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Carole W. Gustin

Last updated 10/11/2021

Carole passed away at the end of 2017 and will be missed greatly. Her warm smile, helpfulness and enthusiasm for Trojan football inspired us all. She was a true Trojan through and through. Through her enthusiasm, her knowledge, love of the University, and just plain hard work, Carole has done great things to increase recognition of retired staff on the USC Campus. The University was fortunate to have an outstanding retiree such as Carole to enhance the quality of life for all the USC community.

While Carole was no longer paid to work at USC, her love and commitment to the Trojan Family kept her quite busy.  She became Program Chair of the USC Staff Retirement Association in 2003, and in 2005 she became the SRA President, a position which she held until 2009.

Carole with Trojans Helping Trojans 7-17-14

Carole contributed greatly to the USC Emeriti Center Executive Board and volunteered to help start Trojan Encore in 2011 and Trojans Helping Trojans (THT) in 2013. She served as the coordinator for Trojan Encore until 2015. Trojan Encore is a program  that allows USC retirees to connect with university units that need part-time and/or short term help. THT is a small group of retirees who are on call to assist the Emeriti Center with important volunteer efforts.

In 2011, Carole received the J. Tillman Hall Staff Award for Service to USC for her multiple efforts on behalf of USC. To read more about her contributions, go to: http://bit.ly/CaroleAward2011.

Outside of USC, Carole was an active member in her own community.  She served as President of the Raintree Condominium Association (2004–2006), served as a voting inspector at various elections, and has been a volunteer at local elementary schools.  She always enjoyed spending time with her grandson was always very special to her, and supported our Trojans as a season ticket holder for many years!

Carole W. Gustin began her working life at USC in 1980 as the Senior Secretary of the Freshman Writing program.  As her career progressed, she moved throughout the campus as Administrative Assistant in the Institute of Transnational Studies, Director of Student Affairs and Associate Director at the School of International Relations, and finally becoming Executive Assistant to the Dean in the School of Architecture from which she retired in 2001.  Outside the office, she served on the executive board of the USC Women in Management group and was a founding member of the USC Council of Academic Advisors.  In 1997 she received a USC staff assembly staff recognition award and in 2011, she received the J. Tillman Hall Staff Award for Service to USC.

Advice to those thinking about retirement: “Plan!  Whether it is three months, six months, a year, or whatever, sit down and really look at your budget.  You have to be able figure out what your income and budget look like on paper versus what you can actually live on.  You have to look at what is really important to you and ‘prioritize’ your expenses.

“Don’t worry about filling your time because this will happen naturally.”  Carole Gustin, 2006

J. Tillman Hall Staff Award 2011 Recipient

The J. Tillman Hall Staff Award for Service to USC is presented to Carole W. Gustin. Carole started her career at USC in 1980 as the Senior Secretary of the Freshman Writing Program. From there, she progressed to Administrative Assistant in Transnational Studies, to Director of Student Affairs and to Associate Director at the School of International Relations. She retired from the position of Executive Assistant to the Dean in the School of Architecture in 2001. While working at USC, Carole served on the executive board of the USC Women in Management and was a founding member of the USC Council of Academic Advisors. In 1997, Carole was the recipient of the USC Staff Assembly’s Staff Recognition Award.

Upon retirement, Carole was an untiring supporter of the Staff Retirement Association (SRA). She became Program Chair of the SRA in 2003. She was elected SRA President in 2005 and held that post for four years. When she took office as President, she envisioned a dynamic Board of Directors to benefit staff retirees. Carole expanded the size of the Board and recruited highly motivated, energized, and innovative retirees to various board positions. She increased the number of Members At-Large. In Carole’s tenure as President, she elevated the visibility, accomplishments, and recognition of the SRA within the University community. Carole was a visionary and was constantly contributing new ideas for retirees. Throughout the year, the SRA has many events, outings, programs, and luncheons for the USC retirement community. As an example of her Board’s successes, the Retired Faculty Association emulated some of the accomplishments of the SRA within their retiree organization. Likewise, through Carole’s efforts, the two associations have collaborated on many occasions and have become a united voice advocating for USC retirees.

Carole was the Coordinator of the Trojan ENCORE Pilot Program, which brings retirees back to USC on a voluntary or paid part-time basis. Carole was a member of the Executive Committee for the Emeriti Center and volunteered in the Emeriti Center office. She continued to serve on the SRA Board of Directors until 2015. She was the epitome of unselfishness; volunteering and assisting whenever the need arose.

Outside of USC, Carole served as President of her homeowners association, a position she previously held from 2004-2006. She also served as a voting inspector at various elections and as a volunteer at local elementary schools.

Through her enthusiasm, her knowledge, love of the University, and just plain hard work, Carole has done great things to increase recognition of retired staff on the USC Campus. The University is fortunate to have an outstanding retiree such as Carole to enhance the quality of life for all the USC community.