USC Administration

David Wright was named senior vice president for administration on April 29, 2019. In this capacity, he provides strategic oversight of key administrative departments, working closely with schools and academic departments to support the academic mission. Reporting directly to the office of the president, Wright oversees critical campus functions and services that include public safety, student housing, campus dining services, parking and transportation, the USC Hotel, the USC bookstores, fire safety and emergency planning, and environmental health and safety. In addition, Wright oversees the office of sustainability and operations of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Wright previously held the role of associate senior vice president for administrative operations, where he was responsible for managing USC programs on security, environmental health and safety, sustainability, and fire safety and emergency planning. Wright also oversaw a shared services model that incorporated information technology, human resources, and budget and finance.

Coming soon.

Dan Stimmler was named Vice President for Auxiliary Services in 2016. In this capacity, he oversees the USC Bookstores, USC Housing, USC Transportation, the USC Hotel, and USC Hospitality. Additionally, in 2013, Dan was appointed the Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. He is responsible for all aspects of the Coliseum’s operations, which includes hosting USC football home games and various other special events.

Dan has worked at USC since 1992, previously serving as Associate Senior Vice President of Auxiliary Services from 2006–2016, Associate Vice President of Auxiliary Services from 2005–2006, and as the Director of the USC Bookstores from 2002–2005.

Dan earned a bachelor’s in Political Science from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, and an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Dirk serves as General Manager of the USC Hotel and oversees the Restaurant Group as well as the Catering & Special Events division of USC Hospitality. Since joining USC Hospitality in 2004, Dirk has held many instrumental positions. During his tenure at USC, Dirk has been in charge of opening 16 new venues and rebranding 3 locations, in addition to implementing new front of house and back of house systems and various special projects.

Dirk received his bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from Stenden University in the Netherlands and an Executive Master of Business Administration from USC.

Darren joined Auxiliary Services in 2014 as Director of USC Bookstores. His previous work includes 16 years at Disney Store North America where he worked in Store Operations as well as Director of Retail roles with both Betsey Johnson and Silver Jeans Co. Darren received his B.S. In Public Communications from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and his M.B.A. from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.

Joe began his second tour-of-duty at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena in August 2011 (having first worked there from 1986–1994) and has been with the University since the school assumed management of the historic facilities on July 29, 2013. As General Manager, Joe’s core responsibilities include directing the day-to-day administrative, financial and operational functions, developing new programs and processes to increase revenue and serving as the primary contact for internal and external business relations. Joe earned his B.A. degree in Sports Information from USC in 1989.

Jerry has worked for the University for over 10 years. He was named Director of Design for Auxiliary Services in 2006. Previously, he served as Director of Operations for the USC Bookstores. Jerry has a B.A. in Architecture from the Southern Polytecnic University in Atlanta, Georgia. He is currently a patron of the Colquitt County Arts Center and The Long Beach Museum of Art.

Chris now serves as Director of USC Housing after 13 years as Senior Associate Director for Operations and Maintenance. Since joining USC in 2006, Chris has overseen numerous projects that have improved USC Housing facilities, as well as impacted each of the Auxiliary Services Business Units.

Prior to joining USC, Chris managed a variety of logistics, freight and warehouse operations on both the East and West coasts and has a B.A. in Managerial Economics from Union College in Schenectady, NY.

Mark was appointed Executive Director, Operations and Compliance in June 2022. In this role, Mark provides cross-functional project management expertise for Auxiliary Services, Administrative Operations, and other campus departments. Prior to that, Mark oversaw the university’s Fire Safety, Emergency Planning, Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery, Hazardous Materials, and Sustainability operations.

Mark has worked at USC in various roles since 1986, including Director of the USC Bookstores, Director of Operations for Auxiliary Services, General Manager of the USC Radisson Hotel, and Interim Director of several other Auxiliary Services business. Mark earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from USC, a Master of Arts in History from UCLA, and a certificate in project management from UC Irvine.

Dr. Erroll G. Southers was appointed Associate Senior Vice President of Safety and Risk Assurance in 2022. He is responsible for overseeing the university’s critical safety operations – the Department of Public Safety, Environmental Health and Safety, and Fire Safety and Emergency Planning. Dr. Southers was previously a member of the USC faculty, and he is the former Director of the Safe Communities Institute and Homegrown Violent Extremism Studies at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.

