T&G Spotlight
TOWN AND GOWN OF USC SALUTES THE ELEVENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY, C. L. MAX NIKIAS AND THE FIRST LADY, THE HONORARY PRESIDENT OF TOWN AND GOWN OF USC, NIKI NIKIAS!
“All Hail” the Eleventh President of the University of Southern California, C. L. Max Nikias, who is completing a remarkable first year in this leadership position. Greetings and an enthusiastic welcome to the new First Lady, his wife, Niki Nikias, the Honorary President of Town and Gown of USC. Early ties to USC were unknowingly implanted, when Niki’s Master’s Degree and Max’s Master’s and Doctorate degrees were signed by a State University of New York official named Steven Sample – a wonderful symbol of a life-changing future for USC!!
Coming to USC in 1991 as a faculty member, Max became Dean of the Viterbi School of Engineering in 2001 and served in that capacity until 2005. At that time he became USC’s Chief Academic Officer, a role he was able to use to accelerate the academic growth and movements of USC. In the nineteen years since he arrived on the University Park campus, he has helped create, transfer and invite a remarkable quantity of programs which have added immeasurably to the University’s ability to increase its great educational programs and to contribute to the communities in which the two campuses are located.
Accompanying him to Southern California, and relating immediately to the Trojan family were his wonderful wife Niki, a talented scholar in her own right, and two young daughters, Georgiana and Maria. The talented parents have become an integral part of the Trojan Way of Life, and the two daughters are now genuine Trojan Alumnae. Georgiana earned a Bachelor’s Degree in a double major, English and Archeology. She is currently working toward a J. D. degree at the USC Gould School of Law. Maria received her B. A. in Journalism from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, with a minor in Entrepreneurship in May of 2011.
Niki’s charming presence has graced so many of the significant events in USC’s most recent years, and she has endeared herself to Trojan organizations with her gracious smile, her friendly manner, and her obvious pleasure in being a part of Trojan Family activities. With great affection, we are proud to welcome her as the Honorary President of Town and Gown of USC.
Certainly a most appreciated quality of Max’s professional demeanor is his ability to relate to others on an even basis. An example of what he was able to share with the Trojan Football Team, a few days after he had accepted the Presidential position, seems appropriate to show his high standards for the University, for its students, faculty and alumni.
“Now, for those of you who are freshmen, let me personally welcome you to one of America’s greatest traditions: USC Trojan athletics! I’ve been here nineteen years, and I’ve seen that there is something special about how Trojan athletics and USC football serve as glue that binds the Trojan Family together. As USC’s former provost, and as a former dean, I had the opportunity to work with some amazing people who support USC: People who build empires in their business, people who established new corporations or even new industries; Alumni in Los Angeles and New York and Shanghai and Mumbai and London. And do you know what gives them the greatest pleasure in life? Giving the “Fight on” sign! They love giving that sign when you, the Mighty Trojans, make them proud. This Trojan Family is made up of 250,000 alumni. It’s made up of people young and old, from about 120 nations. It also includes millions of people who watch you on TV, including young people who decide to come to USC because of you. It’s thousand of young children in our neighborhoods, who dream of following in your footsteps, and who commit to working harder so that they can achieve that dream.”
“With talent alone, you might have a great game, or even a great football career. But to build a great life, from the cradle to the grave, you need character. And we want you to become someone who can win with honor, with integrity, in every part of your lives. As student-athletes, you are expected to follow a long list of rules. At USC we expect you to do more than simply follow the rules. We want you to become the kind of person who is known for undisputed integrity and character. This is so that your accomplishments can stand the test of time.”
“Remember: Most of your life will come after your playing days. The crowds will grow silent as you grow older. Your life will then consist of what you have built here: good relationships, good education, and above all a good reputation. So, build wisely and well during your time here. Make it something that can last for a lifetime. Give your Trojan family the best, and we will give your our best, for the rest of your life.”
The brilliance of Dr. Nikias as well as his very human capacity to recognize the needs of people helped to produce an inspirational Inaugural Address that is truly one for the Ages. Excerpts from this impressive speech follow.
“Look how far USC has already come. Consider the small and dusty village that represented Los Angeles and USC in 1880. Look at USC’s breathtaking rise in the past two decades. Look at the impact we are now able to make because of the lofty position USC has now claimed.
USC’s Great Journey is ultimately about five priorities, which are ultimately embodied in people—the very best people. First, our Great Journey requires that we achieve a critical mass of the world’s most brilliant minds—the most productive and renowned giants of our generation. Second, we must build an unsurpassed network and quality of young women and men capable of leading the future – students from all 50 states and from across the Pacific Rim – from East Asia and South Asia and India and the emerging economies of Latin America. For our third priority, our Great Journey demands that our academic community be equipped to explore and to lead the new frontiers of human progress. Fourth, our Great Journey demands that our Health Sciences Campus and the University Park Campus represent one unified USC. Our fifth priority must be to recognize the surrounding community as the jewel that it is.”
The speech concludes with a classical reference tied to a familiar Trojan symbol. “Let me draw your eyes to the familiar statue behind you. Behold there is the figure of Tommy Trojan, who has stood guard for 60 years…without losing his youth or his strength or his optimism. On the southwest base of the statue are some words from Virgil’s Aeneid. ‘Here are provided seats of meditative joy…where shall rise again the destined reign of Troy.’”
“Ours will indeed be the task of nurturing and guiding this global Pacific age, and rejuvenating the American pioneering spirit. Ours will be the privilege of finding new ways to bring healing to the ill and insight to the innocent. Ours will be a movement that illustrates the power of a diverse and democratic community in full bloom.”
“So, too, ours will be an intellectual renewal which delights in uncovering and discovering new knowledge, so that we are tantalized by the chance that what we discover today will change what we believed yesterday. All this is the Great Adventure. All this is the Great Journey. All this is the way forward to the Destined Reign of Troy.”
Mr. President, Madam President, Town and Gown of USC looks forward to many wonderful and productive years working with you, our very special Trojan Family and the outstanding University of Southern California.
Note: Pictures from the Tea are posted in the Photo Gallery.
The entire text of President Nikias’s Inaugural Address is posted on this web site.