THOMAS S. SAYLES

Senior Vice President, University Relations

University of Southern California

Thomas Sayles is senior vice president for university relations, providing strategic direction and leadership of USC’s efforts to continuously improve its relationships with external and internal stakeholders. He previously served as California’s commissioner of corporations and later as secretary of business, transportation and housing. He also has held a number of positions at Sempra Energy and at alternative-fuel company Rentech Inc. before joining USC in 2011. He is on the board of Airport Commissioners for Los Angeles World Airports and is a past governing board member and past president of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. He is on the board of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and served as chairman until this year.