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Visionary Leader Beong-Soo Kim to Advance USC's National and Global Excellence
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees for the University of Southern California (USC) announced today, Feb. 4, 2026, the unanimous appointment of Beong-Soo Kim as the university's 13th president following a highly competitive and comprehensive search process. Kim will immediately assume his new position.
"The Board's unanimous vote reflects what we learned throughout the search process: widespread confidence in Beong's leadership. As a next generation president, we believe that he can dramatically accelerate USC's institutional advancement as a distinctive leader in higher education during a time of unprecedented change," said Suzanne Nora Johnson, Chair of the USC Board of Trustees. "During his service as Interim President, we recognized his demonstration of our core values, which included his impeccable character, his engagement and respect for all members of our university community, his courage in making and owning difficult and complex decisions, and his commitment to excellence in all that we do."
Serving as Interim President since July 1, 2025, Kim has positioned the university to deepen its academic impact across the nation and the globe, fostered interdisciplinary research, and unlocked transformative philanthropic support. By collaborating closely with the Board of Trustees, senior leadership, academic deans, faculty, staff, students, and alumni worldwide, he has also established a strong foundation of trust across the Trojan Family.
"I am deeply honored by the confidence the Trojan Family and Board of Trustees have placed in me," said Kim. "USC is a very special place, and we are uniquely positioned to advance our mission and impact during this period of change across higher education. Our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and global impact positions us to shape the future – not just respond to it. Together with our accomplished faculty and dedicated staff, we will prepare the next generation not just for the jobs of tomorrow, but to provide the leadership and solutions our world needs."
As president, Kim will continue to advance USC's core mission: prioritizing academic excellence, cultivating future leaders, addressing complex societal challenges through collaboration and open dialogue, and advancing interdisciplinary scientific research. His Presidential Open Dialogue Project and the AI Strategy Committee, launched during his time as Interim President, created university-wide forums that address the critical challenges of the 21st century.
Kim recently co-hosted USC's first-ever AI Summit which brought together students, faculty, and industry leaders to explore AI's impact on education, business, and society, addressing both opportunities and ethical challenges. The event positioned USC as a leader in shaping conversations about responsible AI development and reflected Kim's commitment to bridging academic research with real-world entrepreneurship.
To further leverage the expertise on USC's campuses and more directly involve faculty in key university decisions, Kim brought deans into the President's Cabinet to advance his top strategic priorities, and established a Faculty Advisory Committee reporting directly to him and representing faculty from many of the schools.
"Beong has already demonstrated a deep commitment to advance USC's academic mission working alongside our outstanding faculty. His lofty ambitions and sustained dedication will guide the university to even greater scholarly accomplishments," said Dana Goldman, Founding Director of the USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service.
As part of his commitment to extending USC's thought leadership, Kim started a podcast, "Trojan Talks," which he has used to communicate USC's priorities, research, and leadership to wider audiences. Guests have included Dean Willow Bay, Jonathan Haidt, Dr. Indy Gill, Professor Eileen Crimmins, and others.
"Since becoming Interim President, Beong has been instrumental in cultivating support for our research and elevating awareness for our groundbreaking advances to cure blindness," said Mark Humayun, MD, PhD, Director of the USC Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics and Co-Director of USC Roski Eye Institute. "I strongly believe that universities today must demonstrate real-world impact and I look forward to helping Beong so that USC's biomedical discoveries reach the global stage and the communities that need them most."
Over the past seven months, Kim has met with more than 40,000 members of the Trojan Family on USC's campuses in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., as well as at events around the world, engaging students, faculty, staff, researchers, and alumni.
"Beong stepped into the interim role with transparency, authenticity, and a strong commitment to all constituents: staff, students, and faculty," said Erika Chesley, Senior Associate Director, USC Hospitality. "He listened openly, welcomed diverse perspectives, and adapted thoughtfully as circumstances evolved. His non-traditional background proved to be a strength, offering a fresh and steady approach at a time when change required both honesty and compassion. I look forward to continuing our conversations around staff experience as he builds on the strong foundation established during the interim period."
