College and University Blog
Famous Professors: Arnold Schwarzenegger Joins USC
California’s oldest private research university can soon add yet another glowing attribute to its marketing materials for prospective students—former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is joining the faculty of the University of Southern California.
USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy
The university has announced the establishment of the new USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, which will be part of USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy. The Terminator himself will serve as the Downey Professor of State and Global Policy. The Institute is a think tank that will conduct research and advocate in five core areas: education, energy and environment, fiscal and economic policy, health and human wellness, and political reform.
Bodybuilder, Actor, Governor … Professor
In addition to Schwarzenegger, who has committed $20 million in personal funds to help finance the new venture, the institute will have a bipartisan Board of Advisors comprised of international leaders in business, public service and education.
“We should teach people that they can have strong, strong beliefs. If you are a Republican, you should keep your beliefs. If you are a Democrat, you should keep your beliefs,” Schwarzenegger explained, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The Washington Post reports that the first public event will be held on September 24, 2012. The one-day symposium will focus on the importance of post-partisanship in today’s policymaking world.
Schwarzenegger Enthusiastic about New Role
As an instructor, “Professor” Schwarzenegger will give lectures and talks on the USC campus as well as sites across the world. He admitted to the media, “My strength is international reputation. My end game is to take information overseas.” The former bodybuilder once met with other top bodybuilders at international competitions to debate issues related to the sport. “This is no different,” he feels. “I always like to go and take what I know and run with it.”
Schwarzenegger received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Superior in 1979 and an honorary doctorate from USC in 2009. His daughter is a USC alumnus and her brother will begin studies at USC this fall, reports Californiality.com.
Image Source: http://news.usc.edu (Photo/Dietmar Quistorf)
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Melissa Rhone+
Melissa Rhone earned her Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Tampa. She resides in the Tampa Bay area and enjoys writing about college, pop culture, and epilepsy awareness.