Daniel Pecchenino
Biography
Dan Pecchenino is the Associate Director of the Writing Program, where he oversees curriculum, classroom issues, and faculty promotions. He came to USC in 2013 and primarily teaches Writing 150. His current research focuses on how AI tools can support and enhance critical thinking and writing skills.
He has extensive experience in faculty governance at both the college and university levels, and in 2022-2023 he served as President of the Academic Senate. In that role he led efforts to strengthen shared governance via the school Faculty Councils, increase compensation transparency, and improve policies around misconduct investigations.
He is currently Chair of the University Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Co-Chair of the Faculty Handbook Committee, and he sits on the Executive Committee of the USC Student Success initiative.
Education
- Ph.D. English, UC Santa Barbara, 2011
- M.A. English, UC Santa Barbara, 2007
- B.A. Literature (Creative Writing-Poetry), UC Santa Cruz, 2004
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Administrative Appointments
- Associate Director, 08/16/2026 – 08/15/2029
- Acting Associate Director, 01/16/2025 – 08/15/2026
- Co-Chair, 01/01/2025 – 06/30/2025
- Co-Chair, 01/01/2024 – 12/31/2024
- President, Academic Senate, 2022-2023
- Academic Vice President, Academic Senate, 2021-2022
- Administrative Vice President, Academic Senate, 2019 – 2021
- Senator, Academic Senate, 2016 – 2019
- President, Dornsife Faculty Council, 2018-2019
- Vice President, Dornsife Faculty Council, 2017-2018
- Secretary, Dornsife Faculty Council, 2016-2017