James Bullock named dean of USC Dornsife
Astrophysicist James Bullock has been named dean of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, effective July 1.
Bullock currently serves as dean of the School of Physical Sciences at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where he oversees the departments of chemistry, Earth system science, mathematics, and physics and astronomy.
“James is a visionary scientist whose work is informed by expansive questions about the Milky Way and beyond,” USC President Carol Folt said. “His ability to see possibility will allow him to guide USC Dornsife through an evolving world of scientific discovery, technological innovation and social sciences. His proven leadership in fostering new interdisciplinary and community collaborations will strengthen the reach and impact of the College’s scholarship.”
Said Andrew T. Guzman, USC provost and senior vice president for academic affairs: “His forward-thinking spirit and enthusiasm for our academic mission have inspired everyone involved in the search process. He is ideally suited to handle the complexities and opportunities facing the largest school at USC.”
As dean at UCI, he has focused on strengthening opportunities for student success and elevating the school’s reputation locally and globally. He doubled the school’s philanthropic support, founded an Industry Advisory Board made up of local CEOs and influential alumni, and raised funds to establish a quantum science institute, the first of its kind at UCI.
Championing liberal arts and sciences
Bullock expressed excitement about leading the breadth of disciplines at USC Dornsife, USC’s largest and oldest school, which encompasses the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. USC Dornsife’s emphasis on interdisciplinary learning is among the factors that drew him to the position.
“I’m somebody who benefited tremendously from having a liberal arts education,” said Bullock, who will also hold the Anna H. Bing Dean’s Chair. He recalled how, as an undergraduate at The Ohio State University, he was reluctant to enroll in courses outside of his majors in physics and mathematics. But taking courses in English, philosophy, history and other disciplines had a profound and lasting influence on his scholarship.
“It made me a better scientist,” said Bullock, who went on to earn a doctorate in physics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. “Exposure to other ways of understanding and knowing … changed the way I approached problems.”
USC Dornsife’s alumni include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, tech entrepreneurs and civic leaders, reflecting the College’s deep commitment to preparing students not only for successful careers but also for meaningful lives. “That’s one reason why I am so excited about this opportunity, because I do think that the liberal arts are a vehicle to a deeper and richer life,” he said.
“I think USC Dornsife can be the global exemplar of what a liberal arts education is,” Bullock added. “Public engagement and impactful scholarship will go hand in hand with our educational mission, which has never been more crucial. I’m so excited to lock arms with our world-class faculty, staff and students to demonstrate the power and promise of letters, arts and sciences for Los Angeles and the world beyond.”
Bullock will be the 23rd dean to lead USC Dornsife since its founding in 1880. He succeeds Amber Miller, now president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and takes the reins from interim Dean Moh El-Naggar.
Read more about incoming USC Dornsife Dean James Bullock on USC News >>