For most up to date info please read updates futher down on this page. For a full list of letters please visit: https://sites.google.com/istandwithdeanellis.com/home/home

Dean Ellis has been terminated without due process by USC Interim President Wanda Austin. We need your support to convince the administration and the Board of Trustees to reverse this decision and correct this tragic mistake.

We urge everyone in the USC Community to take time out and stand by Dean Ellis in solidarity and gratitude for the exceptional progress his visionary leadership has helped Marshall achieve across all key performance parameters: equity, diversity, inclusion, culture, academic rankings and financial support.

He has changed USC and global academic opportunities with unprecedented accomplishments such as the Master of Business for Veterans, World Bachelors in Business, making USC Marshall the leading #1 Online MBA P & Q (2019) and #8 according to US News and World Report (2018).

In 2018, Bloomberg BusinessWeek awarded Marshall its highest rating— “extremely positive”—across the board for its treatment of: (i) racial, religious and ethnic minorities; (ii) women; (iii) people of all sexual orientations and gender identities; (iv) international students; and (v) people with disabilities (https://www.bloomberg.com/business-schools/2018/usc-marshall/ Not to mention Poets and Quants recently commended the Marshall School for having more female MBA students (52%) and more underrepresented minority students (22%) than any other major business school in the land (https://poetsandquants.com/2018/10/25/meet-usc-marshalls-mba class-of-2020/).

As set forth in a letter by the USC Marshall Board of Leaders this week, we object "to the early termination of Jim Ellis, Dean of the Marshall School, and request the Board of Trustees to immediately intercede and rescind the Interim President’s misguided decision, and to further act immediately to restore required transparency, fairness, due process and the essential disciplines of best practices to the Office of the President. Dean Ellis’ academic and executive leadership at USC Marshall, and during his tenure at the University overall, has been remarkable. He has driven the Business School’s performance – at both the graduate and undergraduate levels – to the highest metrics across all spectrums since it was founded. He has been a visionary leader in developing important new, innovative programs, initiatives and research platforms."

Here is an extensive list of the over 100 letters we have seen so far: http://istandwithdeanellis.com

This is a recap of some of the activity that has happened since the decision was made known.

1. The USC Marshall Board of Leaders (a group consisting of 116 prominent leaders and business executives) has written a letter opposing this action to the USC Administration (read here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10106656704437775&set=gm.297426007559582&type=3&theater

2. Lloyd Greif, President and CEO, Greif & Co., has written three letters to the USC Administration opposing this decision. Read here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HlazoLCk_KVOg1p_Tb8s_dqAkYUh-hq_/view and a follow-up letter here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/424d2e5237803ff5c4ea7a9d2/files/78e6b6dc-d846-452e-9e87-6da8fcccc31f/BOT_LACK_OF_TRANSPARENCY_LETTER_120618.pdf and the latest letter sent 12/11 here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1fYfUkMOWOcof8ASpGtoRuqm8y3baZTwn 

3. Jeffrey Morris, Marshall Board of Leaders, Parent, '08, '09, '12, and '21, has written a letter to the USC Administration (read here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Xm5MpIh4pYSjr1iU-8S6d0lledc2p5N/view)

4. Robert Rodriguez, former Chief Executive Officer of First Pacific Advisors, Inc. and a dual Marshall BS and MBA graduate written letter and follow-up to Dr. Wanda Austin (read here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KXuEnsXF56sC0rANj0m24mgV0JrZd4Nf/view?usp=sharing)

5. Wilfred Uytengsu, CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation, has written a letter to the USC Administration opposing this decision (read here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fm_UO_5DGLxpOQPrH_DRfiSxbTIvLlpl/view?usp=sharing)

6. Greg Autry, PhD, Asst. Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship, Marshall School of Business, has written a letter opposing the decision (read here: https://www.facebook.com/standwithdeanellis/photos/pcb.2185449405106359/2185449015106398/?type=3&theater )

7. A group of alumni, students, donors, faculty and other stakeholders held a rally at USC this past Friday. The event was covered by CBS LA: https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/video/3990611-usc-students-rally-in-defense-of-ousted-dean/ The next one will take place this Wednesday before the Board of Trustees meeting at 8:15AM at Campus. 

8. In addition, hundreds of students, alumni, staff, faculty, and USC friends have written letters, emails and op-ed letters showing their support for Dean Ellis. The ones you have shared have been listed here: istandwithdeanellis.com

There are several actions you can do to help.

We urge everyone in the USC Community to take time and stand by Dean Ellis for the progress that he has helped Marshall make.

There are several ways to support:

1. Please sign this petition: https://www.change.org/p/i-stand-with-dean-ellis

2. Share this petition with at least 5 people. 

3. Share this petition on your LinkedIn and Facebook.

4. Comment on why you are standing with Dean Ellis in the comments below.

5. Write letters in support of Dean Ellis to Interim President Wanda Austin (wma2@usc.edu) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Rick Caruso (rcaruso@caruso.com), along with the full Board of Trustees at BOT@usc.edu.

6. Share your letters, suggestions or comments to letters@istandwithdeanellis.com

 Fight on!