Engineering professor named National Academy of Inventors fellow
December 09, 2025, Collyn Taylor
Biomedical engineering professor Ehsan Jabbarzadeh became the University of South Carolina's fourth National Academy of Inventors fellow.
Stories for Faculty and Staff
Engineering prof named university's third-ever National Academy of Inventors fellow
December 05, 2025, Chris Horn
Electrical engineering professor Guoan Wang got his first U.S. patent while in graduate school and now has more than 60 patents and more than 50 additional patents pending. He was elected to the National Academy of Inventors’ 2024 Class of Fellows, the highest professional distinction awarded to inventors.
USC students and alumni win South Carolina InnoVision Awards
November 14, 2025, Laura Erskine
Six finalists with ties to USC were recognized by the 2025 InnoVision Awards, with three winning top honors. The winning businesses are led by students in the South Carolina Honors College, alumni and graduate students from the Molinaroli College of Engineering, and alumni from the Darla Moore School of Business and the Honors College.
Coffee bean extract for COVID?
September 24, 2025, Chris Horn
When Wenbin Tan pivoted his research a few years ago to better understand the effects of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system, his efforts led to a hunt for natural compounds that could counteract the virus’ effects. Two natural compounds that show promise were known to be abundant in unroasted green coffee beans.
How to Throw a Festival: Hogs for the Cause
September 22, 2025, by Craig Brandhorst, photos by Kim Truett
Over the past 16 years, Hogs for the Cause has raised millions of dollars to help families facing pediatric brain cancer. Cofounder Becker Hall credits the University of South Carolina for showing him the way.
USC continues record-breaking streak in research awards
August 22, 2025, Elizabeth Renedo and Andy Shain
USC's research funding again hit record highs this year, showing the resiliency and prowess of the university's students, faculty and staff.
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.
Chemical engineering research aims to improve lithium-sulfur battery systems
July 07, 2025, Chris Horn
A rechargeable battery system with lower component costs and higher energy density potential than commonly used lithium-ion batteries is the focus of an industry-sponsored study by a chemical engineering research team at the University of South Carolina.
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.
Championship Run: 2024 year in review
December 16, 2024
From a national championship and record research funding to a major engineering gift and a host of academic awards, 2024 was a banner year for USC.
USC awarded federal grant to boost state's college and career readiness
November 12, 2024, Brandon Pugh
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded USC one of its largest-ever grants — $35 million — for the College of Education's GEAR UP SC program to help disadvantaged students overcome barriers to college and career opportunities.
Gamecocks Take Manhattan: Stan Brown
November 08, 2024, Craig Brandhorst/Photos by Kim Truett
This spring, actor Stan Brown made his Broadway debut at the age of 61. The theatre double alumnus, ’84, ’89 MFA, calls the role as Camel in the musical ‘Water for Elephants’ “a dream deferred,” but it’s not as if he has been waiting in the wings all these years. The Great White Way is just the latest chapter in a long and gratifying career.
Gamecocks Take Manhattan: Eva Pilgrim
November 08, 2024, Craig Brandhorst/Photos by Kim Truett
You’ve seen Eva Pilgrim in the co-host seat on ‘Good Morning America’ and ‘GMA3,’ but the broadcast journalism alumna has a rich life beyond TV. And while she’s been living, working and enjoying her career in New York City for nearly a decade, she remains true to her South Carolina roots. In fact, they’re a big part of her success.
How Hurricane Helene became a deadly disaster across 6 states
October 07, 2024, Cary Mock
Some hurricanes are remembered for their wind damage or rainfall. Others for their coastal flooding. Hurricane Helene was a stew of all of that and more. Its near-record-breaking size, storm surge, winds and rainfall together turned Helene into an almost unimaginable disaster that stretched more than 500 miles inland from the Florida coast. Geography professor Cary Mock writes about the hurricane for The Conversation.
How Hurricane Helene became a deadly disaster across 6 states
October 07, 2024, Cary Mock
Some hurricanes are remembered for their wind damage or rainfall. Others for their coastal flooding. Hurricane Helene was a stew of all of that and more. Its near-record-breaking size, storm surge, winds and rainfall together turned Helene into an almost unimaginable disaster that stretched more than 500 miles inland from the Florida coast. Geography professor Cary Mock writes about the hurricane for The Conversation.
McNair Institute fosters entrepreneurial mindset
August 05, 2024, Rebekah Friedman
Many students enter the University of South Carolina with entrepreneurial dreams. But the entrepreneurial mindset is as much about how you think about solving problems as it is about launching a new business or bringing an invention to market — and acquiring that mindset requires a very particular kind of educational environment. Since 2017, USC’s McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise has provided exactly that.
USC energy efforts boosted with new federal funding
July 02, 2024, Communications and Marketing
In a new round of funding announced by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the University of South Carolina will receive $10.2 million for its efforts to advance battery research. The funding is part of an overall award of $45 million to the SC Nexus consortium, of which USC is a founding member and core partner.
