Stories for Parents

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.

Rear view of a student walking on a path on USC campus

US News rankings: USC's International MBA remains top in the country

April 07, 2025, Megan Sexton

For the 12th straight year, the University of South Carolina has earned the No. 1 ranking in the country for its International MBA program, according to the 2025 Best Graduate School rankings released April 8 by U.S. News & World Report.

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.

woman sits on a porch and holds a book titled

USC Press internship program creating new chapters for student success

March 11, 2025, Alexis Watts

First-generation, low-income students frequently face the difficult choice between earning a paycheck and advancing their careers. The University of South Carolina Press Internship Program is changing this narrative through a paid stipend initiative so that no student misses out on a valuable internship experience because of financial constraints.

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.

A rendering of the new School of Medicine Columbia education and research facility

School of Medicine Columbia breaks ground on new facility at USC Health Sciences Campus

February 21, 2025, Gregory Hardy

The University of South Carolina broke ground on a facility that will redefine the future of health care education and research during a ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the site of its new School of Medicine Columbia. This cutting-edge, 300,000-square-foot-plus medical education and research facility will be part of USC’s transformative $300 million Health Sciences Campus, amid 16 acres in Columbia’s reimagined BullStreet District.

Marcia Iszard headshot

Nurse anesthetist Marcia Iszard has the caretaker gene

January 29, 2025, Faith Militello

Marcia Iszard, a certified registered nurse anesthetist for 15 years and current president of the South Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists, is passionate about advancing the nurse anesthesia profession. As a clinical assistant professor at the School of Medicine Columbia, she combines her leadership experience and commitment to education to shape the next generation of CRNAs while advocating for improved healthcare access across South Carolina.

two women nurses stand at hospital bedside, one using a portable ultrasound on a patient

US News rankings: USC's online nursing master's remains No. 1 in the nation

January 21, 2025, Megan Sexton

For the fifth straight year, USC's College of Nursing is ranked No. 1 in the country for its online master’s in nursing program, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual online program rankings released Tuesday (Jan. 21).

woman with track shoes around her neck and a U.S. flag draped on her shoulders stands in an arena

Two-time Olympic gold medalist's second act connects athletes' minds and bodies

January 15, 2025, Anna Francis

Natasha Hastings came to the University of South Carolina with dreams of excelling as an athlete. Although her talent eventually would propel her to an NCAA championship, multiple world championships and two Olympic gold medals, her initial start on the Gamecock track and field team was less than stellar. Her body was sound, but she had psychological demons to slay.

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.

Nuerons in the hypothalamus responsible for regulating the body's circadian rhythms.

Research by 2 pharmacy professors aims at new therapies for depression, stress, anxiety

December 04, 2024, Chris Horn

Pharmacy professors Alessandra Porcu and Chase Francis are conducting groundbreaking research aimed at developing new therapies for depression, stress and anxiety. Their work, supported by a developmental research grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, explores how circadian rhythms and brain regions like the nucleus accumbens affect mental health.

Student taking notes in class

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.

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.

Paul Toriello in a navy suit

New Faculty Spotlight: Paul Toriello

October 25, 2024, Faith Militello

Paul Toriello, assistant dean of clinical graduate programs, brings 30 years of experience in mental health counseling and academia to the School of Medicine Columbia. As a clinical professor in the Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science, he leads initiatives to integrate technology into health care education and expand mental health services, preparing students to become professional caregivers.

man and woman embrace while looking at flooded buildings

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.

man and woman embrace while looking at flooded buildings

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.

USC professor and alumna Anna Hoppmann stands in the atrium of the children's hospital at Prisma Health-Midlands.

Anna Hoppmann leads pediatric cancer research effort

September 10, 2024, Chris Horn

Anna Hoppmann is a pediatric oncologist with Prisma Health and a clinical assistant professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia where she graduated nine years ago. She also chairs the S.C. Childhood Cancer Taskforce, which recently released a 25-year trend report on childhood cancer incidence, survival and mortality in South Carolina.

Two femaie dancers

Fall Arts Preview

August 28, 2024, Kristine Hartvigsen

Soon all of us will experience an arts immersion like no other — autumn. We will marvel at breathtaking color — yellows, russets, reds and browns — brilliantly lighting up the landscape. The University of South Carolina similarly offers a wide spectrum of arts experiences to ignite your imagination this fall. Here is a sampling.

Exterior of the College of Nursing's satellite clinical education building on the Lexington Medical Center campus

USC and Lexington Medical Center open innovative facility to train nurses

August 12, 2024, Gregory Hardy

The University of South Carolina and Lexington Medical Center opened a new 52,000 square foot facility to train the next generation of nurses Monday (Aug. 12). Located on Lexington Medical Center’s West Columbia campus, the satellite clinical education building will be used primarily for the clinical training of the College of Nursing's third- and fourth-year nursing bachelor’s students as well as master’s program students.

A young male jogs for exercise outdoors on a hot day.

Extreme heat can be dangerous for runners, cyclists and anyone spending time outdoors: 6 tips for staying safe

June 20, 2024, Susan Yeargin

When summer starts with a stifling heat wave, as many states are seeing in 2024, it can pose risks for just about anyone who spends time outside, whether they’re runners, people who walk or cycle to work, outdoor workers or kids playing sports. Susan Yeargin, an expert on heat-related illnesses, explains what everyone should think about before spending time outside in a heat wave and how to keep yourself and vulnerable family members and friends safe.

Woman outdoors on ship

Support and passion bring Honors College alumna into the 'ocean twilight zone'

May 22, 2024, Kathryn McPhail

Honors College alumna Kayla Gardner’s passion for protecting the ocean and teaching others to do the same led her to pursue a career in marine science. Unlike many young people who are drawn to dolphins, turtles or sharks, much smaller creatures sparked Gardner’s interest.