The Baum Family

“Engineering schools throughout the country have come to recognize the importance of undergraduate design teams in molding the engineers of the future. USC Viterbi has led the way in totally student-driven projects. This repurposing of the Library ground floor will give them the world-class tools and space they need to continue to amaze us with their creativity and resourcefulness. I am just thrilled to be able to help bring this new asset to the campus.”

– Dwight J. “Jim” Baum

As namesake donor of the Baum Family Maker Space, Dwight J. “Jim” Baum continues a legacy that has helped USC Viterbi maintain its reputation as one of the world’s top engineering schools.

Serving as chairman of the USC Viterbi Board of Councilors since 2004, he provides overall leadership to fellow board members, faculty & staff, alumni and Dean Yannis C. Yortsos. He is also a member of the school’s Biomedical Engineering Advisory Board.

The Baum Family Maker Space advances his family’s longstanding philanthropic connection to USC. In 2000, Baum’s father, Dwight C. “Bill” Baum, provided support to the university to build the Baum Family Student Center in USC Viterbi’s Tutor Hall. Dwight Sr. also endowed the Dwight C. and Hildagarde E. Baum Chair in Biomedical Engineering at USC Viterbi. Baum is a private investor and both Baum and his father studied engineering at Cornell University.

The Baum Family Maker Space gift honors the Baum Family and their connection to USC Viterbi. It was given by Jim, his wife Judy, and their two children who graduated from USC Viterbi. Their daughter Lauren earned a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering in 2001 and a Master of Science in medical device and diagnostic engineering in 2005. Their son James earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1999 and co-founded the SC Racing team in 1995. His involvement led to Baum’s philanthropic support of the team and this recent transformational gift to name the Baum Family Maker Space.