USC ranked one of top patent-producing universities in the world
June 26, 2024, Collyn Taylor
USC is the top patent-producing university in the state and among the leaders in the SEC.
USC finance professor envisions clearer consumer sentiment
June 13, 2024, Brandon Pugh
By seeking survey input from both individuals in partnered households, policymakers and economists can get a truer take on consumer sentiment.
Project underway to train next generation of cyberwarfare professionals
June 10, 2024, Chris Horn
Jorge Crichigno, professor of integrated information technology in the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, is leading a three-year project to prepare a new generation of cyberwarfare professionals.
A Robot In Every Classroom
May 16, 2024, Rebekah Friedman
Van Robotics founder Laura Boccanfuso has a vision for improving education, one dancing, smiling, fist-bumping robot at a time.
Roll out the Barrel!
May 15, 2024, story by Craig Brandhorst | photos by Kim Truett
Study abroad can change a student’s life. For Bierkeller founder Scott Burgess, it led to a dream come true.
MapQuest co-founder Chris Heivly is lending his expertise to a Columbia nonprofit aiming to boost the city's tech sector
January 17, 2024, Craig Brandhorst
MapQuest co-founder Chris Heivly has a history of helping early stage entrepreneurs. Now, he’s lending his expertise to a Columbia nonprofit aiming to boost the city’s tech sector.
Legendary NASCAR promoter Humpy Wheeler looks back at his career in racing and his days as a Gamecock in the 1950s
January 09, 2024, Craig Brandhorst
From 1975 to 2008, Humpy Wheeler, ’61, journalism, was president and general manager of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. And over those three high-octane, pedal-to-the-metal decades, he came to be regarded as one of the most colorful promoters in NASCAR history.
USC graduates dive deep and discover dream careers at Riverbanks Zoo
August 23, 2023, Alexis Watts
Seven Gamecocks were on the frontlines of the March opening of the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Aquarium & Reptile Conservation Center at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. With degrees ranging from advertising and public relations to biology and marine science, these University of South Carolina graduates play important roles in powering the No. 1 tourist destination in South Carolina, which attracts more than 1 million visitors annually.
USC opens doors to Campus Village
August 17, 2023, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina hosted a grand opening on Friday (Aug. 18) for its new Campus Village student residential housing development, the largest construction project in the university’s 222-year history.
Carolina Master Scholars camps spark curiosity, forge connections
August 03, 2023, Alexis Watts
Summer camp memories don’t often include crime scene blood spatter analysis or creating culinary masterpieces, but the Carolina Master Scholars Adventure Series is not your typical summer camp.
In the fight against poverty, Chynna A. Phillips strives to do more
April 10, 2023, Rebekah Friedman
As senior director of policy and research at Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, Chynna A. Phillips is taking on poverty one partnership at a time.
USC researchers study how walking speed affects health
February 17, 2023, Megan Sexton
Researchers from the College of Engineering and Computing and the Arnold School of Public Health are studying how a person’s walking speed affects health and well being.
Social work researcher explores impact on those who want more work hours but don't get them
January 18, 2023, Page Ivey
As many as 10 percent of U.S. workers want more work hours than their companies are offering — a condition known as underemployment. College of Social Work professor Jaeseung Kim is investigating the economic and personal fallout of underemployment, including the consequences of erratic weekends, shift cancellations or lack of control over hours.
Year in review '22: In with the old, in with the new
December 14, 2022, Communications and Marketing
Did campus feel just a little bit livelier this year? A touch more spirited? A tad more optimistic? We thought so, too — and not only because we named a new president back in January. Yeah, that was one heck of a way to ring in the new year, and it set the tone for the months ahead, but in the end, 2022 was about all of us, from the President’s House to Russell House, from Colonial Life to Williams-Brice. It was about respecting tradition, rediscovering our identity, remembering our past and reimagining our future. In 2022, the University of South Carolina reminded us all what it means to be USC.
Prohibition-era beer laws persist to the present
December 02, 2022, Téa Smith
Craft beer is big business but that doesn’t necessarily mean business is booming.In fact, for many of the nation’s smaller brewing operations, competing with established large-scale “macrobreweries” is a David and Goliath story — and the laws are stacked in Goliath’s favor. But Scott Taylor Jr.. and his colleagues at the Wine and Beverage Institute at USC School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management are working on the first of three papers exploring the negative impact of Prohibition-era laws on competition within the alcoholic beverage industry.
USC, West Columbia police continue to see success in social work outreach program
November 14, 2022, Kyndel Lee
The West Columbia Outreach Program allows social work graduate students to complete field hours in the law enforcement field, giving them hands-on experience with case file management.
Queasy to easy: 10 hacks to enjoy thrill rides
October 13, 2022, Alexis Watts
Scott Smith, assistant professor at the University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail and Sports Management and coaster enthusiast, has 10 tips that can help calm the squeamish stomach and get back to the hair-raising fun.
