USC Rossier professor to lead university efforts to improve learner-centered education

Ginger Clark, a professor of clinical education at USC Rossier, has been named USC’s assistant vice provost for academic and faculty affairs, as well as director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching (CET), the school announced Monday.

Clark leads the marriage and family therapy program for Rossier, and is outgoing president of the USC Academic Senate. In her new role, she will be central to the university’s efforts to advance student learning. She replaces retiring professor Edward Finegan, of the USC Gould School of Law.

“I am excited to take on both of these roles and look forward to continuing to work with faculty and the administration to make the university a place where everyone can flourish,” Clark says.

Established in 1996, the CET trains and mentors faculty and teaching assistants in best practices for instruction, with a focus on learner-centered behavior. Clark says that learner-centered behavior requires that students be actively engaged in the process of learning, rather than being “passive recipients of information.” That means students be trained in critical thinking, asking questions and applying knowledge to real-life experience.

The CET’s programs and workshops are designed and run by active faculty members and grounded in interdisciplinary practice. Clark plans to help broaden the center’s reach and deepen its impact across USC’s many schools.

Rossier Dean Karen Symms Gallagher says she’s excited about Clark’s elevation.

“Ginger exhibited strong leadership during her tenure as president of the academic senate and is committed to building productive working relationships across programs at USC,” Gallagher says. “We are proud to have her in this new position and glad that she will still contribute to our academic program in Rossier.”

As president of the Academic Senate, Clark played a key role in developing many of the initiatives she’ll now help lead, especially around policies related to research, teaching, professional and clinical faculty (RTPC) who are not on tenure-track. Clark was the first-ever RTPC faculty member to lead the Academic Senate.

“I feel really fortunate to be involved in the next step,” Clark notes. “There is satisfaction in being able to close the loop from recommendation to implementation.”