December 19, 2020
It’s been a year — but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty to celebrate, recognize and honor at the University of South Carolina in 2020. UofSC rose to each and every challenge this year and raised the bar for the year to come.
November 27, 2020, Caleigh McDaniel
Students have have faced many challenges due to COVID-19, and their stories of resilience have become prominent topics in our weekly "Campus Conversations." Check out these students who have adapted to and overcome obstacles brought on by the pandemic.
November 13, 2020, Biplav Srivastava
Professor of computer science Biplav Srivastava and his team have developed a data-driven tool that helps demonstrate the effect of wearing masks on COVID-19 cases and deaths. In this interview with The Conversation, he explains how the model works, its limitations and what conclusions we can draw from it.
November 12, 2020, Megan Sexton
As the spread of COVID-19 closed campus and changed life in Columbia, a team of researchers from University Libraries has stepped up to document the official actions and personal stories at the university.
November 05, 2020, Craig Brandhorst
In a Q&A originally published in Breakthrough magazine, Greg Trevors, an assistant professor of educational psychology and research at the College of Education, discusses his research on belief correction as it relates to COVID-19. Trevors helped develop an online game to help people correct misconceptions about COVID-19.
October 21, 2020, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina will expand rapid saliva-based COVID-19 testing to other colleges and universities across the state.
October 14, 2020, Nükhet Varlik
Since the beginning of the pandemic, epidemiologists and public health specialists have been using mathematical models to forecast the future in an effort to curb the coronvirus’s spread. History professor Nükhet Varlik writes for the The Conversation to give historical insight into how and when pandemics end.
October 09, 2020, Caleigh McDaniel
By now most students have heard about the university’s free Saliva Assay Free Expedited (SAFE) testing program, but we wondered what happens behind the scenes. We spoke with Carolyn Bannister, who serves as the manager for the College of Pharmacy’s Diagnostic Genomics Lab, to gather insights on what happens to your saliva sample between getting tested for COVID-19 on campus and receiving your results.
September 25, 2020, Dan Cook
As the university develops plans during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is seeking ongoing input from faculty, staff and students about mental and emotional health. Below, members of the Mental and Emotional Well-Being Committee answer questions about the university’s efforts in this area.
September 04, 2020
As the number of COVID-19 cases has increased among the student body, questions have arisen about the contact tracing process as it pertains to faculty members. Rebecca Caldwell, director of Strategic Health Initiatives, discusses the university’s efforts in this area and what faculty members can expect to see as it relates to their students.
August 12, 2020
University leaders have been preparing all summer for a safe return to campus. Student Health Services director Deborah Beck gives an overview of the university's efforts and addresses the responsibility of each member of our community to do their part.
August 06, 2020, Caleigh McDaniel
With the on-going pandemic, your return to campus is going to look a little different this semester. Make sure you've completed these tasks prior to arriving on campus to ensure a smooth and safe transition back to school.
August 06, 2020
"COVID-19 had such a strong impact on my summer plans as I was not able to go home during the whole summer, increasing the time without seeing my family and friends (almost one year)."
July 30, 2020, Page Ivey
Lydia Carnesale knew just where to start to help members of her tight-knit Latino community in northeast Columbia when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The education Ph.D. candidate had worked five years earlier to help the same community during Columbia’s thousand-year flood event.
July 16, 2020, Craig Brandhorst
As the coronavirus threatens health and upends daily life throughout the world, UofSC Today is turning to our faculty to help us make sense of it all. While no one can predict exactly what will happen in the coming months, our faculty can help us ask the right questions and put important context around emerging events. Simon Hudson, a professor of tourism in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management and author of the new book "COVID-19 and Travel: Impacts, Responses and Outcomes," keeps us up-to date on the pandemic’s travel sector impact.
July 09, 2020, Catherine Jobe and Caleigh McDaniel
Wearing a face covering can help protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Learn how to easily transform an old T-shirt into a DIY face covering.
June 08, 2020, Chris Horn
When Monique Brown looks at population health, the epidemiologist considers conditions that can make it better — and worse — for different groups of people. When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brown says, there are myriad pre-existing conditions that make the virus far worse for African Americans.
June 05, 2020, Chris Horn
While the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine continues, scientists around the world are also searching for possible new treatments for the disease, including inhibitors that will shut down the virus’ ability to reproduce.
May 28, 2020, Dr. Jennifer Meredith
States are working hard to take the necessary steps to reopen safely. When Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, explained that task to the U.S. Senate recently, he pointed to South Carolina as a model for the country, one that he would “almost like to clone.” So, what is South Carolina getting right?
May 28, 2020, Chris Horn
This past spring semester, Paige Fallon began a study abroad experience in Europe, then got sick with COVID-19 and ended up in quarantine back home in Ohio. But the rising senior made the most of her experience after recovering from the virus that has killed some 350,000 worldwide — she helped save a life.
