Carol Folt retiring in 2025 will focus attention on the new USC president’s view — and handling — of the Lincoln Riley situation with Trojan football.

As the 12th president of the University, Dr. Carol Folt said in a statement, "it has been one of the greatest privileges of my life."

Folt will retire in July after cleaning up scandals and expanding student access but drawing dissatisfaction over her handling of pro-Palestinian protests.

Folt joined USC in 2019 after leading the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for six years. She previously worked at Dartmouth College, where she served as interim president, provost, dean of faculty and a professor of biological sciences.

Serving as the twelfth president of the University of Southern California is one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Folt wrote in a message Friday to the campus community. “Working with so many of you to achieve the promise of our incredible Trojan Family brings me joy and inspiration each day.

Carol Folt has announced she will step down as the President of the University of Southern California at the end of this school year.