USC Thornton Leadership
Contributions to leadership exist at all levels at the USC Thornton School of Music, stewarding our university culture, community, and programs.
Jason King
Dean, USC Thornton School of Music
Jason King, Dean of the USC Thornton School of Music, is a multi-talented Canadian-American scholar, journalist, author, musician, performer, producer, songwriter, radio and video host and event curator. King earned his PhD in performance studies from New York University, and formerly served as chair of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at Tisch School of the Arts.
Senior Leadership
Managing the institutional needs of USC Thornton.
Jeffrey de Caen | Associate Dean, Operations |
Joanna Demers | Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs |
Rotem Gilbert | Vice Dean, Scholarly & Research Division |
Cristian Grases | Vice Dean, Classical Performance & Composition Division |
Brian Head | Associate Dean, Academic Affairs |
Sean Holt | Vice Dean, Contemporary Music Division |
Susan M. Lopez | Associate Dean, Administration & Finance |
Ronald C. McCurdy | Associate Dean of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee |
Gretchen Meier | Head of Communications |
Phillip M. Placenti | Associate Dean, Admission & Student Affairs |
Leadership Teams
Councils, teams, & committees contribute to the vitality of USC Thornton.
Damien Elwood
Libby Garcia
Alex Knoll
Kenzo Perkins
Joerg Stoeffel
Staff Council
Damien Elwood, Chair
The Thornton Staff Council is the elected body that represents the collective interest of the Thornton staff, and serves to advise the administration of the USC Thornton School of Music in matters that impact the quality of work-life of Thornton staff.
Faculty Council
Will Coppola, Chair
The USC Thornton School of Music’s Faculty Council is the official elected body that advocates for and represents the interests of the faculty and provides advice to the Dean, Associate and Vice Deans in matters that directly affect the faculty and programs of the Thornton School.
Caption: Will Kennedy, Faculty Council
Will Coppola (Chair): Music Teaching and Learning
Juan Pablo Contreras: Composition / Theory & Analysis
Jeanine Cowen: Screen Scoring
Will Kennedy: Popular Music
Brian Malouf: Music Technology
Candice Mattio: Music Teaching and Learning
Luciana Souza: Jazz Studies
Caption: TSC Members on campus.
Chair: Evangeliya Delizonas-Khukhua
Vice Chair: Dylan Gorenberg
Officer of Records: Meghan Chen
Treasurer: Mark Willenbring
Officer of Public Affairs: Hannah Rice
At-Large Graduate Representative: Ryann Anderson
At-Large Undergraduate Representative: Ella Kaale
Student Council
Evangeliya Delizonas-Khukhua, Chair
The Thornton Student Council (TSC) exists to amplify and advocate for the student experience at the School of Music by encouraging freedom of scholarship; student rights; promote a unified, cohesive student body; and to maintain forums to discuss student views and rights.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Ronald C. McCurdy, Professor of Music and Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
With the collective input of our faculty, students & administration, the D.E.I.B. committee develops strategies and measures progress in key change areas such as curriculum; recruitment & retention for both students and faculty; and the climate for BIPOC members at Thornton.
Caption: Unity Day hosted by D.E.I.B.
Ronald C. McCurdy, Chair
Lina Bahn, faculty
Angelica Brooks, student
Viet Bui, staff
Jeff De Caen, staff
William Coppola, faculty
Leon Garcia Corona, faculty
Jeanine Cowen, faculty
Derrick Lawrence, faculty
Larry Livingston, faculty
Kevin Lyman, faculty
Gretchen Meier, staff
Amber Robinson, staff
Seth Parker Woods, faculty
Clarence Penn, faculty
Tram Sparks, faculty
Scott Spencer, faculty
Katherine Teeter, student
Matt Weaver, student
Mark Weiser, faculty
Guang Yang (faculty)
Caption: Student Health Center
Bill Kanengiser, Chair
Phillip Placenti, Ex-officio
David Arnay
Charles Gutierrez
Yura Lee
An Perry
Stephen Pierce
Richard Smith
Steve Trovato
Richard Wolf
Dr. Aimee Diaz, Physical Therapy;
Dr. Karen Johnson, Audiology;
Dr. Xenos Mason, USC Musician’s Movement Disorder Clinic;
Dr. Pamela Mikkelsen, Physical Therapy;
Robin Mitchell Stroud, Office of Religious & Spiritual Life;
Aaron Rothbart, Speech & Language Pathology
Health & Wellness
William Kanengiser, Chair
The Thornton Musician’s Health and Wellness Committee, which comprises faculty members from varied disciplines including medicine and health care, has identified several wellness priorities for current Thornton students: hearing protection; vocal health; injury prevention and recovery; & mental health.