New Book by Pullias Center Founding Director William G. Tierney

William G. Tierney’s “Get Real: 49 Challenges Confronting Higher Education” provides a thought-provoking overview of the many challenges in higher education through forty-nine short essays. Higher education always seems to be in crisis; governments, foundations, associations, and even professors lament problems plaguing America’s colleges and universities. Drawing on his experiences and expertise as a University Professor Emeritus and Founding Director […]

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Pullias Center 25th Anniversary Reflections: William G. Tierney

William G. Tierney, University Professor Emeritus and the Founding Director of the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California, shares his reflections on the center as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary.  This is the first in a series of such reflections from key figures in the center’s past and present that will be shared throughout 2020. […]

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A New vision for the Pullias Center

Big changes are happening at the Pullias Center in 2019. Currently co-directed by William G. Tierney, University Professor and Wilbur-Kieffer Professor of Higher Education, and Adrianna Kezar, Dean’s Professor of Higher Education, the Pullias Center will enter a new phase on June 30, 2019 when Tierney steps down as co-director, before retiring on December 31, 2019. At that time, Kezar will step [...]
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William G. Tierney calls for higher ed to engage with democracy at 41st Pullias Lecture

by Ross Brenneman After a long and decorated career as a professor of higher education, William G. Tierney knows who he is, or at least who he wants to be. He’s not sure universities can say the same about themselves. In academic terms, Tierney is a USC University Professor, the Wilbur-Kieffer Professor of Higher Education at USC Rossier and co-director [...]
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William G. Tierney: Moving USC past scandals

Pullias co-director William G. Tierney was quoted in a number of major newspapers about USC’s involvement in the recently uncovered college admissions cheating scandal and the appointment of USC’s president-elect Carol L. Folt. Financial Times, Admissions scandal hits “university of spoiled children” “Instead of cultivating an environment of reflection and reasoned debate, the university sprinted toward growth,” William Tierney, a professor […]

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William G. Tierney in Los Angeles Times: USC has a new president. Now the trustees and faculty have to change

This op-ed — authored by Pullias co-director William G. Tierney — was originally published in The Los Angeles Times on March 21, 2019. ___ To say USC has had a dramatic couple of years would be an understatement. A drug-using medical school dean, a health center doctor accused of sexual misconduct, President C.L. Max Nikias pushed out under duress, a business school dean […]

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William G. Tierney in The Sacramento Bee: University of Scandal, Corruption?

Pullias co-director William G. Tierney was quoted about the reasons behind the recently uncovered college admissions cheating scandal in an Associated Press article titled “University of Scandal, Corruption? USC at core of bribe plot,” published in a number of major newspapers: William G. Tierney, a professor of higher education, said the current crisis is tied to [former USC president] Nikias’ “stage-managed” hiring of […]

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New research: Lessons from the Jerry Sandusky case, limits of PhD admissions criteria, and more

Congratulations to Pullias Center co-director William G. Tierney and research associate Raquel M. Rall! Their co-authored article, “Lessons Not Yet Learned: Culture, Governance, and the Jerry Sandusky Case,” received the 2019 Neuner Award from the American Association of University Administrators for the outstanding article in The Journal of Higher Education Management. Other recent works by Pullias researchers tackle a wide range of […]

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William G. Tierney in EdSource: Perspectives on Gov. Brown’s contributions to education

Pullias co-director William G. Tierney was one of the 10 education leaders asked by EdSource to comment on “what they think Gov. Jerry Brown’s most important contributions to education reforms in California have been, what major education issues remain unaddressed and what they are hoping for from incoming Gov. Gavin Newsom.” Here are Tierney’s perspectives: Gov. Jerry Brown’s most important contribution to education reform […]

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William G. Tierney in EdSource: California higher education leaders have high hopes

Pullias co-director William G. Tierney was quoted in an EdSource article titled “California higher education leaders have high hopes for Newsom’s spending plans”: Yet despite the state’s surplus, some experts think that Newsom will continue to pressure UC and CSU for more efficiencies, such as reducing the time it takes for students to graduate. “I think it’s inevitable that any governor — but […]

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