May 27, 2020, Tenell Felder
UofSC Today reached out to University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia alumni Dr. David Ford and Dr. Cedric Rivers for insight into how COVID-19 has impacted health care in South Carolina, as well as how the state might move forward in upcoming months. Both Ford and Rivers work at hospitals in Columbia, treating patients with COVID-19.
May 18, 2020, Page Ivey
Kassandra Gove, ’09 higher education administration, was elected the fifth mayor of her hometown of Amesbury — population 17,000 — about 40 miles north of Boston on the coast of Massachusetts. Her tenure during the COVID-19 pandemic has been anything but typical.
May 11, 2020
A national study sponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Mayo Clinic is examining the use of plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients, known as convalescent plasma, to treat patients who are currently suffering from the virus. Physicians hope the antibodies in the donor plasma will neutralize the virus in these ill patients and improve outcomes.
May 05, 2020, Megan Sexton
The coronavirus disrupted Hank Johnson's job search plans, but the new visual communications graduate is continuing on his path to a future in video, design or creative direction.
May 05, 2020, Tenell Felder
It’s a challenging time to be a nurse. Serving on the front lines of a pandemic, nurses are not only tasked with helping COVID-19 patients — they’re also tasked with doing it in full protective gear and while simultaneously managing non-COVID patients.
May 05, 2020, Cheedy Jaja
Since the beginning of the profession, nurses have played pivotal roles during outbreaks of disease, delivering care throughout even the bleakest of public health emergencies. College of Nursing professor Cheedy Jaja recalls for The Conversation his experience being on the front lines of Ebola.
May 01, 2020, Bryan Gentry and Anna Toptchi
Three students exhibit their MFA thesis works online, fostering the opportunity to build empathy and spark the imaginations of viewers around the world.
April 30, 2020, Megan Sexton
Professor Mark Nagel explains the popularity of competitive video games and how esports is helping fill the void left by the absence of mainstream sporting events.
April 30, 2020, Prakash Nagarkatti and Mitzi Nagarkatti
In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, who is the “fittest”? This is a challenging question. But as immunology researchers at the University of South Carolina, we can say one thing is clear: With no effective treatment options, survival against the coronavirus infection depends completely on the patient’s immune response. School of Medicine Columbia professors Prakash Nagarkatti and Mitzi Nagarkatti write for The Conversation about immune response to COVID-19.
April 28, 2020, Page Ivey
Melissa C. Reitmeier is an associate clinical professor and director of field education in the College of Social Work. She addresses how COVID-19 is impacting both the need for and the delivery of social services.
April 27, 2020, Bert Ely and Taylor Carter
Following the coronavirus’s spread through the population – and anticipating its next move – is an important part of the public health response to the new disease. Biological sciences professor Bert Ely and doctoral student Taylor Carter write for The Conversation on how the virus's genetic sequence provides insight into where the virus has been.
April 27, 2020, Amit Sheth
Social media posts and news reports are rich sources of data about people’s attitudes and behaviors. Performing this analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic is revealing the damage the pandemic is doing to the social and psychological well-being of the U.S. Amit Sheth, Founding Director, Artificial Intelligence Institute and Computer Science & Engineering professor writes for The Conversation on examining online conversation about COVID-19.
April 21, 2020, Tenell Felder
Swann Arp Adams researches disparities in cancer prevention and screening. She has practiced in diabetes care, bone marrow transplant, mammography and oncology. Adams provides insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic might affect current or recovering cancer patients and their families.
April 17, 2020, Page Ivey and Megan Sexton
Faculty across the university who have more experience with online teaching have worked to help their less tech-savvy colleagues during this time of remote-only classes.
April 15, 2020, Kevin Bennett
Director of Research & Evaluation for the Center for Rural & Primary Healthcare Kevin Bennett, School of Medicine Columbia, writes for The Conversation on how COVID-19 could impact rural health care.
April 14, 2020, Communications and Public Affairs
Political scientist Katherine Barbieri considers the effects of COVID-19 on the U.S. political scene and on authoritarian governments around the world.
April 14, 2020, Marcia Zug
As millions of people around the world practice social distancing and self-quarantine, they are separating themselves from everyone but their immediate family members. However, for divorced or separated parents who share custody of their children, the definition of “immediate family” isn’t obvious. Law professor Marcia Zug writes for The Conversation on family law in the age of the coronavirus.
April 14, 2020, Laura Kammerer
Cheedy Jaja, associate professor of nursing, in 2014 and 2015 treated patients during the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. He says health care workers caring for coronavirus patients are at risk for psychological trauma.
