Author: Author Listing Page

Amy Gerald smiles while standing outside on the USC Lancaster campus

Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation: Amy Gerald

August 20, 2026, Thom Harman

Amy Gerald, an assistant professor of English at USC Lancaster, uses community-connected projects and experiential learning to prepare her students for whatever career they choose. Whether it’s partnering with local nonprofits to solve real-world business problems or assigning observational writing assignments at USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Center, Gerald’s innovative approaches to teaching stand out both in and beyond the classroom.

Topics: Faculty, Experiential Learning, Recognition, University System

Overhead view of the South Caroliniana Library's reading room

Four USC building initiatives win awards

July 25, 2024, Thom Harman

Recently, the university was honored by both the state of South Carolina and the Midlands nonprofit Historic Columbia for its historic preservation efforts. In June, USC Columbia and USC Union were both recognized by the S.C. Department of Archives and History for their work in preserving, restoring and renovating buildings. Historic Columbia also honored the university’s Columbia campus with two awards: one for preservation, rehabilitation or restoration for Longstreet Theatre and one for revitalization for Campus Village.

Topics: Academics, Research, History, Collections, Campus Construction, University Libraries

Amber Fallucca on USC's historic Horseshoe

Inaugural director excited about Carolina Experience

July 11, 2024, Thom Harman

Amber Fallucca is the inaugural director of the Carolina Experience, which will focus on the undergraduate experience past the first year — for transfer, sophomore, junior and senior students. As a coordinating office, they will collaborate with a variety of campus offices to elevate the entire student experience at USC.

Topics: Students, Initiatives

Dawn Staley throws her head back and hands out in celebration of the WBB National Championship.

Let it Reign!

May 14, 2024, Thom Harman

Maybe you were shouting from the stands in Cleveland as Dawn Staley’s remarkable women’s basketball team brought home the third national championship in program history. Maybe you were among the 24 million viewers watching on TV as they turned a so-called rebuilding year into an undefeated season and rings all around. Maybe you were even out there in the Thomas Cooper reflecting pool with several hundred other ecstatic Gamecocks, making a splash all your own.

Topics: Students, Alumni, University Leadership, Recognition, Leadership, Careers, Carolinian

MInuette Floyd poses with students and teachers in front of a school library in Ghana.

USC professor wins governor's award for arts in education

March 28, 2024, Thom Harman

Minuette Floyd, a professor of art education in the University of South Carolina’s School of Visual Art and Design, won a governor’s award in the arts in education category. The award, announced by the South Carolina Arts Commission on behalf of the sitting governor, is the state’s highest award for exceptional achievement in practicing or supporting the arts.

Topics: Faculty, Academics, Experiential Learning, Recognition, Service, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

Matt White conducts an ensemble

Matt White's approach for "Lowcountry" has him headed to Spoleto

January 26, 2024, Thom Harman

From a new program home to new music to continued research, Matt White, Jazz Studies Program chair, is rather busy. His novel approach to a 2023 release, “Lowcountry” — incorporating Gullah histories and stories with contemporary jazz — has earned White and his collaborators a chance to perform the piece during the 2024 Spoleto Festival.

Topics: Students, Faculty, Academics, Research, Experiential Learning, History, Recognition, Service, School of Music

Members of the Carolina Band perform on the field at halftime of a USC football game

Carolina Marching Band selected to perform in the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

September 08, 2023, Thom Harman

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® committee has announced the Carolina Band as one of their premier bands selected to perform in the 2024 parade. The announcement was made at halftime of the South Carolina vs. Furman football game on Saturday (Sept. 9). The band was one of just 10 chosen from more than 100 applicants. This is the first time in the band’s 100+-year history that it’s been given this opportunity.

Topics: Students, University Leadership, Experiential Learning, Recognition, School of Music

TEDxUofSC letters displayed on the Horseshoe

TEDxUofSC 2020 goes virtual

October 13, 2020, Thom Harman

The University of South Carolina will host its first ever virtual TEDxUofSC event Wednesday, Oct. 21. Guided by TED’s goal of sharing “ideas worth spreading,” TEDxUofSC 2020 will be broadcast from the Columbia campus via Facebook Live from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Topics: speakers, Signature Events, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Joseph F. Rice School of Law, College of Pharmacy

Will Muschamp

Effort, toughness, discipline

August 31, 2016, Thom Harman

Since becoming head football coach for the Gamecocks, Will Muschamp has been determined to instill his mantra of "effort, toughness and discipline" in his players. We caught up with the coach to get his answers to a few questions before the team kicks off his first season.

Topics: University Leadership

Alumni win Oscar

And the winner is ...

February 18, 2015, Thom Harman

The next time you marvel at the natural-looking forest in a movie or the realistic environments in a video game, you can thank Michael Sechrest and Chris King. And you won’t be alone. The movie industry just thanked them, too — with an Academy Award. In fact, their work prompted the academy to create a new category. For these Carolina grads, it was unfamiliar territory.

Fire thrower at First Thursday

Alumnus shares his artistic vision

November 03, 2014, Thom Harman

Alumnus and small business owner Mark Plessinger launched the First Thursday arts event on Columbia's Main Street in 2009. The monthly event has been credited with helping fuel the ongoing resurgence of the Capital City's downtown business district.

UofSC students at South Carolina State Fair

Outreach program makes physics fun at S.C. State Fair

October 09, 2014, Thom Harman

It’s the smell of elephant ears, mustard and fried everything. It’s the uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach as you clickety-clack up the first hill of the roller coaster. It’s the South Carolina State Fair, and it’s also Midway Physics Day, when thousands of kids from across the state learn that science can be cool.

Jay Matheson

Kick out the jams

October 09, 2014, Thom Harman

Alumnus Jay Matheson, '82 media arts, prepares for the Jam Room Music Festival. Now in its third year, the annual event has played a major role in the revitalization of Columbia's Main Street.

Taylor Singmaster

As a Gamecock, my vision has No Limits

August 16, 2013, Thom Harman

Distorted images. Uneven exposures. Blurred edges. The photographs taken by Taylor Singmaster, aren’t perfect, but that’s on purpose. Her pictures serve as metaphors for the lives of children with Down syndrome, whose worlds aren’t perfect either. But they are still beautiful, genuine, pure. Using a plastic toy camera the images may not be sharp, Taylor’s focus is clear.

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