Dr. Southers is an internationally recognized expert on counterterrorism, public safety, infrastructure protection, and homeland security. His extensive career experience includes serving as a FBI SWAT team member, Assistant Chief of Homeland Security and Intelligence at the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department, Santa Monica Police Officer, member of the Rio Hondo Police Academy staff and Assistant Vice President at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Dr. Southers was President Barack Obama’s first nominee for TSA Assistant Secretary, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s appointee as Deputy Director for Critical  Infrastructure of the California Office of Homeland Security, and he was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the California Commission on the State of Hate in 2022. Additionally, Dr. Southers was appointed to the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners by Mayor Karen Bass in 2023.

Dr. Southers is a member of the DC-based Homeland Security Experts Group and the International Association of Chiefs of Police Research Advisory Committee. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University, and both his master’s and doctoral degree in Public Policy from USC.

Lauretta Hill was appointed Assistant Vice President/Chief of Public Safety in 2023. In this role, she is responsible for leading the university’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) consistent with the ONE USC Safety Vision. Additionally, Lauretta serves as a liaison to the DPS Community Advisory Board, and regularly provides her expertise on public safety matters to university leadership.

Lauretta has nearly three decades of public safety experience, and came to USC from the Dallas College Police Department, where she was Chief of Police for six years. There, she combined seven separate police departments into one functional police agency, developed new policies and hired new staff to align with the priorities of one of the largest community colleges in Texas, with nearly 75,000 undergraduate students. Prior to that, she served as deputy chief at the Miami Beach Police Department in Florida and assistant chief at the Arlington Police Department in Texas.

Lauretta earned a master’s degree from Texas Christian University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management School, and Cornell University’s program in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Building a Diverse Workforce.

Deona Willes was appointed Executive Director of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) in 2017. She is responsible for managing and leading EH&S operations to provide an environmentally safe and healthy workplace for students, employees, and the surrounding campus community. Deona’s commitment to public health and safety is rooted in her clinical lab experience where she experienced first-hand how access to preventive care can directly impact health outcomes.

Deona originally joined USC in 2011, serving in the roles of Deputy Director for EH&S and Associate Director for Research Safety. Prior to joining USC, Deona worked for the University of California system in San Francisco and San Diego in various roles spanning biosafety, chemical safety, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, and hazardous materials. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University Pueblo, and a Master’s in Public Health from Loma Linda University.

Steve Goldfarb was appointed Director of Fire Safety, Emergency Planning & Business Continuity in 2019. In this capacity, he provides strategic oversight for many of the university’s critical safety programs, including emergency response operations, building fire inspections, lab fire safety inspections, hot work permits, special events, and filming safety. Additionally, Steve is responsible for overseeing emergency planning including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Prior to joining USC in 2006, Steve served as an Emergency Manager for the J. Paul Getty Trust, and he also worked for the American Red Cross. He is a past President and Director of the Business and Industry Council for Emergency Planning & Preparedness, and an active member of the International Association of Emergency Managers and the California Emergency Services Association.

Steve is a Certified Emergency Manager, a Certified Business Continuity Professional, and an Emergency Medical Technician. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from California State University, Northridge and an Executive Master of Leadership from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.

Hatcher Parnell was appointed Director, Executive Protection Services in May 2022. In this role, he oversees the security and transportation for high-profile executives and visiting dignitaries. He originally joined USC in 2011 as a Senior Associate Athletic Director where he managed department operations, facilities, and events.

Hatcher’s career experience includes serving in various roles within the University of California, Berkeley Police Department and campus event management operations. During his time at UC Berkeley, he successfully coordinated campus visits by President Bill Clinton, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, United States senators, and many other dignitaries.

Hatcher remains involved with national event security advisory boards and consults on various major events such as the NFL Super Bowl, College Football Playoffs, and the Rose Bowl Game. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley.

Michael “Mick” Dalrymple brings to USC over 30 years of multi-disciplinary experience in sustainability leadership, higher education, information technology, and media. He previously served as the director of university sustainability practices at Arizona State University, developing the internal consulting service to empower the university in attaining ambitious sustainability goals, including achieving carbon neutrality in 2019 – six years ahead of schedule.

