Recent Stories

Students walk along brick pathway on campus during fall

First-generation students bring perspective, energy to USC campus

October 31, 2025, Megan Sexton

As the university marks the celebration of First-Gen College Celebration Week, we caught up with first-generation students, alumni, faculty and staff who are thriving in the classroom and beyond.

Woman standing in an outdoor area

Psychology, criminology major reflects on her experience studying abroad

October 13, 2025, Téa Smith

For psychology and criminology junior Caroline Hinkebein, exploring the world meant going to the University of South Carolina — nearly 1,000 miles away from her hometown. But her concept of world travel broadened when she got the opportunity to study abroad in Europe her freshman year. We talked to her about her experiences abroad.

Tremayne Ansani sits on the tailgate of an ambulance.

South Carolina Honors College graduate Tremayne Ansani finds his path at USC

October 07, 2025, Megan Sexton

Tremayne Ansani had big plans before he even set foot on campus, but he had one overarching goal: to create and support community. Four years and a double major later, the Honors College graduate sat on the commencement stage as the recipient of the university’s highest student honor, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.

Asian man standing on dock in foreground with ship visible behind him

Unsung ocean fungi have 'superpower' to aid healthy marine environments

October 03, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen

Little-known ocean fungi are microscopic in size but make a gargantuan impact on subterranean life. Their superpower? They are the heavy lifters of carbon and nitrogen cycling, processes essential for life on earth. Nick Peng, assistant professor in the School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment, would like unsung ocean fungi finally to get the recognition they deserve.

Flood waters in Columbia fill street and business

Researchers and former students recall harsh lessons from historic 2015 Midlands flood

September 30, 2025, Chris Horn

It happened a decade ago, but lessons learned from the catastrophic flooding of Oct. 1-5, 2015, in the Midlands of South Carolina are still being reckoned by University of South Carolina researchers and former students who were involved in the flood’s aftermath.

Hand holding small brown shrimp

Video: Snapping shrimp could hold the key to protecting human brains from shockwaves

September 05, 2025, Hadley McCollester

Snapping shrimp can create shockwaves strong enough to stun prey. But how do they survive each other’s blasts? USC biologist Dan Speiser and his team discovered that a special “orbital hood” — a helmet-like shield around the shrimp’s eyes and brain — protects them from these powerful shockwaves. Collaborating with biomedical researchers at the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, the team is now studying the hood’s structure to design next-generation helmets that could protect human brains from shock waves and even reduce the risk of PTSD in military personnel.

Headshot of Jaelyn Souza

Neuroscience student finds connection, purpose in pursuing special education

September 04, 2025, Laura Erskine

If Jaelyn Souza could give just one piece of advice to this year’s incoming students at USC, it would be this: “Keep an open mind, because me as a freshman and me as a senior are two very different people.” The neuroscience major says all of her beyond-the-classroom experiences helped her decide on her career path.

Researchers in field examine data collected

Kazakhstan studies affirm imperative to secure nuclear storage solutions

September 03, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen

The pleasing pastoral landscapes across the former Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site in Kazakhstan hardly reflect its dark history. Generations of locals have lived near the site since it opened in 1949, and many remain today. USC researchers Timothy Mousseau and Magdalena Stawkowski are studying the impact of radioactive isotopes on the people, animals and plants of Semipalantinsk.

Researchers lower nets into coastal waters.

Baruch researchers investigate impacts of warming waters on shrimp populations

September 03, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen

Project investigators from USC’s Baruch Marine Field Lab have been collaborating on a study into the impacts of warming coastal ocean waters on shrimp populations. They found that shrimp populations have been largely stable, and warmer water temperatures have led to longer seasons for shrimpers, often through January.

woman standing in front of the Joseph F. Rice School of Law

From chemistry labs to courtrooms: Honors College senior finds new path at USC

August 28, 2025, Téa Smith

Honors College senior Luci Green initially decided to study chemistry in college, but after taking a course taught by a visiting law professor, she began considering a new path. Now, she’s pursuing a pre-law concentration in conjunction with her chemistry major in hopes of becoming a patent lawyer.

