Alia Tutor is the president of the the Alia Tutor Family Foundation Inc., which supports an array of initiatives and programs in health care, education and service to women and children. (Photo/Courtesy of Alia Tutor)
Community leader Alia Tutor named to USC Board of Trustees
Tutor, whose family’s support for USC spans six decades, joins the board after years of service to the university.
The USC Board of Trustees has appointed philanthropist Alia Tutor as one of its newest members. A graduate of Columbia Law School and longtime supporter of USC, Tutor is the president of the Alia Tutor Family Foundation Inc., which supports an array of initiatives and programs in health care, education and service to women and children.
She steps into the role of trustee after nearly a decade of various leadership roles at USC. Currently, she serves as an advisor to USC President Carol Folt on the President’s Leadership Council, as well as several important boards.
“Alia brings a wonderful array of business, legal and philanthropic expertise to USC,” Folt said. “She’s held pivotal roles across a diverse set of boards, from my leadership council and Keck Medicine of USC’s Board of Councilors to USC Shoah Foundation’s Board of Councilors. Alia always offers a fresh perspective, grounded in values and aspirations, that will help us achieve USC’s wide-ranging goals. I’m grateful she’s also bringing to our board her knowledge and support of our medical enterprise, along with a deep commitment to community involvement.”
“Alia is a dedicated and experienced community leader who has utilized her legal and business background to serve a wide variety of civic enterprises in both the medical and arts fields,” USC Board of Trustees Chair Suzanne Nora Johnson said. “She has been a generous benefactor of both Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Keck School of Medicine. We look forward to Alia’s active engagement on our board and continued engagement with the USC community.”
“I feel incredibly grateful and humbled to have been elected to the USC Board of Trustees,” Tutor said. “It is a tremendous responsibility to be entrusted with the opportunity to contribute to the governance and stewardship of such a respected institution, and I am eager to bring a thoughtful and collaborative approach to my role as trustee.”
Trojan family ties
As a trustee, Tutor will expand her family’s long legacy of support for USC. Her husband, Ronald N. Tutor, is a USC life trustee and has been a benefactor of the university since graduating from the USC Marshall School of Business in 1963. The Ronald Tutor Campus Center and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s Ronald Tutor Hall are named in his honor.
“Having two USC trustees at the dinner table provides a unique opportunity for us to share our experiences and perspectives on supporting USC,” Alia Tutor said. “Our shared commitment to the university allows us to collaborate on ways to further its mission and engage with the USC community. Supporting USC is a meaningful part of our family’s values, and we are proud to be able to contribute to its growth and success together.”
Investment in education
Tutor’s passion for and dedication to supporting higher education are evident in her contributions to both USC and the Columbia Law School. At Columbia, she established a need-based scholarship fund, among other substantial contributions. She established the Alia Tutor Chair in Reproductive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
“Supporting institutions of higher learning is important to me because I value the role that education plays in shaping individuals and society,” Tutor said. “Investing in education and research at these institutions allows me to support the development of future leaders and innovators.”
Building upon her other leadership roles at USC, she is looking forward to working with fellow Board of Trustees members, university leadership, faculty, staff and students to ensure the university’s continued success and relevance in a rapidly changing world.
“I hope to be involved in discussions that span a wide range of topics, including academic excellence, student support and success, diversity and inclusion, research and innovation, and community partnerships,” Tutor said. “I believe that by participating in these conversations, I can contribute to fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity and continuous improvement at USC.”
Championing the greater good
As president of the Alia Tutor Family Foundation Inc., Tutor oversees philanthropic initiatives and programs. She guides the foundation toward contributions aimed at creating a more equitable society.
“Health care, service to women and children, and global education are causes that resonate with me on a personal level,” Tutor said.
She is a long-term board member and supporter of Indego Africa, an innovative nonprofit social enterprise and lifestyle brand that empowers women in Rwanda through economic opportunities and education. At Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, where Tutor serves on the Board of Directors and the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees, she endowed an online educational platform that allows doctors and nurses in other countries to gain advanced subspecialty pediatric skills.
“My background in law and philanthropic service informs my approach to USC governance by providing me with a strong foundation in critical thinking, ethical reasoning and a deep sense of social responsibility,” Tutor said. “I am committed to leveraging these experiences to support USC in fulfilling its mission and making a positive impact on society.”
