Story perspectives

USC Appoints Beong-Soo Kim as 13th President Amid Budget Crisis

2/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

Beong-Soo Kim was named the University of Southern California's 13th president by the Board of Trustees.
The Board unanimously selected him amid layoffs and scrutiny over protests, as USC faces a $230 million budget gap for 2026.
Kim's goal is to enhance USC's educational value, engage in higher-education policy discussions, and address faculty unionization and campus-safety challenges after USC declined to join the Compact for Academic Excellence.

1 of 1

Story summary

Beong-Soo Kim was named the University of Southern California's 13th president by the Board of Trustees.
The Board unanimously selected him amid layoffs and scrutiny over protests, as USC faces a $230 million budget gap for 2026.
Kim's goal is to enhance USC's educational value, engage in higher-education policy discussions, and address faculty unionization and campus-safety challenges after USC declined to join the Compact for Academic Excellence.