues that academic leadership requires commitment to values rather than specific career trajectory.

"I think the most important thing is to have a leader who truly values, respects and wants to advance the academic mission of a university," Kim said. "That's part of the reason that the deans, the faculty advisory committee and other faculty members have been so supportive of my interim leadership."

Erika Chesley, senior associate director of USC Hospitality, praised Kim's approach: "Beong stepped into the interim role with transparency, authenticity, and a strong commitment to all constituents: staff, students, and faculty. He listened openly, welcomed diverse perspectives, and adapted thoughtfully as circumstances evolved. His non-traditional background proved to be a strength, offering a fresh and steady approach at a time when change required both honesty and compassion."

Dana Goldman, founding director of the USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service, emphasized Kim's commitment to research: "Beong has already demonstrated a deep commitment to advance USC's academic mission working alongside our outstanding faculty. His lofty ambitions and sustained dedication will guide the university to even greater scholarly accomplishments."

Ongoing Challenges Await

Despite progress on the budget, Kim confronts ongoing challenges as permanent president.

The university remains in a months-long conflict with thousands of part-time and adjunct faculty who want to form a union, a move USC has opposed at the National Labor Relations Board. Pains over the 1,000+ layoffs still resonate among more than 4,500 faculty and 19,000 staff members.

Federal pressures from the Trump administration—to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, limit recognition of transgender people, restrict campus protests, and focus on hard sciences over liberal arts—continue weighing on decision-making.

Debates over the cost and value of a four-year degree surge nationwide, pressuring elite private universities like USC with tuition approaching $70,000 annually to demonstrate return on investment.

Research funding cuts threaten institutions dependent on federal grants. Kim told The Times he is proud that "our research expenditures have been going up" despite cuts to federal research funding.

The Miriam Adelson Factor

Kim must also navigate the presence of Miriam Adelson, a staunch Trump ally who contributed over $170 million to his political efforts, serving as USC's honorary trustee. Adelson's political alignment potentially creates complications given Trump administration pressures on universities and Kim's need to maintain institutional independence.

Global Engagement and Vision

Kim traveled extensively during his interim tenure, visiting India where he recognized the powerful legacy of late USC Trustee Ratan Tata and underscored USC's relationships with international students. He also visited USC's Washington, D.C. campus and attended events worldwide.

Mark Humayun, MD, PhD, director of the USC Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, praised Kim's commitment to translating research into real-world impact: "Since becoming Interim President, Beong has been instrumental in cultivating support for our research and elevating awareness for our groundbreaking advances to cure blindness. I strongly believe that universities today must demonstrate real-world impact."

What the Appointment Means

Kim's selection signals several important trends in university leadership:

First, trustees increasingly value crisis management and operational competence over traditional academic pedigrees, particularly during periods of financial stress and external pressure.

Second, internal candidates who demonstrate leadership during challenging transitions can emerge as permanent choices despite initially disclaiming interest—Kim's journey from "not a candidate" to unanimous selection illustrates this path.

Third, legal and regulatory expertise grows increasingly valuable as universities navigate complex compliance requirements, federal investigations, and politically charged issues where missteps carry institutional consequences.

Finally, the "next-generation" language trustees employed suggests recognition that higher education faces structural changes requiring new approaches rather than incremental adjustments to established models.

Carmen Nava, USC Trustee and co-chair of the Presidential Search Committee, summed up Kim's qualifications: "He possesses exceptional diplomatic skills and has made decisive decisions that have maintained the university's academic mission and preserved the institution's long-term financial health. Throughout difficult moments, Beong has led with transparency, open communication, and genuine care for our Trojan Family."

Kim assumes the permanent presidency immediately, continuing work that began seven months ago when he accepted what he thought would be a temporary assignment but instead became his defining professional opportunity.