In India, he recognized and celebrated the powerful legacy of the late USC Trustee Ratan Tata and underscored USC's long-standing relationships with international students. And at the USC Norris Cancer Hospital, he met with patients, physicians, nurses, faculty, and Keck Medicine leadership. Throughout his interactions, his approach has been consistent: visionary leadership grounded in compassion, intellectual curiosity, and active listening.
"Beong's commitment to USC is extraordinary," said Carmen Nava, USC Trustee and Co-Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. "He possesses exceptional diplomatic skills and has made decisive decisions that have maintained the university's academic mission and preserved the institution's long-term financial health. Throughout difficult moments, Beong has led with transparency, open communication, and genuine care for our Trojan Family. His approach to the challenges facing higher education – marked by open mindedness and personal integrity – is exactly what USC needs at this critical juncture."
"Beong demonstrated exceptional leadership during one of the most challenging periods not only in higher education, but in the nation," said Mark Stevens, USC Trustee and Co-Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. "He navigated complex challenges while positioning USC for growth, all without losing sight of our central mission. His work connecting USC's strengths and deepening community ties is already reshaping what's possible for our students and the broader Trojan family."
Kim's career spans higher education, health care, legal practice, and public service. He previously served as USC's Senior Vice President and General Counsel, and as a lecturer at the USC Gould School of Law. Kim helped guide USC through the Covid-19 pandemic, built stronger compliance systems and trust across the university, advocated for both academic freedom and non-discrimination, and strengthened governance across the health system and health sciences schools.
Prior to joining USC, he held senior roles at Kaiser Permanente, served as a partner in an international law firm, and served as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. Kim earned his bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor from Harvard University and a master's degree from the London School of Economics.
A Los Angeles native, Kim's personal connection to USC runs deep. He is the son of Korean immigrant parents who both pursued graduate studies at USC. His mother earned her master's degree in education in 1970, and his father completed PhD coursework in economics. As a student at Calabasas High School, Kim studied the cello and chamber music under the tutelage of two legendary professors at the USC Thornton School of Music, Eleonore and Alice Schoenfeld. During the pandemic, Kim performed "porch concerts" with his wife Bonnie Wongtrakool to bring calm to his neighborhood and has gone on to perform with students, and for faculty, staff, students, and patients at USC's University Park and Health Sciences Campuses.
"Playing cello for most of my life has taught me that excellence demands listening, timing, and harmony. USC works the same way: exceptional people working together toward a shared mission none of us could accomplish alone. My job as president is orchestrating that collective effort," said Kim.
Kim's selection reflects a comprehensive and thoughtful search process that valued the robust feedback provided by the Trojan Family.
"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to our Presidential Search Committee chairs for their outstanding stewardship during this process," said Suzanne Nora Johnson. "Their commitment to hosting a thorough and inclusive search that engaged the entire Trojan Family resulted in an outstanding outcome for USC's future. Their work will have a lasting impact on the university for generations to come."
About USC
Founded in 1880, the University of Southern California is one of the world's leading academic research institutions with 23 schools, a multi-billion-dollar health enterprise, and a vast research and development engine. The university enrolls 46,000 highly accomplished undergraduate and graduate students and employs 4,600 faculty who are members of major national academies, and MacArthur, Academy Award, and Pulitzer Prize winners, among many others. USC has a nationally recognized athletic program and a passionate global network of 500,000 alumni - the Trojan Family. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, USC is a powerhouse of innovation and impact with a global reach.
Visionary Leader Beong-Soo Kim to Advance USC's National and Global Excellence
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees for the University of Southern California (USC) announced today, Feb. 4, 2026, the unanimous appointment of Beong-Soo Kim as the university's 13th president following a highly competitive and comprehensive search process. Kim will immediately assume his new position.
"The Board's unanimous vote reflects what we learned throughout the search process: widespread confidence in Beong's leadership. As a next generation president, we believe that he can dramatically accelerate USC's institutional advancement as a distinctive leader in higher education during a time of unprecedented change," said Suzanne Nora Johnson, Chair of the USC Board of Trustees. "During his service as Interim President, we recognized his demonstration of our core values, which included his impeccable character, his engagement and respect for all members of our university community, his courage in making and owning difficult and complex decisions, and his commitment to excellence in all that we do."
