USC’s former provost could be the school’s next president. Here’s what to know about him

After months of searching, the University of South Carolina will host public question and answer sessions with a presidential finalist Friday.

That finalist, Michael Amiridis, is a former USC provost — the university’s top academic officer who oversees curricula, accreditation and faculty hiring/retention. USC officially announced his name just an hour and a half before students and faculty would have a chance to ask him questions in a series of virtual meetings.

Amiridis, 59, was born in Greece, but came to USC in 1994 to be a chemical engineering professor. He remained a Gamecock until 2014, when he was named chancellor of University of Illinois at Chicago, a position he currently holds.

Amiridis was also reportedly a favorite during the 2019 presidential search that ended with Robert Caslen being named president.

While at USC, Amiridis earned a positive reputation among his colleagues for helping securing funding to hire 200 more professors and helping kickstart the university’s Palmetto College online degree program, The State reported previously.

In a 2014 article about Amiridis accepting the Chicago job, then-President Harris Pastides called him an “advocate and friend” who “worked tirelessly to enhance the academic reputation of our university,” The state reported previously.

Before entering education, Amiridis worked in the private sector as an engineer for chemical giant W.R. Grace & Co. and also worked for Greece-based North Aegean Petroleum Co., according to his online bio from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Amiridis will speak to USC students and employees during three sessions from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Friday.

This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 7:44 AM.