Stephen J. Cutler, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Pharmacy

The dean of the College of Pharmacy reports to the executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, providing academic and administrative leadership.

The dean enhances the college's teaching, research, and service excellence while articulating its mission to all stakeholders. Key responsibilities include leading research initiatives through government funding, private partnerships, and industry collaborations; recruiting and retaining faculty while fostering excellence in teaching and research; managing finances, student services, human resources, and facilities; ensuring program quality through curriculum development and accreditation compliance; strategic planning and performance evaluation; fundraising and partnership development with donors and alumni; overseeing student recruitment; and creating an innovative, entrepreneurial environment.

The dean advances the college's vision of transforming health care through education, scholarship, collaboration, and entrepreneurship to benefit local, national, and global communities.

Julie Sease, Pharm.D.

Senior Associate Dean

The senior associate dean serves as chief advisor to the dean of the College of Pharmacy, providing strategic oversight and leadership. This role manages academic programs and scheduling while collaborating with various university offices, professional organizations, and regulatory bodies.

Key responsibilities include acting as college administrator in the dean's absence; representing the college to students, faculty, and alumni, and at national meetings; overseeing Doctor of Pharmacy course scheduling and academic performance tracking. The senior associate dean works to manage student grievances and licensure examination preparation as well as supervising recruitment and admissions, coordinating with the associate dean for assessment and accreditation requirements and serving on university and college committees.

In this role, the senior associate dean monitors strategic plans and quality improvement initiatives, serves as a liaison with combination degree program partners, and works with the Bursar's office on tuition matters. The position requires active involvement in professional organizations to maintain the college's visibility among peer institutions.

Brie Dunn, Pharm.D.

Associate Dean for Outcomes Assessment and Accreditation

The associate dean for Outcomes Assessment and Accreditation provides strategic leadership in developing, implementing, and improving the College of Pharmacy's assessment plan and accreditation processes.

This role ensures programmatic evaluation of the college's strategic goals and maintains compliance with accreditation standards. Key responsibilities also include coordinating programmatic assessment of the college's missions, with emphasis on the Pharm.D. curriculum and co-curriculum, and leading data collection, analysis, and reporting to drive continuous improvement in educational outcomes.

The associate dean oversees curriculum mapping, monitors progress toward strategic initiatives, and coordinates evaluations for undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Additionally, the role manages key educational technology systems supporting the Pharm.D. program, provides faculty development related to assessment practices, and collaborates with college leadership to support assessment and accreditation efforts.

Jordan Ballou, Pharm.D.

Interim Associate Dean for Student Affairs

The associate dean for student affairs at the USC College of Pharmacy oversees student programs and student life for Doctor of Pharmacy students. The position reports to the senior associate dean and partners with the Office of Access & Opportunity.

Primary responsibilities include managing academic support, career counseling, and student advising programs while serving as advisor to the Student Government Association. The role involves supervising student organizations and development activities, promoting student engagement and well-being, and coordinating with faculty and staff to ensure a positive, welcoming learning environment.

The associate dean works to support students' academic, professional, and personal success throughout their pharmacy education.

Lorne Hofseth, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Research

The associate dean of research, reporting to the senior associate dean, is responsible for advancing the college's research agenda and fostering scholarly excellence.

Key responsibilities include developing research strategies, assistance in garnering funding, supporting faculty development, managing grants and funding opportunities, and overseeing research infrastructure. The associate dean of research facilitates interdisciplinary collaborations, ensures regulatory compliance, and evaluates research outcomes. The role involves promoting external partnerships with funding agencies and industry, while contributing to strategic planning and reporting. They also support student research experiences through teaching and mentorship.

The position focuses on creating a collaborative research environment, helping faculty become independent scientists through extramural funding, and ensuring compliance with institutional policies and regulations.

Prischilla Ramsey, M.S.

Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration

The assistant dean for finance and administration manages the College of Pharmacy's financial operations, ensuring compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations. Working closely with university administration, they oversee budgeting, financial planning, and expenditure monitoring.

Key responsibilities include preparing and managing the college budget, implementing financial operations, approving fiscal actions, and directing business operations including human resources, grants administration, and facilities. The assistant dean establishes procedures for purchasing and grants management, serves as a liaison with internal and external stakeholders, and provides data analysis and budget reports.

The role involves supervising business office staff, creating five-year financial projections, and supporting the college's mission through positive relationships with all stakeholders. The assistant dean ensures efficient operations while maintaining compliance with university policies and regulations.

Scott Sutton, Pharm.D.

Department Chair,  Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences

The department chair for Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences serves as a departmental leader, reporting directly to the dean while overseeing operations and faculty matters related to teaching, research, and service. As an academic leader, the chair guides department planning, establishes workload evaluation processes, and represents the department within the university.

Key operational responsibilities include faculty appointments and reviews, staff performance management, budget oversight, and space allocation. The chair approves research projects, ensures compliance with university policies, and assigns departmental duties. The chair also maintains professional relationships with external partners and manages contractual agreements in collaboration with administration. The chair plays a crucial role in addressing student academic concerns and implementing university policies while serving as an advisor and mentor to department faculty.

Michael D. Wyatt, Ph.D.

Department Chair, Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences

The department chair for Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, appointed by and reporting to the dean of the College of Pharmacy, leads department operations and oversees faculty matters in teaching, research, and service. Academic leadership responsibilities and key operational duties include implementing university policies, department planning, conducting annual reviews, assigning departmental duties to faculty and staff, establishing workload evaluations, creating department policies, and overseeing budget and resources.

The chair is responsible for appointments and non-reappointments, promotions, and tenure, except as delegated to the faculty in the faculty manual. The chair approves research projects and effort reporting and ensures compliance with university policies. The chair also serves as advisor and mentor to faculty members, assists with student academic concerns, and maintains professional relationships with external partners. Working with administration, the chair manages contractual agreements and space allocation while fulfilling additional duties assigned by senior leadership.