Corliss Bennett
Corliss Bennett, director of the Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs (CBCSA), is a consummate leader whose spirit and enthusiasm exemplify what it means to be a Trojan.
?You can always count on Corliss to be enthusiastic and ready to participate and contribute,? says Abi Ingleton, director of the Undergraduate Success Program. ?She?s dedicated to making students? experiences at USC positive.?
As the CBCSA director, Corliss oversees a wide range of support services, programs and activities geared to helping African American students excel at USC. She serves as a mentor to numerous students both in and outside the classroom as well to her staff.
?Corliss is a notable supporter of access and equity in education and works tirelessly to support underrepresented students in their success at the university,? says Desiree Marquez, director of the Topping Scholars program.
?Her energy and passion for mentoring students are unmatched by any student affairs professional I have ever known,? says Diversity Education and AIM Program Coordinator Amanda Ebner.
In May, Corliss will complete her doctorate in educational leadership with an emphasis in higher education administration from USC. She earned her master?s degree in international and multicultural education with an emphasis in student affairs from the University of San Francisco and her bachelor?s degree in liberal studies from UC Riverside.
In addition to her role with the CBCSA, Corliss is also the treasurer for the USC Black Staff and Faculty Caucus, co-chair of the African American Knowledge Community for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and an instructor for a counseling course for the USC Rossier School of Education. She is also a member and past president of the California Council of Cultural Centers in Higher Education.