STUDENT AFFAIRS
Contact Student Affairs
USC Thornton Student Affairs advises and supports all students at the School of Music through their degree requirements and programs.
Leadership
Phillip M. Placenti, Ed.D.
Phillip M. Placenti, Ed.D, is the associate dean for Admission and Student Affairs at the USC Thornton School of Music. In this role, he provides leadership to the areas of recruitment; admission; academic advisement; student support; and scholarships.
Placenti’s work in higher education began as a recruiter for the USC Thornton School of Music; he later became the director of Admission and Financial Aid before assuming the role of assistant dean for Admission and Student Affairs. Originally from Central California, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music (Piano and Voice); a Master’s degree in Public Administration; and a Doctorate in Education, all from USC.
Student Affairs Team
Contact the USC Thornton Student Affairs team with questions regarding academic programs or requirements.
Viet T. Bui, Ed.D.
Director of Student Affairs
vietbui@usc.edu
213-740-4721
Nancy Wong, M.M.Ed.
Senior Academic Advisor
nanwong@usc.edu
213-740-4721
Madeline Doyle
Student Services Coordinator
Undergraduate Minors Advisor thornton.minors@usc.edu
213-740-4721
Vito Grillo
International Programs Administrator
vgrillo@usc.edu
213-740-8187
Job Springer, M.Ed.
Doctoral Advisor
jspringe@usc.edu
213-740-4721
Ligaya Dozier Lewis
Administrative Services Manager
dozier@usc.edu
213- 740-8986
Yesenia Nava, M.Ed.
Student Services Assistant
ynava@usc.edu
213-740-4721
Academic Advising Assignments
All Thornton majors have an assigned academic advisor. Please check your USC email account for correspondence from your academic advisor.
Viet Bui, Ed.D.
Advises BA, BM, BS, MA, MM, MS, and GCRT students in: Early Music; Jazz Studies; Music Industry (BS* and MS); Screen Scoring; Studio Guitar; Vocal Arts
Advises undergraduate minors in: Jazz Studies, Musical Theatre, Musical Studies (emphasis in voice)
Nancy Wong, M.M.Ed.
Advises BA, BM, BS, MM, and GCRT students in:
Classical Guitar; Keyboard Collaborative Arts; Music Industry (BS*); Music Teaching and Learning (including Community Music and Popular Music Teaching and Learning); Organ; Piano; Popular Music
Advises undergraduate minors in: Musical Studies (emphasis in classical guitar, piano, and organ)
Job Springer, M.Ed.
Advises all DMA, PhD, and Artist Diploma students
Advises BA, BM, BS, MM, MS, and GCRT students in:
Arts Leadership; Choral and Sacred Music; Composition; Music Industry (BS*); Music Production; Strings; Winds and Percussion
Advises undergraduate minors in: Musical Studies (emphasis in Strings and Winds & Percussion)
Madeline Doyle
Advises undergraduate minors in: Music Industry, Music Recording, Music Production, Popular Music Studies, Songwriting
*BS Music Industry – Each undergraduate Music Industry student is individually assigned to one of three academic advisors.
Stay Connected
USC Thornton Student Affairs is located on the University Park Campus in The Music Complex (TMC), Room 200. You can reach our office by calling (213) 740-4721 or via email at thornton.studentaffairs@usc.edu.