USC Improvement Leader Program
The 2025-26 cohort represents a wide cross-section of the university. Participants
are from four colleges and schools, and ten administrative and service units.
Morgan Bailey, Director of Programs, Anne Frank Center
Project: Aligning the Anne Frank Center’s Strategic Planning with the USC Blueprint
Process
Kadejah Bethea, Senior Compliance and Tax Accountant, Office of the Controller - Tax
Project: Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) Questionnaire Improvement
Lauren Clark, Director, Office of Undergraduate Research
Project: Optimizing Data Systems for Tracking Undergraduate Research Engagement at
USC
Elizabeth Crane, Director of Career and Professional Development, Joseph F. Rice School of Law
Project: Career Development Data Utilization Improvement Project
Ellyn Domanico, Graduate Student Services Manager, iSchool Graduate Student Services
Project: CIC Graduate Student Orientation Improvement Project
Laura Faile, Academic Program Director, Palmetto College Columbia
Project: Palmetto Pathway Onboarding Improvement Project
Justin Light, Director of Football Academics, Athletics
Project: Student-Athlete Support Plan Improvement Project
Kimberley Massey, Senior Associate Director of Design, Division of Marketing
Project: Minizine Production Improvement Project
Stephanie McCarter, Asst. Director of Compliance and QC, Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
Project: Policy and Training Modernization Project
Chavis McDonald, Director of Customer Experience and Change Management, Business Affairs
Project: Optimizing Promotional Resources to Increase Student Engagement at The Golden
Spur
J. Scott Parker, Communications Director, College of Information and Communications
Project: CIC Event Promotion Process Improvement Project
La Trice Small, Director of Institutional Assessment, OIRAA
Project: Palmetto College Assessment Coordination Improvement Project
Manda GJ Fontenot Tuk, Business Operations Specialist, College of Education
Project: Financial Reporting Improvement Project
John Waters III, IT Business Data Analyst, Division of Human Resources
Project: Enhancing Employee Support through an HR Chatbot
Catherine Wiggins, Vice Dean for External Relations, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management
Project: Streamlining Food Insecurity Efforts with Philanthropy