May 12, 2026, Kristine Hartvigsen
Learn about USC's 19th Udall Scholar, Kayla Thompson, a first-generation, science-loving, rugby-playing, future environmental policy advocate. Her journey parallels that of her benefactors in many ways, and this honor motivates her to continually do more.
May 08, 2026, Michaela Taylor
You may know Cocky from game day at Williams-Brice, but some of his biggest fans sit on classroom floors, not stadium seats. Behind the yellow beak are two seniors who’ve been involved with Cocky's Reading Express for the last four years. Meet Walker Weaver and Emma Connelly.
May 08, 2026, Craig Brandhorst
The University of South Carolina marching band won the 2025 EA Sports Metallica Collegiate Edition Marching Band Competition, a one-time chance to record a new arrangement of an iconic Metallica song for the next iteration of EA Sports popular College Football video game.
May 06, 2026, Rebekah Friedman
USC’s College of Information and Communications is giving students more choices through its newest academic programs. Several students explain how these new offerings are preparing them for technologies and careers of the future.
May 05, 2026, Thom Harman
Stephen Panus creates ‘Walk On’ scholarship for USC walk-on student-athletes to honor son after tragedy.
May 05, 2026, Hunter Mutherspaw
The University of South Carolina’s Parking and Transportation Services department continues to gain international recognition for its leadership, innovation and commitment to excellence in campus mobility.
May 01, 2026, Dan Cook
From an early age, Stephanie Kyle had an appreciation for people from all over the world. She entertained thoughts of traveling far from South Carolina for college, but everything changed when she toured USC. As a student, she traveled widely and got involved in student organizations focused on global business and supply chain. Today, she is pricing director at a major global company.
April 29, 2026, Jeff Stensland
Thousands of graduates from across the University of South Carolina will celebrate May commencement ceremonies beginning Thursday, May 7. USC President Michael Amiridis will deliver remarks at all four baccalaureate ceremonies taking place at the Colonial Life Arena (schedule below). Separate ceremonies also will be held for the Joseph F. Rice School of Law, the two Schools of Medicine and the doctoral graduates.
April 29, 2026, Dana Woodward
As dean, Dr. MacGilvray says that she is looking to foster a culture rooted in service, compassion, inclusion and dedication to excellence in medical education and research.
April 28, 2026, Chris Horn
What happens when a first-generation college student seeks advice from an instructor who was also a first-gen student? “Inspiration,” says Michelle Ayala-Perez. A conversation with an accounting instructor emboldened Ayala-Perez to explore changing her academic major. She is now enrolled in the accounting program at the Darla Moore School of Business and has her sights set on a career path that seems to have chosen her.
April 27, 2026, Megan Sexton
As the Class of 2026 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.
April 24, 2026, Hunter Mutherspaw
The University of South Carolina is restoring Florence C. Benson Elementary School, a former segregated school and one of the last remaining landmarks of the historic Black community of Wheeler Hill. The project aims not only to preserve the building’s structure but also to honor its role in the history of segregation and ensure that the community’s legacy is remembered for future generations.
April 23, 2026, Andy Shain
The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees met Friday (April 24) at Gateway 737 and approved several contracts and stadium bond financing.
April 22, 2026, Dan Cook
Dawn Staley has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Election to the Academy is a prestigious honor, and Coach Staley joins only three others from USC who are currently part of the academy. Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is both an honorary society that recognizes and celebrates the excellence of its members and an independent research center convening leaders from across disciplines, professions and perspectives to address significant challenges.
April 21, 2026, Hunter Mutherspaw
This Earth Day, Carolina Food Co. highlights its efforts to advance sustainability at USC through food waste reduction, recovery, and composting.
April 20, 2026, Marketing and communications
Every year, USC students and scholars from a variety of backgrounds and academic disciplines come together to present at Discover USC. The conference features 1,000-plus research projects. Undergraduates, graduate students, medical scholars and postdocs work with faculty mentors to hone their research skills and learn to present their findings. We talked with a few of the presenters.
April 15, 2026, Delaney Freistuhler
The University of South Carolina has named Christopher Culbertson dean of the University of South Carolina McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. He'll assume the role July 1.
