SCA Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement
The USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) recognizes, values and celebrates the diversity of our community of students, staff and faculty. SCA is committed to equity by providing our community with resources to achieve academic, personal and professional success.
What is Diversity?
The School of Cinematic Arts defines diversity to include age, race, ethnicity, ability, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, body size, socioeconomic status, country of origin, veteran status, religious practice and political ideology.
What are the pillars of our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion?
- ACCESS
Ensure equitable access to the resources to achieve academic, personal and professional success.
- ACCOUNTABILITY
Be transparent, take responsibility for what needs to change, and make a plan to act upon it.
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Recognize the hierarchical and oppressive histories of media industries and academia, and the need to shift industry paradigm to be more collaborative and inclusive.
- BELONGING
Cultivate a feeling of being part of the community (academic, social, and physical/spatial).
- ENGAGEMENT
Inspire critical and constructive dialogue about differences that enhance our creative and scholarly work. Encourage participation and a willingness to learn, evolve and change our community together.
- EMPOWERMENT
Promote equity and equip community members with the skills to advocate for themselves and for others.
- LEADERSHIP
Lead media industries and academia toward the imagining of a new status quo that prioritizes equity and inclusion as guiding principles.
What are we doing to act on this commitment?
- Maintain the SCA Council on Diversity & inclusion to specifically address equity, diversity and inclusion within our community (link to SCA Council on Diversity & Inclusion site: https://cinema.usc.edu/about/diversity.cfm)
- Promote institutional support for advocacy/activism at all levels (link to council initiatives and working groups)
- Recruit and retain diverse students, faculty and staff
- Create opportunities for connection and community
- Create opportunities for mentorship
- Create opportunities for community unlearning and relearning
- Establish new standards across the SCA curriculum
- Redesign SCA spaces to prioritize equity and inclusion
- Increase institutional communication and transparency
- Center inclusive events
- Enable confidential feedback and reporting (DEI Helpline: https://scacommunity.usc.edu/secure/diversityEquity )
- Expand funding opportunities for students
If you would like to provide feedback on ways to improve our efforts, please let us know by using the DEI Helpline (https://scacommunity.usc.edu/secure/diversityEquity).
Division Liaisons
Each division within the School of Cinematic Arts designates a Diversity & Inclusion Liaison to represent the interest of students concerning issues of diversity and inclusion. We encourage students to contact their division representative to report a problem or talk about any issues relating to diversity and inclusion within the SCA community.
Evan Hughes
Interim Assistant Dean of Diversity & Inclusion
Media Arts + Practice
ehughes@cinema.usc.edu
Sheila Sofian
Expanded Animation and Digital Arts
ssofian@cinema.usc.edu
Ryan Turf
Cinema & Media Studies
rturf@cinema.usc.edu
Tyger Williams
Writing for Screen & Television
clarencw@usc.edu
Beverly Neufelds
Writing for Screen & Television
bneufeld@usc.edu
Gordon Bellamy
Interactive Media & Games Division
gbellamy@usc.edu
DJ Johnson
Media Arts + Practice
djohnson@cinema.usc.edu
Bailey Cool
Peter Stark Producing Program
bcool@cinema.usc.edu
Desa Philadelphia
Director of SCA First Gen
USC Communications
dphiladelphia@cinema.usc.edu
Rachel Levine
Animation and Digital Arts
rlevine@cinema.usc.edu
Community & Engagement
SCA Shines Spotlight on Student Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity Awards
In Motion Article
USC Games Launches Scholarship Fund to Honor African American Pioneer
Gerald Lawson
Fund Announcement
Director of box office hits such as Think Like a Man, Ride Along, Barber Shop, and Fantastic Four sat down with SCA students for a Q&A.
Tim Story
Our Voices
Student Stories
No upcoming events at this time.
Student Organizations
SCA Organizations
Asian American Cinema Association (asianamericancinemaassociation@gmail.com)
African American Cinema Society (asianamericancinemaassociation@gmail.com)
Latinx Film & Media Association (LatiFam) (latifamdeusc@gmail.com)
Women of Cinematic Arts (uscwca@gmail.com)
Queer Students of Cinematic Arts (QSCA) (qsa@usc.edu)
USC Organizations
Afghan Student Association (usc.afgsa@gmail.com)
Armenian Students Association (asa@usc.edu)
Asian Pacific American Student Assembly (uscapasa@gmail.com)
Asian Pacific Graduate Student Association (apgsa@usc.edu)
Association of Indian Students (india@aisusc.org)
Association of Indonesian Students (indonesian.trojan@gmail.com)
Black Graduate Student Network (trojanbgsn@gmail.com)
Black Student Assembly at USC (bsausc@usc.edu)
Brazilian Student Association (brasa@usc.edu)
Burmese Students' Association (bursa@usc.edu)
Chinese Graduate Student Association (usc.cgsa@gmail.com)
Chinese Student Association (usccsaofficial@gmail.com)
International Student Assembly (isa@usc.edu)
International Students Latin America (latinos.usc@gmail.com)
Iranian Graduate Student Association (igsa@usc.edu)
Japanese Student Association (jsaofusc@gmail.com)
Korean American Student Association (kasausc@gmail.com)
Latino Graduate Student Association (latinotrojan@gmail.com)
Latina/o Student Assembly (lsausc@usc.edu)
Pacific Islander Student Association (pisausc@gmail.com)
Taiwanese American Organization (usctao@usc.edu)
Turkish Student Association (uscturkish@gmail.com)
Vietnamese Student Association (vsa@usc.edu)
Multicultural Greek Council (uscmgcpresident@gmail.com)
Contact Information
Diversity@cinema.usc.edu