Serving as Interim President since July 1, 2025, Kim has positioned the university to deepen its academic impact across the nation and the globe, fostered interdisciplinary research, and unlocked transformative philanthropic support. By collaborating closely with the Board of Trustees, senior leadership, academic deans, faculty, staff, students, and alumni worldwide, he has also established a strong foundation of trust across the Trojan Family.
"I am deeply honored by the confidence the Trojan Family and Board of Trustees have placed in me," said Kim. "USC is a very special place, and we are uniquely positioned to advance our mission and impact during this period of change across higher education. Our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and global impact positions us to shape the future – not just respond to it. Together with our accomplished faculty and dedicated staff, we will prepare the next generation not just for the jobs of tomorrow, but to provide the leadership and solutions our world needs."
As president, Kim will continue to advance USC's core mission: prioritizing academic excellence, cultivating future leaders, addressing complex societal challenges through collaboration and open dialogue, and advancing interdisciplinary scientific research. His Presidential Open Dialogue Project and the AI Strategy Committee, launched during his time as Interim President, created university-wide forums that address the critical challenges of the 21st century.
Kim recently co-hosted USC's first-ever AI Summit which brought together students, faculty, and industry leaders to explore AI's impact on education, business, and society, addressing both opportunities and ethical challenges. The event positioned USC as a leader in shaping conversations about responsible AI development and reflected Kim's commitment to bridging academic research with real-world entrepreneurship.
To further leverage the expertise on USC's campuses and more directly involve faculty in key university decisions, Kim brought deans into the President's Cabinet to advance his top strategic priorities, and established a Faculty Advisory Committee reporting directly to him and representing faculty from many of the schools.
"Beong has already demonstrated a deep commitment to advance USC's academic mission working alongside our outstanding faculty. His lofty ambitions and sustained dedication will guide the university to even greater scholarly accomplishments," said Dana Goldman, Founding Director of the USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service.
As part of his commitment to extending USC's thought leadership, Kim started a podcast, "Trojan Talks," which he has used to communicate USC's priorities, research, and leadership to wider audiences. Guests have included Dean Willow Bay, Jonathan Haidt, Dr. Indy Gill, Professor Eileen Crimmins, and others.
"Since becoming Interim President, Beong has been instrumental in cultivating support for our research and elevating awareness for our groundbreaking advances to cure blindness," said Mark Humayun, MD, PhD, Director of the USC Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics and Co-Director of USC Roski Eye Institute. "I strongly believe that universities today must demonstrate real-world impact and I look forward to helping Beong so that USC's biomedical discoveries reach the global stage and the communities that need them most."
Over the past seven months, Kim has met with more than 40,000 members of the Trojan Family on USC's campuses in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., as well as at events around the world, engaging students, faculty, staff, researchers, and alumni.
"Beong stepped into the interim role with transparency, authenticity, and a strong commitment to all constituents: staff, students, and faculty," said Erika Chesley, Senior Associate Director, USC Hospitality. "He listened openly, welcomed diverse perspectives, and adapted thoughtfully as circumstances evolved. His non-traditional background proved to be a strength, offering a fresh and steady approach at a time when change required both honesty and compassion. I look forward to continuing our conversations around staff experience as he builds on the strong foundation established during the interim period."
In India, he recognized and celebrated the powerful legacy of the late USC Trustee Ratan Tata and underscored USC's long-standing relationships with international students. And at the USC Norris Cancer Hospital, he met with patients, physicians, nurses, faculty, and Keck Medicine leadership. Throughout his interactions, his approach has been consistent: visionary leadership grounded in compassion, intellectual curiosity, and active listening.
"Beong's commitment to USC is extraordinary," said Carmen Nava, USC Trustee and Co-Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. "He possesses exceptional diplomatic skills and has made decisive decisions that have maintained the university's academic mission and preserved the institution's long-term financial health. Throughout difficult moments, Beong has led with transparency, open communication, and genuine care for our Trojan Family. His approach to the challenges facing higher education – marked by open mindedness and personal integrity – is exactly what USC needs at this critical juncture."
