By James Tella, Communications and Public Relations

“I’m delighted that this recognition is about business leadership,” Daley said.

Elizabeth Daley, dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, was honored at a recent ceremony celebrating the contribution of women in the film industry.

Hollywood executives, producers and directors attended the first Business Leadership Award dinner held Oct. 28 by Women in Film in Beverly Hills.

“This award was created to acknowledge the extraordinary contributions of women from the other side of the camera,” said Lucy Web, Women in Film vice president of special events. “Making decisions that shape careers and support talent, these women are the ones we want to get to know and celebrate.”

Now in its 30th year, Women in Film was founded by a group dedicated to empowering, mentoring and promoting women in entertainment and media.

“I’m delighted that this recognition is about business leadership,” Daley said. “I’ve long believed that for women to be fully empowered in our industry that there must be women in the executive offices
as well as in the producers’ and directors’ chairs.

“I’m grateful to Women in Film for helping to put women in the industry on the radar screens for the decision makers,” said Daley, who was introduced and presented with the award by producer Laura Ziskin ’73.

“For me, the real pleasure is being part of the USC legacy,” Daley added.

The dean, who accepted the honor on behalf of the USC School of Cinematic Arts’ faculty, staff and students, reminisced about her first faculty meeting, where she and her assistant were the only two women in the room.

She noted how the school’s dedication to improving that statistic has resulted with a female cinematic arts faculty that now stands at 50 percent.

“The message that we want to send is that you can do it and we can help you,” Daley said. “Our women students are very talented and very capable, and I look forward to the films that they can bring to the screen because I think we all need to see them.”