USC announced that Marshall School of Business Dean Geoffrey Garrett will step down in August and take a new role as Special Advisor to the President for Global Strategy and Engagement. The change follows public faculty criticism that surfaced this spring and intensified after a letter from 52 Marshall faculty members described the school as on a “downward trajectory.” The dispute centered on enrollment trends, MBA program performance, governance and administrative decision-making, doctoral program cut concerns, and Marshall’s competitive standing. Students also raised concerns about shrinking class sizes, morale, and alignment with administrative priorities. With a July 1 no-confidence vote scheduled before the dean’s departure, the announcement abruptly ends a governance showdown and shifts the next phase of leadership and strategic planning for a major business school.