Columbia, Upstate campuses to receive Prisma Health funding for nursing programs
October 03, 2022, Kyndel Lee
The University of South Carolina’s Columbia and Upstate campuses are recipients of an investment in scholarships by Prisma Health to help counter the state’s critical nursing shortage.
New vice president for development is a familiar face
September 16, 2022, Craig Brandhorst
Michelle Dodenhoff is a familiar face on campus. She was USC’s associate VP for development from 2004 to 2009, then vice president for development and alumni affairs from 2009 to 2013. She returns to campus for another run as vice president for development.
UofSC partners with Verizon to establish Innovation Experience Hub
September 15, 2022, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina is partnering with Verizon to launch the new Innovation Experience Hub, a showcase for applying Verizon 5G Ultra-Wideband Internet technology to cutting-edge discoveries in health care, manufacturing and civil infrastructure.
In global crisis, UofSC developing pipeline of supply chain experts
July 27, 2022, Alexis Watts
Moore School at UofSC puts supply-chain graduates on accelerated career path.
UofSC, Lexington Medical Center enter new partnership
July 05, 2022, Kyndel Lee
The University of South Carolina College of Nursing and Lexington Medical Center have partnered to build a state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab and teaching space to provide clinical training for UofSC’s growing nursing student population.
Music professor gets creative in managing change
April 05, 2022, Dan Cook
When you think of change management, you might think of the Harvard Business Review or McKinsey’s global consultants. You probably don’t think about musicians. But in David Cutler’s new book, the distinguished professor of entrepreneurship and innovation in the School of Music takes lessons that began in the arts and translates them into a broad-based way of thinking about change in any other facet of life.
America's cost of 'defending freedom' in Ukraine
February 24, 2022, William Hauk
As President Biden warns Americans of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many are unaware of how defending Ukraine can impact the U.S. Economics professor William Hauk writes for The Conversation on the price of supporting Ukraine and the increased risk of recession.
USC Columbia Technology Incubator receives $200,000 scholarship grant from Truist
October 25, 2021, Chase Bussell
The USC Columbia Technology Incubator announced Monday (Oct. 25) a $200,000 grant from Truist Financial Corporation through the Truist Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund at The Winston-Salem Foundation, to provide funding for scholarships and training programs that will support the future information technology (IT) workforce in South Carolina.
Driving innovation at Michelin
September 21, 2021, Office of Communications and Public Affairs
With an MBA from UofSC, Nathalie Baulain leads the customer innovation lab at Michelin, one of the world’s leading tire companies. The professional MBA program at the Darla Moore School of Business helped Baulain achieve the entrepreneurial and creative problem-solving skills she needed to take on a new role and to be successful in her position.
UofSC ranks among state's best employers in new Forbes list
August 26, 2021, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus is ranked the 12th best employer in South Carolina, according to a new national survey released by Forbes.
USC Upstate has half-billion-dollar impact on local economy
August 25, 2021, Megan Sexton
USC Upstate is home to about 6,000 students and graduates about 1,300 each year. Studies estimate it has a half-billion-dollar economic impact on the region. As chancellor, Bennie L. Harris hopes the university can lead the way in increasing the number or residents in Spartanburg and Greenville counties who hold a four-year degree, while attracting more companies to a region that already is home to BMW and Michelin.
Gamecock iHub, UofSC's Apple Authorized Campus Store, opens
August 12, 2021, Allen Wallace
The University of South Carolina’s Apple Authorized Campus Store, Gamecock iHub, officially opens for business Aug. 13 with a grand opening ceremony. It is only the second in the nation to incorporate experiential learning into its business model.
Business graduate shares vision for developing historic Greenville location
July 26, 2021, Craig Brandhorst
Greenville developer and business administration graduate Brody Glenn oversees major construction projects for corporate clients nationwide. With Camperdown, a mixed-use, live-work-play development in the heart of downtown Greenville, he is reshaping his hometown.
Solar trailer spurs sustainability efforts at UofSC
April 30, 2021, Audrey Hill
The Office of Sustainability along with mechanical engineering students worked together to create a sustainable solution for providing power to events at UofSC. The solar trailer is a converted, movable trailer that is able to store energy from the sun and power electrical equipment.
Governor Henry McMaster, University of South Carolina, and Benedict College announce statewide education initiative with Apple products
March 30, 2021, Jeff Stensland
Gov. Henry McMaster awarded $6 million in Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds to the University of South Carolina, who, in partnership with Benedict College, will establish eight Apple computer labs statewide. The labs will be strategically located for use by local school districts, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the South Carolina Technical College System and citizens in the community.
UofSC plays essential role in statewide economy, workforce
March 01, 2021, Dan Cook and Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina pumps approximately $6.2 billion annually into the state’s economy, according to a new study, representing a $700 million growth in annual impact over four years. The findings are from researchers at UofSC’s Darla Moore School of Business. Researchers have updated a 2017 report that found the university’s annual statewide economic impact was $5.5 billion.