April 08, 2026, Magdalena Stawkowski
Writing for The Conversation, associate professor Magdalena Stawkowski describes her field research at a Soviet-era nuclear test site in Kazakhstan. Thousands still live around its cratered perimeter and stay because of their collective refusal to reject systems that had abandoned them and instead create their own terms for survival.
April 02, 2026, Marcia Zug
Last month Colin Gray became the first parent convicted of murder for a mass shooting his son, Colt, committed in 2024 in Georgia. Critics worry that the decision could lead to parental accountability for a broad range of children’s actions. Law professor Marcia Zug writes about the issue for The Conversation.
March 26, 2026, Alexis Watts and Michaela Taylor
Thanks to the generosity of the USC community, Give 4 Garnet reports a preliminary total of nearly $1.3 million and counting raised from 6,250 donors, showcasing the collective power of giving back.
March 23, 2026, Chris Horn
Since earning her Eagle Scout badge five years ago, Ashley Chittum has been prepared for whatever adventures come her way. That includes being the first in her family to go to college and, in her sophomore year at the University of South Carolina, studying abroad for a semester in Australia.
March 20, 2026, Gregory Hardy
More than 200 University of South Carolina health sciences students reached a major milestone, learning where they will continue their training during national Match Day celebrations on March 18 and 20.
March 19, 2026, Andy Shain
What the USC Board of Trustees approved at their March meeting — including new construction and renovation projects, various contracts, academic changes, and housing and meal fees.
March 19, 2026, Andy Shain
The USC Board of Trustees formally approved a number of new construction and renovation projects, including a neurological hospital and rehabilitation center, and received updates on the university’s master plan, including redeveloping the student union and developments on South Main Street. Trustees also adopted a resolution in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 225th anniversary of the founding of USC.
March 18, 2026, Daniel M. Stuart
Silent meditation and silent prayer have shaped spiritual lives within a variety of religious traditions for thousands of years. Today, however, those practices are often being offered in secular settings. Daniel M. Stuart, an associate professor of religious studies at USC, writes for The Conversation about emerging trends in secular meditation practices.
March 17, 2026, Gregory Hardy
USC marked a major milestone in providing specialized cognitive care at a ribbon cutting for its Brain Health Center on the Health Sciences Campus on Wednesday. The facility is designed to deliver exceptional diagnostic, treatment and support for patients living with cognitive conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
March 16, 2026, Alexis Watts
Student Body Treasurer Ashley Reynolds helps Give 4 Garnet return to the heart of campus.
March 12, 2026, Kristine Hartvigsen
There are only about 384 North Atlantic right whales remaining on Earth. That’s fewer than the number of students living in the Capstone dorm. The latest count is cause for alarm, and the whales’ leading killers are entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes.
March 11, 2026, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina and Prisma Health are partnering to provide specialized care for patients with complex neurological conditions at the new Brain Health Center in Columbia. The center will expand statewide access to advanced technology, expert care teams and innovative treatments.
March 04, 2026, Kristine Hartvigsen
AI is everywhere — and marketing is no exception. This year marked the first time that the American Advertising Federation incorporated an AI category into its Midlands ADDY Awards, and University of South Carolina students rose to the challenge, showcasing what is possible in dynamic, creative concept and design in collaboration with AI.
March 02, 2026, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina Columbia (USC) and the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) today announced the launch of a new scholarship program designed to support GSSM graduates who choose to continue their education at USC’s Columbia campus.
February 24, 2026, Gregory Hardy
Skiing can be both a thrill and a full-brain workout. USC exercise science chair Shawn Arent explains how downhill skiing sharpens cognition, why concussion risks are higher than many people realize and simple steps that can protect your brain before you hit the slopes.
February 24, 2026, Marketing and communications
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.
February 23, 2026, Anna Swartwood House
The sale of a small red chalk drawing of a woman’s foot by Michelangelo, which sold at auction for $27.2 million, excited art historians — not because of the money it fetched but because of the attention it has brought to Michelangelo’s lifelong devotion to drawing, a medium he prized over painting. Anna Swartwood House, an associate professor of art history at USC, writes for The Conversation about the significance of the recent sale.