AI-created image of a comet hurtling toward Earth, with some pieces making impact

Researchers find evidence for Younger Dryas comet-impact theory in ocean cores

August 13, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen

Christopher Moore, research professor with the Institute for Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of South Carolina, recently led a team that analyzed sediment from the ocean floor in Baffin Bay, Greenland. Their efforts produced the first evidence — sourced directly from ocean cores — that a comet impact could have triggered an abrupt cooling of the atmosphere during a period known as the Younger Dryas 13,000 years ago.

Headshot of Amy Taylor-Perry

Michael J. Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award: Amy Taylor-Perry

August 11, 2025, Laura Erskine

For nearly 14 years, Amy Taylor-Perry has taught general chemistry classes and labs at USC. Hundreds of students take these courses each semester, and Taylor-Perry has designed them to provide a solid foundation. She has now received the Michael J. Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award, with her nomination endorsed by the entire Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Icon of how an artificial intelligence brain connects to concepts of technology, transportation, vision, the brain, ideas and health care.

2025 artificial intelligence faculty experts list

July 31, 2025, Gregory Hardy

University of South Carolina researchers explore how artificial intelligence can be used for advancements in health care, education, manufacturing, energy, disaster management and transportation. They are also helping shape and inform the ethics and policies surrounding these emergent solutions.

Baby hand in adult hand

Study finds many women who give birth at home feel empowered

July 24, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen

As the birth of their baby approaches, women often turn to their mothers, sisters or close female friends for comfort and advice — a trusted and time-honored support system. Recent research conducted through the Women’s and Gender Studies Department at the University of South Carolina views this phenomenon through an anthropological lens, confirming the relevance of this bonded group and examining childbirth choices women typically face.

Gloved hands working with batteries and wires

Phase 1 construction of Battery Center set to begin

July 09, 2025, Chris Horn

In about 18 months, the Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation at the University of South Carolina plans to open the first phase of its Battery Center, a research, manufacturing and teaching facility in partnership with several commercial battery manufacturers.

A person holds a phone next to audio recording equipment in a studio.

Worth a listen: podcasts by USC faculty and staff

June 27, 2025, Laura Erskine

USC faculty and staff members produce a variety of podcasts that will keep you coming back for another episode. From deep dives into Southern history and campus life to engaging conversations with experts in business, pharmacy and public health, we’ve rounded up selections to give you a sample of what USC podcasters have to offer.

A background of empty plastic water bottles with a blue tint.

USC chemist leads new NSF center focused on developing sustainable, eco-friendly plastics

June 23, 2025, Chris Horn

By 2050 plastic manufacturing around the world is projected to total 1 billion tons, and more than half of all that plastic is expected to end up in landfills and the ocean. It’s an industry that relies on petroleum as a key ingredient and produces products that can’t easily be recycled without generating additional waste. But USC's Chuanbing Tang has a game-changing idea for the world’s plastic crisis.

Various worshippers sit in pews in a German Church

Germany's young Jewish and Muslim writers are speaking for themselves

June 18, 2025, Agnes Mueller

The consequences of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack and Israel’s war in Gaza have reverberated far beyond the zones of conflict. Debate about the war in Gaza feels fraught in Germany, where concerns about rising antisemitism have been used to criticize some Muslim communities. The Holocaust looms over discussions about Israel, with many claiming the country’s sense of historical guilt has made it, until recently, reluctant to criticize Israeli politics.

Satellite image of an Atlantic hurricane

2025 hurricane faculty experts list

June 13, 2025, University Communications

The Atlantic hurricane season officially began June 1. Researchers at the University of South Carolina are available to discuss multiple aspects of the 2025 hurricane season, including preparation and communication, environmental impact and historical perspectives.

Monique Garvin and a colleague talk with the South Carolina State House in the background.

SC Impact: Building stronger communities

May 28, 2025, Communications and marketing

From creating social mobility by supporting first-generation students to providing resources for community members who need them most, the University of South Carolina is dedicated to strengthening our state and improving the lives of its residents. It’s work that goes beyond the college campus and extends into every corner of South Carolina.

Ann Vail, dean of The Graduate School, puts an award around the neck of an award winner at the 2025 Recognition of Excellence Ceremony

Graduate award winners recognized

May 19, 2025, Thom Harman, with Matt Klopfenstein

The Graduate School recently announced and recognized its 2025 Graduate Student Award winners and Trustee Fellowship recipients, as well as the graduates from the school’s scholarly initiatives. The school held its annual Recognition of Excellence Ceremony on April 25 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

rendering of a new school of medicine building

SC Impact: Building better health

May 08, 2025, Communications and Marketing

As a small state with an aging and rapidly growing population, South Carolina faces a shortage of health care professionals — even as it confronts high rates of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. The challenges are significant, but the University of South Carolina is working every day to address them head-on.

