Kari L. Franson, PharmD, PhD, BCPP
Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs
Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
Phone: 323-442-1975
kfranson@usc.edu
The Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs reports to the Dean, primarily focusing on the educational and practical needs of the PharmD program and its approximately 800 students in the four-year program. Supported by assistant deans and an able staff, the Associate Dean provides vision and leadership to combine all aspects of student affairs with the related areas of academic performance and curriculum structure, assessment, and accreditation. The academic component addresses student performance, curriculum development and review, accreditation, teaching and student assessment and related issues, while the student affairs component includes admissions, financial aid, advising and other areas important to the student experience.
More specifically, she:
• Manages and directs the curriculum committee to continually improve the delivery of an effective educational experience.
• Oversees, implements and maintains the overarching USC structures for admissions, student affairs and the management of all student-related issues.
• Assesses the stresses inherent in an intensive pharmacy education and works to incorporate wellness, support, diversity and inclusion programs into the student experience.
• Develops and directs, with collaborative support from faculty, staff, and committees, an effective process for the assessment of teaching faculty, the student experience, the relevance of curriculum, and related areas.
• Handles student behavioral and/or academic performance issues through the collaborative use of relevant committees, counseling, mentoring, student/faculty pairing, and other available university resources.
• Represents the school with interprofessional education (IPE) opportunities and requirements.
• Works collaboratively with the department chairs and other associate deans in the areas of faculty affairs, clinical affairs and graduate education and research as part of the leadership team at the school.