Dr. Carol L. Folt is the twelfth president of USC and holds the Robert C. Packard President’s Chair. She is a collaborative academic leader and a life scientist with faculty appointments in marine and environmental biology, civil and environmental engineering, and preventive medicine. President Folt always puts students first and is committed to the pursuit of academic excellence and innovation throughout the university. She has set an ambitious course for USC, especially with regard to enhancing access and affordability, promoting sustainability, and building a culture of trust and accountability. Her leadership during the pandemic has drawn praise for its focus on protecting both the USC campus and the broader community, and for supporting novel and effective remote teaching strategies. President Folt previously served as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She began her leadership career at Dartmouth, serving as a dean, provost, and acting president. Her pioneering research on the effects of dietary mercury and arsenic on human and ecosystem health led to numerous policy changes. President Folt earned her bachelor’s in aquatic biology and master’s in biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her doctorate in ecology from the University of California, Davis.