Our Bureau
Los Angeles, CA
Designer and entrepreneur Anijo Mathew has been named dean of the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology, and the Business of Innovation, effective August 1, 2026 University of Southern California (USC) announced.
Dr. Mathew served as dean and professor at the Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, where he oversaw graduate programs in human-centered design and systems-based design.
Dr. Mathew has been selected following a national search that drew a strong field of candidates. He brings a record of academic leadership marked by creativity, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary collaboration and a focus on preparing students to navigate and lead in a rapidly changing world.
Throughout his career, Dr. Mathew has worked at the intersection of design, technology, business and human-centered innovation, helping organizations navigate change and develop solutions with measurable impact.
He also brings entrepreneurial experience to his leadership role. Dr. Mathew founded and led Vamonde, a technology venture that combined storytelling, culture and place through digital experiences deployed in cities around the world.
During the search process, Dr. Mathew stood out for his understanding of the Academy’s founding vision and his strong focus on its future. He has outlined a vision for strengthening the Academy’s role as a link between the university and the broader creative and innovation sectors, while creating more opportunities for collaboration among USC schools and disciplines.
“Mathew is a visionary researcher, entrepreneur and educational leader whose work is informed by the humanity at the heart of technology,” USC President Beong-Soo Kim said.
Dr. Mathew, who trained as an architect, later earned a Master in Design Studies from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and a doctorate in Design Computing from The Open University in the United Kingdom.