Herb Schorr, Executive Director of USC’s Information Sciences Institute from 1992 to 2004, led ISI through one of its most transformative eras. A former IBM research executive and system builder, Schorr brought a bold vision to the institute—one that fused rigorous research with real-world impact.
 

He reconnected ISI with USC’s academic mission, forging partnerships that allowed researchers to teach, mentor, and work alongside students. Under his leadership, ISI expanded into new fields like artificial intelligence and secure infrastructure, built successful online education platforms, and deepened its contributions to both government and industry.

Schorr wasn’t just focused on securing funding—he focused on finding and developing people with the ideas and drive to reshape computing.
 

From advocating for advanced educational technology to confronting the cyber vulnerabilities of national infrastructure, Schorr pushed ISI to think beyond traditional boundaries.