Posted 7/14/2008

Former Arnold School dean helped secure $10 million gift from Norman J. and Gerry Sue Arnold

Dr. Harris Pastides

The appointment of Dr. Harris Pastides as USC’s new president drew high praise from friends and academic colleagues at the Arnold School of Public Health where Pastides once served as dean.

“I have had the pleasure to work closely with Harris Pastides as a member of his administrative team in health sciences for the past ten years. He is a man of vision, integrity, intelligence and fairness. And he understands what a state flagship research university should be,” said Arnold School Interim Dean Dr. Tom Chandler.

“At this point in the evolution of USC and given the ever-declining state support we receive, the board of trustees could not have selected a more capable president to maintain our remarkable momentum in research and the continually increasing quality of our students and faculty.”

Pastides joined USC in 1998 as dean of the Arnold School and professor of epidemiology. In 2002, he was instrumental in securing a $10 million gift from Norman J. and Gerry Sue Arnold for the naming rights to the Arnold School of Public Health.

Dr. Robert McKeown, the new chair of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, said he was pleased that the “new president comes from the ranks of public health, understands what we do and is supportive of it. We appreciate his leadership in the development of health sciences and all his efforts directed toward enhancing biomedical research at USC and collaboration with our partner institutions.”

Prior to his appointment as president, Pastides served as USC vice president for research.

ARNOLD SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF are invited to meet with newly appointed USC President Harris Pastides and Vice President for Health Sciences Russ Pate at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 31 in HESC 114.