April 09, 2020, Megan Sexton
Mark Ferguson, a professor in the Darla Moore School of Business, explains how supply chains may be affected during the pandemic.
April 09, 2020, Caleigh McDaniel
We caught up with three students who have demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness when it comes to navigating their responsibilities during a pandemic.
April 07, 2020, Chris Horn
Today's COVID-19 landscape of quarantines and sickness bring to mind another pandemic — the 1918 influenza outbreak that hit hard on the University of South Carolina campus. One young student, Gadsden Shand, answered the call of duty and helped keep many of his classmates alive.
April 07, 2020, Chris Horn
Twitter data could be a useful tool in tracking human movement in this and future disease outbreaks, says a UofSC geography scientist who used Twitter data to track historic flooding in 2015 in South Carolina.
April 06, 2020, Chris Horn
Some aspects of nursing education involve face-to-face interaction with patients, but virtual simulation is the next best thing during COVID-19 restrictions.
April 03, 2020, Tenell Felder
Alicia Ribar, clinical associate professor at the College of Nursing, provides insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic has and will affect the field of nursing. Ribar has practiced nursing for 26 years and has had active clinical practices in acute and primary care pediatric and family practice.
April 01, 2020, Craig Brandhorst
In the new world of distance learning, faculty are getting a crash course in online education — and the learning curve can be steep. But it’s not insurmountable, says Lucy Ingram, assistant dean for academic affairs and online education at the university’s Arnold School of Public Health.
March 27, 2020, Chris Horn
Faculty members from the School of Medicine Greenville and the College of Engineering and Computing worked quickly to get FDA approval for a device that could help address the potential shortage of ventilators at COVID-19 hotspots.
March 27, 2020, Chris Horn
When the University of South Carolina announced plans to switch to online learning only beginning March 23, the nearly 20 sections of U401 were quickly ready to roll, thanks in large part to the efforts of two technology-savvy language professors.
March 27, 2020, David Lee
A group of University of South Carolina students supported by faculty is coming together to help produce a vital piece of equipment that hospitals are calling for during the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 26, 2020, Caleigh McDaniel
Being away from friends, class and normal everyday life can feel isolating at times. Luckily, now more than ever, there are ways to stay connected while keeping some distance.
March 26, 2020, David Lee
A collaborative effort involving Prisma Health and the University of South Carolina has resulted in emergency use authorization for a ventilator expansion device to support multiple patients during times of acute equipment shortages such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
March 25, 2020, Craig Brandhorst
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to separate communities, families, co-workers and friends — but it is also bringing us together like never before. And it is inspiring University of South Carolina faculty and staff to step up their efforts in a time of need.
March 25, 2020, Megan Sexton
Beth White, the undergraduate program coordinator and a clinical instructor of elementary education, offers advice for students, parents and teachers in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
March 24, 2020, Tenell Felder
Kevin Bennett, School of Medicine Columbia faculty member and director of research and evaluation at the Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare, discusses issues rural communities will face during the coronavirus pandemic as well as future steps that can be taken to strengthen rural health care systems.
March 23, 2020, Chris Horn
Classics professor Hunter Gardner studies plague narratives in Western literature, particularly those of the Roman epic poets.
March 20, 2020, Megan Sexton
Psychology professor Sayward Harrison offers advice on ways individuals, families and communities can nurture resilience in the time of the Coronavirus pandemic.
March 20, 2020, Craig Brandhorst
Simon Hudson, tourism professor and researcher in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, discusses COVID-19’s economic impact on the tourism industry.
March 20, 2020, Megan Sexton
Matthew Brashears, an associate professor of sociology at the University of South Carolina, discusses how the coronavirus might affect social networks, both in-person and online.
March 20, 2020, Craig Brandhorst
Sport and entertainment management professors Tom Regan and Nick Watanabe from the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management answer questions about COVID-19’s economic impact on the sport and entertainment industries.
March 19, 2020, Megan Sexton
Joseph Seiner, a law professor who specializes in labor and employment law, explains how the coronavirus is affecting workplaces and employees.
March 19, 2020, Chris Horn
Nükhet Varlik, an associate professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences at UofSC, studies disease, medicine and public health, particularly in era of the Ottoman Empire. She has written a book and edited another on plague and contagion in the Mediterranean world.
March 18, 2020, Chris Horn
Stacy Winchester is a research data librarian in University Libraries’ digital research services department at the University of South Carolina. We asked her about resources for parents during this period of at-home learning.
March 18, 2020, Carol J.G. Ward
The University of South Carolina’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs has compiled a list of faculty experts who can discuss topics relevant to the coronavirus pandemic.
March 17, 2020, Chris Horn
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are widespread and still emerging. Moore School professor and insurance expert Robert Hartwig discusses how the virus could affect the life and health insurance industry.