Associate Vice President for Student Life, Community Accountability and Support
Daren Rikio Mooko serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Life, Community Accountability and Support.
Daren has nearly 30 years of experience working in higher education, challenging and supporting students through their educational journeys. Prior to joining the Student Life team at USC, Mooko served as Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. Through this role, Mooko served on the President of the College’s cabinet and was responsible for a division of five departments. Daren also spent 20 years at Pomona College where he advanced to Associate Dean of Students, Associate Dean of Students for Student Development and Leadership and left as Associate Dean and Title IX Coordinator & Diversity Officer. At Pomona College he advised the Student Judicial Council, was a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Incident Response Team and was involved in many other college-wide initiatives, including publishing the student handbook.
Daren earned his B.A. from San Diego State University, majoring in English with a minor in Political Science. After earning his M.A. degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont.