News Update

USC Rossier School focuses on hiring diverse faculty

The Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California has focused on hiring diverse faculty under the leadership of Pedro Noguera, the school’s dean.

Of the school’s 14 most recent faculty hires, 12 are people of color, according to diverseeducation.com. Noguera, who became dean in July 2020, told the website that the school needs faculty of color “who are speaking about the ways in which race and diversity are shaping our society.”

“Other universities cannot take the position that there are not enough people of color out there to hire. What are they doing to build the pipeline? We’re showing that with a concerted effort and institutional support, it can be done,” Noguera added.

Noguera said the school has been “assertive in our recruitment efforts” to add to a faculty body that has previously lacked in diversity. Most full-time faculty were white and male as of 2020, according to diverseeducation.com, with only 3% identifying as Black and 5% identifying as Latino or Hispanic.