SPPD Remembers Civic Leader and Teacher
UpdateThe CORO foundation will hold a wake for Carol Baker Tharp, the former General Manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, on Friday, December 14 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the USC University Club. The USC University Club is located at 645 West Exposition Boulevard.
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Carol Baker Tharp Ph.D., longtime faculty member and deputy director of the Civic Engagement Initiative (CEI) at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development (SPPD), passed away the morning of November 25 in her home. Tharp, who served as executive director of CORO Southern California prior to joining SPPD, brought her expertise working toward an active, participatory democracy as a teacher, administrator, and civic activist to the school.
“It will be impossible to replace her, since she is truly one of a kind,” commented Jack H. Knott, C. Erwin and Ione L. Piper Dean and Professor at USC. “She was a wonderful person and highly respected colleague whose passion for moving us toward a more democratic society was an example and inspiration to us all. She cared deeply about her students and worked unsparingly for the advancement of CEI.”
“Carol was a central contributor to advancing the work of CEI through her many contacts throughout L.A., her help with research grant advancement, and her creative ideas about how to advance democratic governance in American society,” said Professor Terry Cooper, director of the initiative at USC.
Tharp also taught Citizenship and Public Ethics to undergraduates.
A letter Tharp sent to Dean Knott in December of 2005 explains: “I have discovered that teaching ethics to undergraduates brings together many aspects of my professional, scholarly, and spiritual journeys,” she wrote. “It is both challenging and deeply satisfying. It is a privilege to be in a partnership with Professors Cooper and Diane Yoder making a meaningful and long lasting part of our students’ learning experience.”
During her time at SPPD, Carol also worked with Associate Dean Rich Callahan to develop executive education and leadership programs, believing SPPD has the capacity to become the most respected and sought-after executive education program for public administrators, elected and appointed officials on the Pacific Rim.
Carol Baker Tharp is also credited with naming the SPPD Alumni Guardian Awards, and defining the meaning behind it – in partnership with the school’s Alumni Association.
Immediately prior to her passing, Tharp served the City of Los Angeles as general manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) since March 2007.
“Her transition to be the general manager of DONE was an extension of her strong commitment to democratic values and processes,” said Professor Cooper.
Tharp earned her Ph.D. in public policy and ethics from Claremont Graduate University in 2003. She was deputy director of CEI from January 2004 to March 2007.