February 16, 2026, Molly Dawes
Teasing is a common but complex behavior that can serve pro-social functions, but it can also have anti-social functions and harm the targeted person. Teasing interactions are influenced by factors such as the relationship between teaser and target and the content of the tease. Molly Dawes, associate professor in the Department of Educational and Developmental Science at USC, writes for The Conversation about the complexities of teasing.
February 12, 2026, Allen Wallace
On Feb. 21, a year's worth of work culminates with USC Dance Marathon’s 14-hour Main Event. More than 1,000 students will join the year-round team of 400-plus for a full day of interactive activities, performances and educational programming centered around the Miracle Families and supporting Columbia's children's hospital.
February 06, 2026, Craig Brandhorst, photos by Kim Truett
Cocky’s Reading Express turned 20 in 2025. The folks behind USC’s ongoing effort to promote childhood literacy tell the story, one book at a time.
February 06, 2026, Rebekah Friedman
Back from Ukraine, journalism alumna and former war correspondent Isabelle Khurshudyan begins next chapter at CNN.
February 05, 2026, Marketing and Communications
2025 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award winner Tom Mullikin has enjoyed a long and eclectic career. Now, the longtime environmental lawyer is managing the Palmetto State’s fish, wildlife and natural areas as director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
February 04, 2026, Conor Harrison
The government directed data centers to turn on backup generation in parts of the U.S. Conor Harrison, an associate professor of geography in the School of Earth, Ocean and Environment, co-authors this story for The Conversation on how expanding distributed generation could improve grid resilience.
January 30, 2026, Kristine Hartvigsen
In a 9 a.m. Instagram story by Metallica and EA Sports on Jan. 30, Metallica’s Robert Trujillo announced the winners of its 3rd Annual Metallica Marching Band Competition – Collegiate Edition. The Carolina Band was named grand-prize winner in the Division 1 category.
January 30, 2026, Catherine Pruitt
February is Black History Month, to honor and celebrate this, visit Thomas Cooper Library to utilize their resources to learn more about African American history in South Carolina and here at USC.
January 30, 2026, Brett Robertson
Winter storms pose multiple dangers at once, and people often underestimate how quickly conditions can become life-threatening. Here is what people need to know to reduce their risk of injury during severe winter weather.
January 29, 2026, Thom Harman / photos by Kim Truett
While coaching his son’s flag football team last fall, former USC quarterback Connor Shaw went into sudden cardiac arrest. Quick thinking, the presence of first responders and an automated external defibrillator saved his life. Now fully recovered, Shaw has started a nonprofit to increase CPR training and bring AEDs to athletic fields statewide, and beyond.
January 26, 2026, Dan Cook
The University of South Carolina's College of Nursing continues to be a national leader in online nursing education. Four nursing programs at the University of South Carolina rank in the Top 10 nationally in the latest online rankings from U.S. News & World Report, including its online master's in nursing program, which has been in the Top 5 for six consecutive years.
January 26, 2026, Chris Horn
Andrew Verma's job at a large bank call center was a great landing spot right after high school but the variable schedule made attending college a challenge. Then he found Palmetto College and a fast road to advancement.
January 26, 2026
Mother-daughter duo Casey Cline and Andrea Johnson reached a shared milestone in Spring 2025 — both earning MSNs in healthcare leadership and nursing education, respectively. Their journey reflects a powerful bond and shared passion for nursing and lifelong learning.
January 13, 2026, Kristine Hartvigsen
The University of South Carolina has recognized students, faculty and staff members for their work on campus and in the larger community with 2026 Martin Luther King Social Justice Awards. The awards recognize individuals who have exemplified the philosophies of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. through acts of community service, social justice or racial reconciliation.
December 19, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen
Sports Business Journal recently named USC senior instructor Susan O’Malley one of the top 125 influential sports business figures of the past quarter-century. Follow her path to stardom.
December 19, 2025, Chris Horn
Seven USC School of Medicine Greenville students demonstrated their commitment to lifestyle medicine by training for and completing an Ironman 70.3 competition in Wilmington, North Carolina.