Dr. John Brooks Slaughter Named Deans’ Professor of Education and Engineering

This joint promotion in the USC Rossier School of Education and USC Viterbi School of Engineering recognizes Dr. Slaughter’s exceptional contributions to both schools.

Dr. Slaughter joined USC Rossier in 2010, with a joint appointment at the Viterbi School of Engineering, and has been a valuable member of the Pullias Center ever since. His naming as Deans’ Professor of Education and Engineering is the latest achievement in a career filled with accomplishments. Dr. Slaughter has received distinctions of the highest caliber for his contributions to science and engineering policy, as well as his lifelong dedication to increasing diversity in the fields. 

These distinctions, among many others, include the Martin Luther King Jr. Award (1997) and Black Engineer of the Year Award (1987), of which he was the first recipient. In 2015, Dr. Slaughter was recognized by the White House for his exceptional mentoring and awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). He has received 31 honorary degrees, including from USC, as well as the USC Provost Mentoring Award in 2016 and the USC Presidential Medallion — the University’s highest distinction — in 2019.

“Dr. Slaughter’s unique perspective on education through the lenses of equity, leadership and engineering are valuable assets for the Pullias Center as we research and seek methods to address challenges throughout higher education,” notes Adrianna Kezar, Director of the Pullias Center.

Dr. Slaughter’s education research has been in the areas of higher education leadership, diversity and inclusion in higher education, underrepresented minorities in STEM, and access and affordability.  “It’s been an honor to be part of not just one, but two USC schools concurrently,” shares Dr. Slaughter.  “This has afforded me an opportunity to use both engineering and education as a perch to focus on increasing minority participation in the science and engineering fields.”

The announcement was jointly made by Pedro A. Noguera, the Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean of the Rossier School of Engineering,  and Yannis C. Yortsos, the Zohrab A. Kaprielian Chair in Engineering and Dean for USC Viterbi School of Engineering.