Walking through the USC Horseshoe to interview and photograph the new USC president and first lady on a recent spring day, the CMM team was warmly welcomed by the Amiridises. Gifted with grace, Dr. Ero Aggelopoulou-Amiridis offered us a cup of coffee or tea as we stepped into the stately president’s home and passed the lovely art they have added to the walls from Greece. I was fascinated to learn more about this elegant and brilliant woman who has an important role in the future of USC. 

Q: Please tell us about your education and profession.

Dr. Aggelopoulou-Amiridis: My academic background is somewhat unusual. I came from Greece better prepared for the STEM fields and committed to graduating in three years, so I didn’t experiment very much with different disciplines. I got my bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in Madison but came to realize I have a passion for the humanities. When Michael and I moved to Maryland, I started graduate school at the University of Maryland, College Park in art history. When we moved to Columbia, I transferred to USC, where I earned a master’s in art history and later a Ph.D. in philosophy. Even as a master’s student, I loved connecting with undergraduates. I worked for the USC athletics department tutoring student-athletes, and then when I graduated, I taught art appreciation and art history at different colleges in Columbia. I also taught philosophy at USC while I was a doctoral student here.