Brandi Revels smiles for the camera during her trip in Antarctica

For marine chemist Brandi Revels, remote work means an Antarctic cruise

May 07, 2025, Megan Sexton

It’s not hard to understand why Brandi Revels loves her job as a researcher aboard the expedition ship Viking Polaris. The sense of awe — for our world, for our planet — drew her to science. Her love of adventure took her from West Columbia, South Carolina, to the far ends of the Earth. Revels, who earned her master’s in marine chemistry from the University of South Carolina in 2013, now lives in Zurich, Switzerland — when she’s not spending months at sea as the chief scientist aboard the Viking Polaris.

Rick Layman smiles for the camera with Matt Bruccoli’s photo in the background

Richard Layman: Sharing collections

May 02, 2025, Craig Brandhorst / photo by Kim Truett

Rick Layman studied under English professor, publisher and F. Scott Fitzgerald collector Matthew J. Bruccoli and later became Bruccoli’s business partner. Like his mentor, Layman also became a collector — in his case of Dashiell Hammett. And both men’s collections are now housed in USC’s Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.

A South Carolina road with a “Welcome to South Carolina” sign

USC health sciences graduates have major impact in rural areas

May 02, 2025, Rebekah Friedman / photos by Kim Truett

From obstetricians and nurses to social workers and psychiatrists, University of South Carolina graduates are especially needed in rural areas, where more than a quarter of the state’s residents live. And the impact isn’t only felt by the patient; it’s also felt by the communities themselves. Carolinian visited several alumni whose small-town efforts are having a big impact. These proud health care workers showed us the meaning of dedication and their commitment to the people and communities they serve.

The fountains and reflecting pool in front of Thomas Cooper Library

SC impact: Pell Grant recipients thrive in a wide range of fields

April 29, 2025, Laura Erskine

For more than 50 years, USC has made an undergraduate education more attainable through TRIO programs. The foundation of these opportunities is the Pell Grant. Here, USC alumni share how the Pell Grant opened the door for them to achieve their dreams of earning their degrees and attaining fulfilling, impactful careers.

Student in cap and gown stands with fists in the air
man and woman stand in front of chairs

USC's College of Arts and Sciences renamed following transformational gift

April 22, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen

The University of South Carolina College of Arts and Sciences has a new name honoring the vision and generosity of a prominent alumnus and his family. The official name, the University of South Carolina McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, was announced on Wednesday (April 23) during a ceremony on USC's Horseshoe.

a woman standing in front of greenery

USC geographer Jessica Barnes awarded prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship

April 18, 2025, Rose Cisneros

Associate professor Jessica Barnes has been awarded a 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship — one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for scholars, artists and scientists. Barnes is known for her research on how people interact with the environment in their everyday lives — especially how resources like water, food and air are used, controlled and experienced unequally across different communities.

Emily Rabon and Joseph Buchmaier pose outside on campus.

Student government experience leads two USC seniors to Harvard Law

April 17, 2025, Laura Erskine

USC’s student government has two graduating seniors who have been accepted to Harvard Law School, one of the nation’s top programs. The students credit their time in student government, along with the excellent training they received both in the classroom and beyond, with helping them reach their goals.

four squares with images and icons representing cool classes for Fall 2025

Cool Classes Fall 2025

April 11, 2025, Téa Smith

We're back again for another year and another round of some of the coolest classes you can take for fall 2025. There are a ton of unique learning experiences waiting to be uncovered. Whether you’re into sports, true crime, dancing, cooking or even something a little otherworldly, South Carolina has you covered.

Gates to Horseshoe of USC campus

2025 Autism Acceptance Month: USC faculty experts list

April 04, 2025, Communications and Marketing

April is Autism Acceptance Month. The CDC estimates that one out of every 36 eight-year-olds and one in 45 adults is affected by autism, a lifelong developmental disorder. As South Carolina’s leader in health sciences, USC has researchers across disciplines who specialize in autism.

