ABOUT US > USC THORNTON LEADERSHIP
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, renowned musician, journalist and scholar, will begin his tenure as Dean at the USC Thornton School of Music on July 1, 2023. King earned his PhD in performance studies from NYU, though his musical interests and accomplishments span many genres. He currently serves as chair of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at Tisch School of the Arts.
Josh Kun
Interim Dean, USC Thornton School of Music
Josh Kun, the interim dean at the USC Thornton School of Music, is a Professor and Chair in Cross-Cultural Communication at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.An award-winning cultural historian, critic and curator, Kun is a 2016 MacArthur fellow and an expert on the intersection of arts, culture and politics, with an emphasis on music.
Senior Leadership
Managing the institutional needs of USC Thornton.
Evan Calbi | Director, Communications |
Jeffrey de Caen | Associate Dean, Operations |
Joanna Demers | Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs |
A. Phoenix Delgado | Associate Dean, Advancement |
Rotem Gilbert | Vice Dean, Classical Performance & Composition 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 | Assistant Dean of the Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee |
Phillip M. Placenti | Associate Dean, Admission & Student Affairs |
Caption: Susan M. Lopez, Senior Leadership
Leadership Teams
Councils, teams, & committees contribute to the vitality of USC Thornton.
Faculty Council
Tim Kobza, 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: Tram Sparks, Faculty Council
William Coppola
Tim Kobza, Chair
David Moore
Sean Nye, Co-Chair
Karen Parks
Tram Sparks
Staff Council
Brittany Jimenez, Chair
The Thornton Staff Council (TSC) 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.
Caption: Britany Jimenez, Staff Council
Brittany Jimenez, Chair
Jonathan Rios, Vice Chair
Viet Bui, Secretary
Michelle Simonsen, Treasurer
Val Vanderwest, Member-at-Large
Student Council
Justin Gilmore-Gersham, 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.
Caption: TSC Members at orientation.
Justin Gilmore-Gersham, Chair
Angelica Brooks, Vice Chair
Koji Sakano, Officer of Records
Olivia Wendland, Officer of Public Affairs
Jordan DeTiege, Undergraduate At-Large Representative
Lenny Hayes, Graduate At-Large Representative
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Ron McCurdy, J.E.D.I. Committee Assistant Dean
With the collective input of our faculty, students & administration, the J.E.D.I. committee develops strategies and measures progress in key change areas such as curriculum; recruitment & retention for both students and faculty; & the climate for BIPOC members at Thornton.
Caption: Seth Parker Woods, J.E.D.I. Committee
Ron McCurdy
Andy Abad
Jeffrey Allen
Lina Bahn
Nicolas Lell Benavides
Angelica Brooks
Viet Bui
Christian Chico
William Coppola
Jeanine Cowen
Susan Helfter
Sean Holt
Lyndia Johnson
Will Kennedy
Larry J. Livingston
Kevin Lyman
Cindy Montes
Yesenia Nava
Koji Sakano
Aarón Serfaty
Tram Sparks
Scott Spencer
Rachel Tan
Matthew Weaver
Mark Weiser
Seth Parker Woods
Health & Wellness Committee
Bill 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; and mental health.
Caption: Vocal wellness check-up.
Bill Kanengiser, Chair
Phillip Placenti, Ex-officio
Charles Gutierrez
Lynn Helding
Yura Lee
Bob Mintzer
Antoinette Perry
Stephen Pierce
Richard Smith
Steve Trovato
Richard Wolf
Aimee Diaz (USC Physical Therapy)
Jacquelyn Dylla (USC Physical Therapy) Danielle Gautt (USC Student Counseling & Mental Health)
Karen Johnson (USC Audiology)
Pamela Mikkelsen (USC Physical Therapy)
John Parsons (USC Audiology)
Janice Rocker (USC Occupational Therapy)