Dalrymple connects stakeholders and experts in developing integrated solutions to complex environmental, social and economic challenges and opportunities. His previous work includes formulating and executing projects that joined expert faculty researchers and students with stakeholders from various sectors (government, industry, and/or non-governmental organizations) to create domestic and international solutions related to algal biofuels, green schools, energy benchmarking, municipal tree and shade master plans, aquifer sustainability, and circular economy. Dalrymple also managed a federally-funded project for ASU with partners in the City of Phoenix and Arizona Public Service to retrofit as much of downtown Phoenix as possible for energy efficiency.

As an entrepreneur, Dalrymple co-founded an environmental building supply company and a green building architecture and consulting services firm. He is a produced feature film screenwriter with an extensive film and advertising production background. Aim high and implement.

Ellen was appointed as Associate Director of the Office of Sustainability in 2018. In this role, she works closely with teams across the university to implement Assignment: Earth, USC’s long-term sustainability goals and related initiates. Ellen also serves on the USC President’s Working Group on Sustainability.

Prior to joining USC, Ellen worked as a sustainability consultant on projects that included Los Angeles County’s launch of the Clean Power Alliance, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Smart Grid Regional Demonstration Project. She has also held several senior positions in the entertainment industry, including Executive Director of 20th Century Fox’s mobile content division, and she co-founded a filmed entertainment production company with musician, Peter Gabriel.

Ellen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Dago was appointed to the position of Director of Administrative Operations IT in 2024. In this role, Dago is responsible for leading and managing a technology team that supports the university’s campus safety and sustainability operations. Dago has spent over 20 years at USC in various roles deploying and supporting technology solutions for public safety, human resources, and environmental health and safety functions. He originally began his career as a USC student worker in 1997, and steadily worked his way up through the university to his current senior position.

Dago is a graduate of USC Viterbi School of Engineering where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Sonali was appointed to the position of Director of Auxiliary Services IT in 2024. In this role, Sonali is responsible for the strategic planning, implementation, and support of technology needs across multiple business units and departments. Sonali joined USC in 2010 as Senior Developer for Administrative Information Services. Prior to that, she served as the Chief Information Officer at the USC Credit Union.

Sonali earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering from University of California, Los Angeles. She is also a graduate of USC, where she earned her Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and an Executive Master’s in Leadership.

Christine Burns joined USC in 2021, and serves as the Executive, Finance, Accounting, and Compliance Director for Auxiliary Services. Her team is responsible for the financial reporting and analysis of the various business units within Auxiliary Services and for the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Christine’s previous work includes 15 years in finance and accounting leadership roles at Universal Studios Hollywood, NBCUniversal, and General Electric. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science in Business.

Brian Gross returned to his Senior Business Officer for Administrative Operations in 2022, after spending the two years as a Business Lead on the university’s financial transformation project. Brian originally joined USC in 2014, working as a Project Manager and Financial Analyst before being promoted to a Senior Business Officer in 2017. Prior to that, Brian spent over 14 years working in the real estate industry.

Brian earned a Bachelor of Arts from Claremont Mckenna College, and master’s degrees in Business Administration from UC Irvine, and Urban Planning from UCLA.

Sonia Miranda is currently the Executive Director for University HR, Client Services serving Administrative Operations, Auxiliary Services, Athletics, University Advancement, and University Relations. In this role, she oversees the HR function and collaborates with HR Partners to ensure tailored, strategic service to meet the unique needs of her clients. Sonia is also responsible for implementing HR initiatives and programs to enhance organizational performance, drive HR strategy and advance the goals of each unit.

Sonia has over 20 years of experience in employee and labor relations, conflict resolution, HR planning, performance management, coaching, and talent management in hospitality and higher education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach, an Executive Master of Leadership from USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, and a Master of Studies in Law and HR Compliance Certificate from the USC Gould School of Law.

Uchenna Nwude was appointed Director of Client Services for Administrative Operations in 2022. In this role, she oversees the human resources function for the Administrative Operations division including compliance, employee relations, performance management, and workforce planning.

Uchenna joined USC in 2004 as a Human Resources Manager, and she was eventually promoted to Associate Director of Employee Relations for Auxiliary Services in 2020. Prior to that, Uchenna worked as a Senior Recruiter at E! Entertainment Television for six years.

Uchenna earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from USC Marshall School of Business, and a Master’s in Communication Management from USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the Rossier School of Education at USC