USC Planning School Dean Interviewed

Anyone who works in public policy will attest that it is not for amateurs. As policy in California, and around the world, grows ever more complex, the education offered at schools such as USC’s School of Policy, Planning and Development becomes crucial. Now in his second year, dean Jack Knott oversees one of the nation's most current and vibrant programs.

"The school’s approach to problem solving reflects the reality of the 21st century. A centerpiece is the focus on new models of governance—the institutions, the management, and the policy choices, both public and private—that yield workable and effective solutions. The approach emphasizes the need for government, business and the nonprofit sectors to work together. It also recognizes the importance of the place-specific context within which problems arise and choices are made. In addition, the school examines the ways in which problems and solutions in communities interconnect with regional, national, and global forces."