Religious Studies alum Amethyst Ganaway has received the 2026 Governor’s Award in the Humanities at the 35th Annual South Carolina Humanities Awards.

Ganaway is a chef, author and culinary historian whose work explores Black Southern, Gullah Geechee and African diasporic foodways. Through her research, writing and culinary projects, she helps preserve and share the food traditions and histories of communities across South Carolina and the broader South.

Learn more about Ganaway and the other 2026 award recipients on the South Carolina Humanities website.