Pictured (L-R): Grace Duncan, Dean Hossein Haj-Hariri, Rhonda Gass
The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC) recognized distinguished alumni and thanked donors at the annual Gibbons Legacy Society Dinner at the Pastides Alumni Center on Thursday, March 6.
Grace Duncan and Rhonda Gass were recognized for their achievements and impact in their respective fields.
“These alumni represent the college well with their tremendous work ethic and commitment to improving lives and communities. They are also an inspiration to our current students, and we are extremely proud to call them alumni of the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing,” says MCEC Dean Hossein Haj-Hariri.
Outstanding Young Alumni
Grace Duncan (B.S. ’18, Civil Engineering)
Duncan is a project engineer for the Columbia office of AECOM, an infrastructure consulting firm. Her responsibilities include roadway design,
traffic studies and public involvement organization. In 2022, Duncan was named the
South Carolina Young Civil Engineer of the Year by the South Carolina chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Duncan has an impressive list of leadership and volunteer positions within professional organizations. She is a past president of the ASCE South Carolina section and currently serves as communication chair on the organization’s Emerging Leaders Board as well as a member of the mid-level designers subcommittee. Duncan is a member of the Central South Carolina Alliance and a communications committee member of the Women’s Transportation Seminar South Carolina chapter. Duncan has also assisted with the Odyssey of the Mind competition, where young students use their own creativity to solve unique problems, and the Kershaw County School District’s Rosie the Riveter event, which educates students on the accomplishments of women in engineering and introduces them to a variety of disciplines through hands on activities.
“Winning this award is a recognition of my education and community here,” Duncan says. “Everything that I've achieved is built on the backbone of my family, friends and education that I received at USC, and I am very thankful.”
Distinguished Alumni
Rhonda Gass (B.S. ’85, Computer Science; MBA ‘88)
Since 2012, Gass has served as the chief information officer at Stanley Black & Decker, the world’s leading tools solution provider and home to iconic brands such as DeWalt
and Craftsman. Her responsibilities include driving the company’s global digital transformation,
leveraging data, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge collaboration tools to
empower business growth and success in an ever-evolving marketplace. She also leads
cybersecurity and digital risk management for all technologies across the company.
Prior to Stanley Black & Decker, Gass had senior leadership roles at Dell, Inc. and NCR Corporation, where she led multiple areas of information technology and made significant contributions in technology strategy, governance, and innovation.
Gass is on the Board of Directors for Flowers Foods, one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the U.S., as well as W.P. Carey, a real estate investment trust. She also earned her MBA from USC’s Darla Moore School of Business, and her husband Roy graduated from the MCEC with a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
“Winning this award is like the cherry on the top of the cake,” Gass says. “It's been a long, hard journey and as I reflect, the University of South Carolina has paved the way for me to achieve my success.”
Members of the Dr. Joseph and Geneva Gibbons Legacy Society have contributed at least $10,000 to the college over their lifetime. Last year, Alumni Awards and Benefactor Dinner was renamed the Gibbons Society Dinner. Gibbons served the college from 1963 to 2006 in several roles, including chemical engineering professor, department chair, associate dean for academic affairs and interim dean.