Neely Center Opens at USC Marshall School of Business
According to USC News, the Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making has officially opened on the school campus. The Center is a multidisciplinary research center focused on examining ethical leadership and decision-making processes. Jointly housed at the USC Marshall School of Business, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and the USC Price School of Public Policy, the Center is led Ali Abbas.
“What is unique about the Neely Center is its multidisciplinary impact being housed in three schools at USC, as well as its focus on the ethical components of decision-making besides just the prudential component,” Abbas said in the news release. “USC has a wealth of faculty in various disciplines who are at the cutting-edge of research in decision-making and ethics, so we look forward to expanding the center and welcoming new researchers and leaders in these areas.”
The center was made possible thanks to an endowment by USC Trustee Jerry Neely ’58. Neely is the former chairman and CEO of Smith International Inc., an oil services company. He has served on the USC Board of Trustees since 1981.
“At the Neely Center, we aim to inspire a new generation of individuals dedicated to informed and courageous decision-making in today’s contemporary world. The center serves as an incubator of scholarly research for educational programs offered to a broad audience and purposeful outreach involving students and business associates, as well as public service efforts.”
What’s planned at the Center? It recently hosted a USC student competition that offered prizes for articles, presentations and videos that examine important ethical dilemmas, and a “Next Generation Ethics Conference” is in the works for spring 2018.
The Neely Center also plans on launching:
- Corporate affiliates program
- Range of executive education courses
- Summer school for Ph.D. students studying large-scale systems, funded by the National Science Foundation
“We will also work to empower students with the skills needed to making effective decisions in an ethically sensitive way,” Abbas added.
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Max Pulcini
Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.
