Introducing Beong-Soo Kim, USC’s newly appointed interim president

In February, the USC Board of Trustees designated Beong-Soo Kim as interim president effective July 1. As the child of Korean immigrants who both pursued graduate studies at USC, he is the initial Asian American to direct the university. Prior to his tenure at USC as senior vice president and general counsel in 2020, Kim worked as an executive at Kaiser Permanente and as a senior federal attorney. He will occupy the interim role until a new president is appointed.

“Beong has exhibited commitment to the university’s academic, research, and health care goals and dedication to excellence. His insightful and balanced leadership, his empathy for everyone in the Trojan Family and his integrity make him the ideal choice to guide USC during this period,” USC Board of Trustees Chair Suzanne Nora Johnson stated. “Beong’s exemplary abilities to listen intently, communicate transparently, and collaborate in decision-making have earned him respect throughout the university. His comprehensive knowledge and expertise render him exceptionally qualified to steer the university through the opportunities and challenges facing higher education at this crucial time of transition.”

Kim recently conversed with USC News regarding his aspirations for USC.

What are your views on the best ways to advance the university?

Beong-Soo Kim: This is an extremely turbulent period for higher education. The hurdles include reductions in federal research financing, risks to international student enrollment, and more. While the upcoming months may present significant challenges, I believe there are opportunities to transform these obstacles into advantages. The pressure arising from circumstances like our current situation can clarify where our strengths are and highlight areas for improvement. The essence of all this work is to reaffirm our commitment to the university’s core mission of academic excellence.

What possibilities do you perceive in reshaping our research approach?

Kim: There are chances to pool resources across USC’s various colleges and enhance efficiencies. This will add more value to taxpayers and society.

We also have a significant opportunity for outreach — truly involving individuals so they comprehend what, why, and how USC’s research delivers considerable value. Our researchers are on the brink of preventing Alzheimer’s, curing blindness, and achieving breakthroughs in AI.

There is a wealth of vital work being accomplished at USC that is crucial not just for health but also for national security, student achievement, our communities, and our country. We must ensure that this message is communicated effectively.

What other priorities do you have for the upcoming year?

Kim: Emphasizing academic excellence. That is our primary purpose here. That’s the most crucial element, unequivocally. I’m referring to instruction. I’m referring to research. I’m referring to all the endeavors our faculty, students, and staff engage in to support our academic mission.

I also desire
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to dedicate more time enhancing our remarkable health system, where Senior Vice President for Health Affairs Steven Shapiro and CEO of Keck Medicine of USC Rodney Hanners provide outstanding leadership. The state-of-the-art health care offered by USC faculty and practitioners is vital in fulfilling our aspirations as a prominent research university.

With 23 schools, in conjunction with our health system, we present extraordinary opportunities at USC to merge fields in a manner that’s unmatched: AI and healthcare, dance and computation. My role is to stimulate and facilitate the remarkable things that occur when USC’s various disciplines intersect and spark new realms of discovery and insight.

What transformations do you anticipate in higher education as AI progresses?

Kim: AI is certain to revolutionize the workforce, the essence of work, and consequently, how we perceive universities. We may already be at a stage where these extensive language models [like ChatGPT] possess — in terms of data — far more knowledge than all our faculty collectively.

Simultaneously, I am extremely hopeful about the future of institutions like USC, where individuals can gather in their dorms, classrooms, and at the Coliseum to forge lifelong connections. At USC, we’re already utilizing these innovative technologies to broaden the avenues for individual expression. However, we must seriously consider how we’ll adapt when, in five or ten years, an emerging AI university with avatar instructors appears.

We must embrace that future and view these challenges as chances for USC to excel. Our history is founded on innovation. We are uniquely positioned to anticipate these trends and determine how to integrate AI into the educational setting while also safeguarding what makes the university experience so extraordinary.

How will you guide USC during a time when universities face criticism for not fostering diverse viewpoints?

Kim: I aim to focus on nurturing an academic atmosphere where diverse viewpoints are not merely tolerated but embraced as chances to debate, discuss, learn, advocate, and further the quest for truth. John Stuart Mill and Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. articulated this notion of a “marketplace of ideas.” The fundamental principle is that, in a democracy and at any esteemed university, we require a confrontation of differing ideas to promote academic excellence and truth.

Can you share your academic background, beginning with your undergraduate education at Harvard University and then graduate studies at the London School of Economics and Harvard Law School?

