Dean’s Superintendents Advisory Group

USC Rossier Dean's Superintendents Advisory Group

Established in 1980 by Ed Dundon, the Dean’s Superintendents Advisory Group (DSAG) provides an opportunity for a growing group of superintendents to consult with the Dean, network with other superintendents in California, and recruit aspiring superintendents to join the USC family. DSAG elected Frank Cosca PhD ’80 as its first president in 1991. Today DSAG has approximately 200 members.

DSAG Priorities Include:

  • Serving as active and engaged members of the USC Rossier Trojan Family.
  • Raising funds for the DSAG Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports current USC Rossier EdD students aspiring to become superintendents.
  • Advising the Dean on a variety of current educational issues.
  • Sponsoring the annual USC Rossier superintendents’ dinner, the largest gathering of educational leaders affiliated with a California university.
  • Annually recognizing a USC Rossier alumnus or faculty member who has made significant contributions to K-12 education.
  • Partnering with the USC Rossier School on its annual summer Leadership Conference, which welcomes nearly 250 participants annually.

Member Events

  • DSAG Awards Dinner (January)
  • Spring DSAG Meeting (April/May)
  • Leadership Conference (July)
  • DSAG @ Associates Picnic (September)
  • Fall DSAG Meeting (September/October)

View a gallery of past DSAG events.

News

Superintendent Announcements

  • Jeff Davis EdD ’07 was named superintendent of Oak Park Unified School District in Oak Park, Calif.
  • Carmen Garcia EdD ’07 was named superintendent of Morgan Hill Unified School District in Morgan Hill, Calif.
  • Kenneth “Chris” Hurst EdD ’11 was named superintendent of West Contra Costa Unified School District in Richmond, Calif.
  • Steve McLaughlin EdD ’11 was named superintendent of Fullerton Joint Union High School District in Fullerton, Calif.
  • Stephen Nellman EdD ’08 was named superintendent of Centinela Valley Union High School District in Lawndale, Calif.
  • Julie Parks EdD ’21 was named superintendent of Moraga Elementary School District in Moraga, Calif.
  • Andrew Schwab (current EdD student) was named superintendent of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District in Santa Ynez, Calif.
  • Ryan Smith EdD ’10 was named superintendent of Monrovia Unified School District in Monrovia, Calif.
  • Wes Smith EdD ’05 was named superintendent of Newport-Mesa Unified School District in Newport Beach, Calif.
  • Cheryl Hildreth EdD ’19 was named superintendent of Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento, Calif.
  • Mathew Neal EdD ’18 was named superintendent of Woodland Park School District in Woodland Park, Colo.
  • Darnise Williams EdD ’09 was named superintendent of Sequoia Union High School District in Redwood City, Calif.

DSAG Hall of Fame Inductees

2021 Gregory Franklin ’83, EdD ’97
2020 David Verdugo EdD ’05
2019 David Cash EdD ’08
2018 John Roach EdD ’88
2017 Maria Ott PhD ‘94
2016 Michael Escalante EdD ‘02
2015 Pedro Garcia EdD ’83
2014 Jack McLaughlin MS ’65 PhD ’68 and Michael J. McLaughlin PhD ’77
2013 Karen Symms Gallagher
2012 Thomas C. Halvorsen EdD ’80
2011 Steven Fish EdD ’97
2010 Rudy Castruita EdD ’82
2009 Darline Robles PhD ’93
2008 Mike Caston MS ’73 EdD ’80 PhD ’81
2007 Carol Wilson PhD ’80
2006 Robert French ’52 PhD ’69
2005 Stuart Gothold EdD ’74
2004 John Duncan PhD ’70
2003 Robert Ferris PhD ’65
2002 Frank Cosca PhD ’80
2001 John Stallings ’48, PhD ’58
2000 Charles Terrell PhD ’66
1999 Leonard Murdy ’48, MS ’50, PhD ’62

For more information please contact:

Matt DeGrushe

Director of Alumni Engagement
mdegrush@rossier.usc.edu
(213)821-2670

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