"Beong demonstrated exceptional leadership during one of the most challenging periods not only in higher education, but in the nation," said Mark Stevens, USC Trustee and Co-Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. "He navigated complex challenges while positioning USC for growth, all without losing sight of our central mission. His work connecting USC's strengths and deepening community ties is already reshaping what's possible for our students and the broader Trojan family."
Kim's career spans higher education, health care, legal practice, and public service. He previously served as USC's Senior Vice President and General Counsel, and as a lecturer at the USC Gould School of Law. Kim helped guide USC through the Covid-19 pandemic, built stronger compliance systems and trust across the university, advocated for both academic freedom and non-discrimination, and strengthened governance across the health system and health sciences schools.
Prior to joining USC, he held senior roles at Kaiser Permanente, served as a partner in an international law firm, and served as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. Kim earned his bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor from Harvard University and a master's degree from the London School of Economics.
A Los Angeles native, Kim's personal connection to USC runs deep. He is the son of Korean immigrant parents who both pursued graduate studies at USC. His mother earned her master's degree in education in 1970, and his father completed PhD coursework in economics. As a student at Calabasas High School, Kim studied the cello and chamber music under the tutelage of two legendary professors at the USC Thornton School of Music, Eleonore and Alice Schoenfeld. During the pandemic, Kim performed "porch concerts" with his wife Bonnie Wongtrakool to bring calm to his neighborhood and has gone on to perform with students, and for faculty, staff, students, and patients at USC's University Park and Health Sciences Campuses.
"Playing cello for most of my life has taught me that excellence demands listening, timing, and harmony. USC works the same way: exceptional people working together toward a shared mission none of us could accomplish alone. My job as president is orchestrating that collective effort," said Kim.
Kim's selection reflects a comprehensive and thoughtful search process that valued the robust feedback provided by the Trojan Family.
"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to our Presidential Search Committee chairs for their outstanding stewardship during this process," said Suzanne Nora Johnson. "Their commitment to hosting a thorough and inclusive search that engaged the entire Trojan Family resulted in an outstanding outcome for USC's future. Their work will have a lasting impact on the university for generations to come."
About USC
Founded in 1880, the University of Southern California is one of the world's leading academic research institutions with 23 schools, a multi-billion-dollar health enterprise, and a vast research and development engine. The university enrolls 46,000 highly accomplished undergraduate and graduate students and employs 4,600 faculty who are members of major national academies, and MacArthur, Academy Award, and Pulitzer Prize winners, among many others. USC has a nationally recognized athletic program and a passionate global network of 500,000 alumni - the Trojan Family. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, USC is a powerhouse of innovation and impact with a global reach.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Beong-Soo Kim Unanimously Elected 13th President of USC
NINGDE, China, Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Robin Zeng, Chairman and CEO of CATL, delivered a speech about the future of energy at the World Laureate Summit and the World Governments Summit in Dubai, the UAE on Feb. 3. Full text below:
Throughout human history, energy has been the driving force behind civilization's growth. Every major leap in human development has been accompanied by an energy revolution. Today, we are experiencing another revolutionary energy shift, one comparable to humanity's transition from hunter-gatherers to agricultural societies -- from an era where we track down and gather fossil fuels, to one where we can harvest energy in wind and solar farms and store it in batteries.
This revolution is enabled by science and technology progress, which delivers practical solutions and drives down costs. According to the IEA and BNEF, over the past decade, the cost of LFP batteries and solar has fallen by about 80%. Sustainable energy solutions have evolved from being technically feasible to becoming an economically compelling choice.
CATL is enabling renewable energy to achieve true economic competitiveness across a range of applications. In the mining sector, solar-plus-storage systems powered by CATL have been deployed in Chile and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, supplying electricity to remote operations at about one-fourth the cost of diesel generators.
A similar transformation is underway in industrial applications. In Pakistan, the rapid growth of distributed solar, combined with CATL's energy storage solutions, is providing reliable power to local cement plants, cutting electricity costs by half.
In California, we see what future power systems will look like at the grid scale. As storage capacity expands, the "duck curve" created by high renewable penetration has been significantly eased. In 2025, the grid recorded more than 1,800 hours when clean energy met or exceeded total electricity demand, showing what becomes possible when renewables and storage grow together.
