LOS ANGELES: Madeline Puzo will step down from her post as dean of the University of Southern California‘s school of dramatic arts this month. David Bridel will serve as the interim dean while a replacement is sought.

During her tenure, Puzo introduced new graduate degrees, expanded the undergraduate programs, increased the faculty and developed global partnerships. She has been a consultant for organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Rockefeller and Lila Wallace Readers Digest and Theatre Communications Group.

Bridel is currently an associate professor of theatre practice in voice and movement, associate dean of global initiatives, director of the master of fine arts in acting and head of the movement path in the master of fine arts in acting program at USC. He is the founding and artistic director of The Clown School in Los Angeles.