Kim: I engaged in interdisciplinary endeavors in social and political theory at Harvard, which was an exhilarating intellectual period for me. I subsequently attended the London School of Economics, where I delved into philosophy and ethics. I was keen on entering academia, but after spending a year in New York City government, I contemplated, “Perhaps I should consider law school, where I can delve into these political and ethical inquiries while also obtaining a degree that allows me to engage in court cases and make a difference.” My ambition was to become a law professor.

Following my legal education at Harvard, a clerkship for a judge, and some teaching, I ventured into legal practice and nearly abandoned my aspiration of returning to academia — until, quite serendipitously, I found myself back at USC. While I haven’t been able to teach as frequently as I would have preferred throughout my career, I feel immensely grateful to be in a role where I can advocate for our faculty and foster academic excellence, freedom, and inquiry. It’s an extraordinary privilege.

You mentioned, “found myself back at USC.” What were your previous connections to USC?

Kim: My parents hail from Korea. After getting married and relocating to Los Angeles, they became part of USC. My mother obtained her master’s degree in education from USC in 1970. My father completed PhD coursework in economics here. As a child in Woodland Hills, I remember my dad enjoying USC football games on television.

An additional early connection with USC was through music. I began playing the cello at age 5 and was fortunate to study under the late, renowned cellist Eleonore Schoenfeld, a professor at the USC Thornton School of Music, during my high school years. Her sister, the late Alice Schoenfeld, a violinist and USC Thornton professor, mentored my chamber music ensembles. I frequently came to the USC University Park Campus to perform or attend concerts.

I’ve always recognized the significance of USC in the cultural, academic, and athletic landscape of Los Angeles. In 2007, I was thrilled to return to USC as an adjunct professor at the USC Gould School of Law.

In what ways has your legal career equipped you to lead the university?

Kim: Every attorney has a fiduciary responsibility to advocate for their client’s interests. Since joining USC as general counsel, my obligation has been to the institution and its mission rather than any individual. Being part of a mission that truly matters to our society has always been crucial to me, and that’s what drew me to USC.

The legal field is also beneficial because, as Alexis de Tocqueville noted, many of society’s moral, political, and social issues manifest, and often get resolved, within our legal framework. Higher education serves as a reflection of the debates, divides, and concerns prevalent in broader society. The law has furnished me with a valuable lens to comprehend and articulate these significant issues that impact higher education and our culture.

What is your perspective on USC recently reaching the milestone of 500,000 alumni in the Trojan Family?

Kim: Surpassing the 500,000 alumni threshold is an incredible reminder of USC’s significance, not only to our community but also to the nation and the globe. The Trojan Family is an immensely powerful entity. It’s a defining characteristic. It’s what makes USC unique and instills pride in our alumni for being USC graduates and supporters — and this manifests in numerous ways.

During my interim period, I aim to connect with alumni, both those who have been consistently engaged with the university post-graduation and those who might not have remained as active or informed about campus developments. I want to ensure that every USC alum feels as proud as ever of this institution and its contributions to our community, our students, our nation, and the world.

In what ways do athletics contribute to what makes USC and the Trojan Family unique?

Kim: Athletics truly unifies the Trojan Family. We’ve recently achieved our highest ranking — No. 2 in the nation — in the Learfield Director’s Cup standings. Our student-athletes are excelling across a multitude of sports and are also performing exceptionally in their studies. We recently announced record graduation and academic GPA rates for our student-athletes. I believe we have the best athletic director in the country in Jen Cohen. I also feel optimistic about our football program this year.

Jen consistently expresses a sentiment I resonate with deeply, not only in athletics but also as a leadership principle for myself: “winning from the inside out.” This means success isn’t achieved by chance or taking shortcuts. The objective is not to win merely one game, one season, or in one sport. Winning from the inside out signifies cultivating a culture in which everyone is dedicated to putting in the effort needed for sustained success. I aspire to create that same winning culture throughout the entire university.

You’ve been playing the cello since age 5 and even held classical porch concerts at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. How have your musical experiences influenced you?

Kim: What I cherish about music is the connections it fosters with others. I wouldn’t go so far as to claim that I’ve learned leadership from playing chamber music, but there are countless parallels. In chamber music, you must listen to others while also stepping up when it’s your moment to shine. You’re collaboratively creating something beautiful alongside others who share a common vision.

That’s the essence of what we’re striving for at USC: crafting incredible harmony together. As interim president, I consider myself merely the conductor.