These developments point to a broader reality: in many regions, clean energy is being adopted not just for climate goals, but also because technological progress has made it the most commercially viable option.
We are embracing the profound shift towards a net-zero energy era. The future energy system, to my mind, can be defined by three words: distributed, intelligent, circular.
First, distributed power systems, which include renewable generation and advanced battery storage, will mushroom across the world, especially in areas with weak grid infrastructure. This will replace a lot of fossil fuel energy, which is centralized and relies heavily on large-scale power plants and a strong grid.
However, a high proportion of renewable energy introduces new challenges to the stable operation of power systems. To address those challenges, CATL has developed an innovative high-voltage grid-forming energy storage technology, which can act as a stabilizer for zero-carbon energy systems. It can provide grid frequency regulation, reactive power compensation, damping control, and system inertia support. It also offers excellent black-start capabilities, which are crucial in the case of large-scale blackouts, like the one hit Spain last year.
This technology has been successfully validated in engineering, and in China we are applying this technology to build an off-grid industrial park, which is powered entirely by wind, solar, and storage to supply a 40GWh battery plant. It showcases how advanced energy technology can create a net-zero power system.
Beyond being distributed, future energy systems will be more intelligent. They will be able to handle vast amounts of data and adjust to fluctuations in renewable power generation and consumption. Advanced AI-driven scheduling and optimization will be required to balance energy supply and demand. For instance, we use AI to enhance energy system management for SenseTime's AI Data Center in Shanghai, helping manage the fluctuating energy demand of computing tasks.
Thirdly, circular economy is crucial for achieving zero-carbon energy. Unlike fossil fuels, which are burned upon use, materials for zero-carbon energy systems can be recycled. CATL has been at the forefront of this effort, and we have achieved the highest recovery rates in the industry—99.6% for nickel and cobalt, and 96.5% for lithium. To build a stable, sustainable supply of critical raw materials, we are also working closely with NGOs and industry peers to promote a circular economy in the sector.
Driven by continued progress in zero-carbon technologies, a sustainable energy era is no longer a distant vision — it is approaching rapidly. In my estimate, 2030 will mark the true beginning of the sustainable energy era.
How can we get there? My answer is: science shows us what is possible, but engineering and manufacturing determine how fast we get there.
Basic science remains the ultimate source of transformation. Breakthroughs in material science, artificial intelligence, and new energy systems will continue to shape what the future can look like. To be honest, with today's technologies, we may have solved less than 30% of what a fully sustainable energy system require. Many disruptive technologies have yet to emerge, and much foundational research still lies ahead.
For technology to truly change the world, it must move beyond labs and be deployed at scale. Today, we have made scientific and technological breakthroughs in frontier areas such as condensed batteries, solid-state batteries, and perovskite solar batteries. Yet there is still much more to do to scale these innovations from the lab to the market. That is why we are investing heavily in R&D – more than all other players in the industry combined.
While fighting global warming appears to be a climate issue, it is in essence an energy issue, and fundamentally, a development issue. We believe international cooperation is the most efficient way to tackle it, and we are willing to share battery technologies and experiences with the world. We have evolved from exporting batteries in the early days, to "local production, for local markets" now. We are also licensing technologies to our partners to help them build their own battery plants.
To accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy era, we need to scale up advanced energy technologies in a more efficient and affordable manner globally. However, in some markets, in our experience, building and equipment regulations are the cause of higher cost of production. I would like to propose a solution: setting up special economic zones that adopt similar regulations of building and equipment which are practiced in China. This will quickly scale up productivity, as it has been proven successful in China.
Ladies and gentlemen, a recent study by Columbia University projects a 1.7 degrees C temperature rise above the pre-industrial level in 2027. To tackle global warming, we need to take immediate action to build a sustainable energy system. This requires technology breakthroughs, courage and wisdom.
As a pioneer of the energy transition, CATL is willing to work more closely with the scientific community, governments, businesses, and anyone who is committed to the mission. Let's work together towards a net-zero energy future, and leave a healthy, green Earth for future generations to come.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Robin Zeng: Unlocking the Sustainable Energy Era with Zero-Carbon Technology
Robin Zeng: Unlocking the Sustainable Energy Era with Zero-Carbon Technology
