Expanding Global Partnerships: USC Roski Dean Visits London and Paris Art and Design Schools
As the USC Roski School continues to expand its global footprint, Dean Haven Lin-Kirk traveled to London and Paris in mid-March for a week of meetings, site visits, and student engagement focused on strengthening international partnerships in art and design education. She was joined at various points during the trip by Vice Dean of Faculty Suzanne Lacy and faculty member Miya Elise Desjardins, as well as Student Services Director Antonio Bartolome and Communications Manager Kayla Hagström.
The trip began in London, where the dean and staff met with USC Roski students currently enrolled in the study abroad program at University of the Arts London (UAL). A shared lunch offered an opportunity to connect directly with students, hear about their experiences, and reflect on the impact of studying design within an international context.
In addition to student engagement, the visit included meetings with creative colleagues and institutional partners across UAL. The dean toured campuses at London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins, expanding insight into their approaches to design education and research. Conversations with international program leaders, including members of the London College of Fashion global team and the program lead at Central Saint Martins, focused on deepening collaboration and expanding opportunities for future student exchange.
Reconnecting with our students attending UAL this semester further reaffirmed the importance of this partnership. Leading up to our visit, we successfully executed an updated MOU, which included an expansion of program options within the UAL college system. Revisiting with familiar colleagues, who offered us the warmest welcome, provided further insights on the possibilities for future students to engage in creative practices and critical discourse in art, design, and fashion. It is critical, more than ever, to ensure our global footprint and engagement be part of our student’s experience at USC.
Antonio Bartolome | USC Roski Student Services Director
Continuing on to Paris, the dean met with delegates at Paris College of Art, including the institution’s president, Dr. Linda Jarvis, to explore shared priorities and potential areas of partnership. Additional meetings were held with senior leadership at École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle, further broadening Roski’s engagement with leading art and design institutions in France.
Across both international cities, the visit underscored USC Roski School’s commitment to fostering meaningful global connections in art and design education. Through direct engagement with students, faculty, and institutional partners, the trip advanced ongoing efforts to expand international opportunities and strengthen Roski’s presence within a global creative network.
The weeklong itinerary reflected a busy and highly productive period of dialogue, exchange, and collaboration, reinforcing the value of global perspectives in shaping the future of art and design at the USC Roski School of Art and Design.
