University President
Michael Amiridis, the University of South Carolina's 30th president, is committed to using two of the university's greatest strengths — education and research — to improve prospects for all South Carolinians.
The challenges facing higher education are many, but President Amiridis is confident in the university's ability to address them with a commitment to excellence, transparency and accessibility. As the university's 30th president, he is drawing on his experience as a faculty member, academic administrator and higher education leader to guide South Carolina into its next era of success.
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Holiday Card Design Contest
Each year, President Michael Amiridis and First Lady Ero Aggelopoulou-Amiridis invite all University of South Carolina undergraduate and graduate students to enter their original artwork for a chance to be featured on the president’s official holiday card. The 2025 contest has closed. Lauren Puttock, a psychology student, won the 2024 contest.
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Imagine Carolina
As one of his first initiatives, President Amiridis introduced the concept of an open discussion among students, so that university leaders could hear student ideas about academics, services, student life and college-to-career transition at South Carolina.
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Ask USC
President Amiridis and his staff are committed to student success. If you need assistance or have a question, make the Office of Student Advocacy your first stop. Student Advocacy can connect you to resources and programs that will help you navigate the university and make informed choices. Ask USC or call 803-777-4872.
About President Amiridis
Michael Amiridis became the 30th president of the University of South Carolina on July 1, 2022.
Since his arrival, USC has seen record growth in applications for admission, enrollment, research grants and fundraising dollars, with significant donor investments that led to the naming of four USC colleges: the Joseph F. Rice School of Law, the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, and the Kay and C. Edward Floyd, M.D. School of Medicine.
Amiridis earned his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Among his academic recognitions, he earned the National Science Foundation's award for early-career scientists and engineers and was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Prior to becoming president, Amiridis’ academic career included more than two decades at USC’s Columbia campus as a faculty member and administrator, serving from 2009 to 2015 as the university’s executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.
From 2015 to 2022, Amiridis served as chancellor of the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Amiridis was born in Greece and was recognized in 2022 by Carnegie Corporation of New York as a Great Immigrant. He and his wife, Dr. Ero Aggelopoulou-Amiridis, have two children, both graduates of the University of South Carolina.
