Moh El-Naggar stands at lectern wearing scholars robes
Moh El-Naggar, newly appointed interim dean of USC Dornsife, welcomes new students at the 2019 convocation. (Photo: Gus Ruelas.)

USC provost appoints Moh El-Naggar interim dean of USC Dornsife

Formerly the College’s divisional dean for physical sciences and mathematics, El-Naggar will serve until a search for Amber D. Miller’s replacement is completed.
ByUSC Dornsife News Staff

The USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences’ divisional dean for physical sciences and mathematics, Moh El-Naggar, has been named interim dean, effective June 15. His appointment, announced by USC Provost Andrew T. Guzman, follows the departure of Dean Amber D. Miller, who led the College for eight years and will become president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

In his announcement, Guzman noted that El-Naggar is a “highly respected academic leader who was instrumental in the development and implementation of USC’s Quantum Information Science Strategy that has been transformative to the university’s Frontiers of Computing Initiative.”

“I am more than confident that his strong dedication to Dornsife will make him an excellent leader during this transitional period,” said Guzman, “and look forward to working with him until a new permanent dean is named.”

In his capacity as divisional dean, El-Naggar oversaw strategic planning, faculty appointments, and research advancement in USC Dornsife’s division of natural sciences and mathematics. As a Dean’s Professor of Physics and Astronomy, he and his research group investigate biological electron transfer and energy conversion with special emphasis on the interface between the living and nonliving worlds. For the last six years, he has led a Department of Defense-funded multi-university research initiative on living electronics.

In a message to faculty and staff following the provost’s announcement, El-Naggar wrote, “While leadership transitions naturally come with uncertainty, I assure you that our North Star will remain unchanged: the pursuit of excellence in research and education across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

“As interim dean, I look forward to working with all of you during this transition in the College and to building on the momentum that our community has achieved over the past several years. … I appreciate the trust put in me to steer USC Dornsife through this transition while the search for a permanent dean is conducted.”

El-Naggar also praised Miller for her leadership over the last eight years: “Because of her vision and the culture she nurtured, USC Dornsife can approach the years ahead with confidence in, and a heightened commitment to, the academic mission.”

Elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology this year, El-Naggar has authored more than 75 peer-reviewed publications. He has been featured in news media outlets including PBS News Hour, Wired, NPR Science Friday, Popular Science and The Scientist and serves as editor for the Journal of Bacteriology.

His accolades include being honored by President Obama with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, being named one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” (the magazine’s annual honor roll of “the 10 most promising young scientists whose innovations will change the world”) and receiving a Department of Defense Young Investigator Program Award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.