Award statues aligned on a table

USC celebrates 2025 Governor's Award for the Arts winners

April 01, 2025, Brandon Pugh

The Koger Center, USC School of Music professor Gail Barnes and USC School of Visual Arts and Design alumnus Wade Sellers have been named winners of the 2025 Governor’s Awards for the Arts by the South Carolina Arts Commission, recognizing exceptional practice or support of contemporary and traditional art forms.

Multicolored brain scan on computer screen over shoulder of researcher

USC neuroscience experts working to understand, improve brain health

April 01, 2025, Communications and Marketing

The University of South Carolina is focused on the brain. From autism and aphasia to Alzheimer’s and other related dementias, university researchers are working across several academic disciplines to better understand how the brain works and to develop solutions that will improve people’s health.

Joffrey dancers fan out across the stage.

Joffrey Ballet delivers unparalleled experience for USC student performers

March 27, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen

It’s been a whirlwind semester for dancers and musicians at the University of South Carolina. Twenty-four Joffrey Ballet company members arrived on campus March 17 for a three-week residency culminating in an unprecedented collaborative performance April 5 at the Koger Center for the Arts. Students and faculty from USC’s Betsy Blackmon Dance Program and the USC Symphony Orchestra have joined forces with members of the Joffrey entourage to marry movement and music into a spectacular concert for the community.

woman standing in front of USC logo

USC alumna, Marine champions veterans

March 18, 2025, Megan Sexton

For USC alumna Caroline Fermin, the decision to join the Marines at a time when only 2 percent of the officer corps were women led to a successful 25 years in the military with high-level global postings and numerous medals for meritorious service. She followed her military service with a thriving second career in public service, now as the director of Veterans Affairs for Beaufort County.

Dancers in studio perform a lift

World-renowned Joffrey Ballet residency at USC promises unforgettable experiences

March 06, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen

Dance students in the University of South Carolina’s Betsy Blackmon Dance Program are spending extra time at the barre in anticipation of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity they will have collaborating with the world-famous Joffrey Ballet. The company begins a three-week residency at USC on March 17 that will culminate with an unprecedented Koger Center performance on April 5.

Female student using a camera

USC youth summer camps 2025

March 03, 2025, Téa Smith

With only a few short months until summer, it’s time for parents to find summer activities for their children. USC offers a wide variety of summer camps for all ages and all interests from music to soccer, dance and engineering.

woman sits in a movie theater with the words

Journalism alumna builds career in Columbia's arts scene

February 07, 2025, Page Ivey

Sumner Bender credits a movie with inspiring her first true career choice. It seems only fitting, then, that the 2007 public relations graduate now leads Columbia’s art house cinema, The Nickelodeon Theatre. Her journey from PR to nonprofit executive has woven through Columbia’s arts scene for most of her adult life.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nomination signals new era of anti-intellectualism in American politics

January 30, 2025, Kristin Lunz Trujillo et al

The many controversial people appointed to the Trump administration have at least one thing in common: They dislike and distrust experts. While anti-intellectualism and populism are nothing new in American life, there has hardly been an administration as seemingly committed to these worldviews.

Site of Starbase operation on beach in Boca Chica, TX

The Starbase rocket testing facility is permanently changing the landscape of southern Texas

January 28, 2025, Robert A. Kopack

If there is a leader in the aerospace industry, SpaceX is it. Boca Chica, Texas, is home to SpaceX’s flagship assembly and test installation, Starbase. Since 2021, research has been conducted with environmental groups and community members in south Texas who see space exploration as a landscape-altering industry. Geography professor Robert A. Kopack writes about Starbase for The Conversation.

Two women holding Syrian flag

As Syria ponders a democratic future: 5 lessons from the Arab Spring

January 27, 2025, Robert Kubinec

The fall of Bashar Assad’s dictatorship in December 2024 has ushered in a nerve-wracking time of hope and fear for Syrians concerning future governance in the long-war-torn country. While it’s unclear what exact political path Syria will take, the dilemmas the country faces are similar to the experiences of other Arab countries more than a decade ago. Robert Kubinec, assistant professor of political science at the University of South Carolina, writes for The Conversation about his research on Arab uprisings in the Middle East.

a road washes away

Video: USC professor, alumni work to prepare communities for hazardous events

January 16, 2025, Video by Hadley McCollester. Intro text by Laura Erskine.

From communities in the Southeast submerged by floodwaters to neighborhoods on the California coast battling raging wildfires, natural disasters are on the rise. Hear from geographer Susan Cutter, Carolina Distinguished Professor, and alumni working in emergency management across the state and nation about how tools like the Social Vulnerability Index can lead to better outcomes for the future.

Woman with a hand propped on her right hip standing outside.

First-generation student finds connections on campus

January 13, 2025, Téa Smith

As a first-generation college student and an Asian American, Sarah Tra worried about whether she would be able to find community and connect to her culture on campus. But joining organizations like the Vietnamese Student Association and the Asian and Pacific Islander Activism Association has given her the opportunity to connect with her community through fundraisers, rallies and events that showcase culture through food, music and dance.

Coastal seagrass at Baruch with observation tower in background

The good, the bad and the gutsy

January 03, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen

The USC Baruch Institute's new director, Jill Stewart, is endlessly fascinated by the natural alchemy of the oft-maligned yet mighty microbe. These tiny living microorganisms are everywhere, from the surface of our skin and the air we breathe to the water we drink and the soil beneath our feet. In fact, microbes are essential to the persistence of life on Earth. So why do they sometimes get a bad rap?

woman stands in a shower of confetti with hands raised to the ceiling
Two actresses in character as Mormon missionaries

One's a Hugh Grant thriller, one's a hot-mess reality show - and both center on stereotypes about Mormon women

December 09, 2024, Rebecca Janzen

In film, religion is often a way for audiences to wrestle with ideas about gender and social change. That’s all the more true if the religion is considered conservative, or prone to stereotyping, both of which apply to Latter-day Saints. Female characters’ dilemmas are often depicted as the result of their faith – but their characterization may say more about the rest of America than the church itself.

Drum major Maggie Boyd in her band uniform

Senior biology major Maggie Boyd is one of three drum majors in USC's 2024 marching band

December 06, 2024, Craig Brandhorst/Photos by Kim Truett and Lawson Estridge

Senior biology major Maggie Boyd is one of three drum majors in USC’s 2024 marching band. The Matthews, North Carolina, native has won the coveted spot two years in a row and has cherished every opportunity to lead her bandmates, but marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was a capstone experience.

A woman standing outside.

Biochemistry senior connects with community through service organizations

November 25, 2024, Téa Smith

Ridha Fatima, a biochemistry senior, joined the Network of Opportunities Toward Elderly Service her freshman year after seeing how hard isolation during the pandemic had been for many people, particularly her grandparents. During their twice-monthly visits to local nursing homes, students connect with the residents while participating in activities such as arts and crafts, gardening and talent shows.

Two women in caps and gowns turning tassles on graduation caps

Class of 2024 December graduates

November 20, 2024, Megan Sexton

As the December Class of 2024 prepares to walk across the commencement stage, graduates leave the University of South Carolina with memories of enduring friendships, newfound passions, supportive mentors and life-changing experiences.

a health care worker looks at a computer screen with equipment in the background

USC scientists deploy artificial intelligence, digital twin models to build new resources for medical care

November 20, 2024, Chris Horn

A team of USC scientists is using a $3.4 million grant to develop new technology for personalized medical treatment and more accurate medical diagnoses. USC faculty members from medicine, chemistry and mathematics are leading various aspects of the five-year project funded by the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

Rutvik Desai

New research explores the 'thoughts' and abilities of AI chatbots

November 04, 2024, Kristine Hartvigsen

Artificial Intelligence advocates might defensively suggest, in good humor, that chatbots are “only human” and therefore prone to occasional mistakes. New research by a team at the University of South Carolina Department of Psychology basically confirms that notion with some important caveats.

Photo of brick smokestack with USC in white letters

Faces of first-gen at USC

October 31, 2024, Hannah Cambre

At USC, where one in five students identify as first-generation, the university is doing more than ever to help this important and growing population flourish with resources and support. We sat down with five first-gen students to learn more about their stories and the people and resources that have helped them thrive at USC.

woman stands on a street in italy

Vatican synod open to wider roles for Catholic women

October 11, 2024, Carol E. Harrison

At the current Vatican synod, whose purpose is to address “communion, participation, and mission” in the church, women’s role is on the agenda. History professor Carol Harrison writes for The Conversation on how Catholic women have historically found ways to speak to and about their church leadership, even when they have been excluded from its proceedings.