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woman in brown shirt sitting on garden bench

Senior biochemistry and molecular biology major named Marshall Scholarship finalist

November 06, 2026, Valerie Weingart-Williams

The Marshall Scholarship recognizes up to 50 of the United States’ most promising young leaders and scholars, awarding full scholarships for graduate study in the United Kingdom. South Carolina Honors College student Linden McGregor, an accomplished researcher and leader of STEM outreach initiatives, has been recognized as a finalist for this prestigious award. She would become USC’s third Marshall Scholar and first since 2009.

Topics: Students, Recognition

Abiodun in a classroom in Ghana

Public health alumna finds career connections through mentor's support

November 05, 2026, Laura Erskine

Growing up in Nigeria, Titilayomi Abiodun saw many people in her community get sick with malaria. The desire to help solve this issue led Abiodun to study public health at USC, where she connected with experts in vector-borne illnesses. Abiodun went on to earn her master’s degree, and she has conducted research in Ghana.

Topics: Alumni, Academics, Research, Careers, Arnold School of Public Health

Alt text: Woman in black blazer smiling at camera at the Darla Moore School of Business.

International business, marketing junior seeks to gain a global perspective

November 03, 2026, Téa Smith

Blythe Robinson grew up fascinated with the French language and culture. So, when she saw that the Darla Moore School of Business offers a program with a yearlong study abroad trip to France, she took advantage of the opportunity. We talked to the Moore School junior about her upcoming study abroad trip and how her experiences at the University of South Carolina have helped shape her.

Topics: Students, Academics, Experiential Learning, Student Voices, Darla Moore School of Business

First-gen student Kenadee Allen

First-generation students find their home at USC

November 01, 2026, Megan Sexton

As the university marks the celebration of First-Gen College Celebration Week, we caught up with first-generation students, faculty and staff who are thriving in the classroom and beyond.

Topics: Students, Faculty, Academics, Undergraduate Admissions, Institutional News, Diversity, SC Impact, Student Voices, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Darla Moore School of Business, Arnold School of Public Health, South Carolina Honors College

Headshot of Zhaodi Chen

Sociologist Zhaodi Chen examines why some online stories face silence

October 20, 2026, Laura Erskine

Violence against women is a significant public health and human rights issue worldwide. Many have turned to social media to make their voices heard. Sociologist Zhaodi Chen studies how social media brings attention to the issue. Her research shows that despite the huge awareness raised by movements like #MeToo, many stories shared online still face relative silence.

Topics: Faculty, Research, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Breakthrough Research

Woman in black shirt smiling against brick building with ivy

Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation: Sarah Rogers

October 15, 2026, Téa Smith

Fostering a comfortable environment for students to participate in discussions and engage with the sensitive topics like hate crimes and sexual violence is paramount to Sarah Rogers’ teaching philosophy. Her student-centered approach was shaped by her experience as a first-generation college student and is informed by the concept of intersectionality and a feminist pedagogy. For her work in the classroom, Rogers has earned a Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation.

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

Transfer student Kevin-Michael Harrell

Transfer students add experience, insights to USC campus

October 14, 2026, Megan Sexton

Transfer students find their way to the University of South Carolina in all sorts of ways. But regardless of how they get here, their numbers are steadily growing. Approximately 1,680 transfer students started classes this fall on the Columbia campus, an increase of 28 percent since the fall 2022 cohort. Meet three transfer students who have found their path at USC.

Topics: Students, Undergraduate Admissions, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Arnold School of Public Health

A man wearing a military uniform sits and holds a small boy on his lap, while a girl and boy sit close to him.

Students from military families are often misunderstood in US public schools - a retired military officer and behavioral health expert explains what schools can do

October 13, 2026, Nikki R. Wooten

Students from military families have specific experiences and needs that require support from their schools. Nikki R. Wooten, an associate professor of social work, writes for The Conversation about how some educators may not understand the experiences of military children and the challenges of military life.

Topics: Faculty, Research, Health Sciences, College of Social Work, The Conversation

A person takes someone's picture in front of the Colosseum in Rome.

Education abroad: Go as you are

October 12, 2026, Laura Erskine

Each year, the Education Abroad Office coordinates thousands of travel experiences for USC students, from short trips to full-term exchange programs. As peer mentors, seniors Kelcie Pollinger and Isaiah Smalls meet with students to answer their questions. Here, Pollinger and Smalls share some of their key insights — and why studying abroad is a can’t-miss opportunity.

Topics: Students, Experiential Learning, Student Voices, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Darla Moore School of Business

Neon pink and purple waves on black background depict how particles at the quantum level behave.

100 years ago, Schrödinger's equation shed light on quantum physics

October 09, 2026, Sophya Garashchuk

Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger developed the wave equation that allowed him to calculate the probability that a particle exhibited a certain property from its wave functions. Even though the human eye can’t parse what’s happening at the quantum scale, the way particles behave influences how you experience the world. Sophya Garashchuk, associate chair and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, writes for The Conversation about how scientists are leveraging Schrodinger's theory at the quantum level.

Topics: Faculty, Research, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, The Conversation

Walter Edgar sits in a red chair and holds his book 'South Carolina A History.'

Alumni awards 2026

October 09, 2026, Marketing and Communications

Each year, USC celebrates exemplary alumni and friends with awards bestowed by the Alumni Association. Honorees include Walter Edgar, winner of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, and E. Scott Moïse, winner of the biannual Bethea Volunteer Service Award. All seven award winners reflect the values that define the Gamecock community: service, integrity, character and leadership.

Topics: Alumni, Recognition, Service, leadership, Careers, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, College of Information and Communications, Joseph F. Rice School of Law, School of Music, South Carolina Honors College

Ada B. Thomas with two other women at a table.

These remarkable women changed USC for the better

September 29, 2026, Rebekah Friedman and Craig Brandhorst

USC has been home to countless highly successful women since the university opened its doors to them in the 1890s. These seven changed the institution from within.

Topics: Faculty, History, Recognition, Service, Student Leadership, Careers, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Darla Moore School of Business, College of Education, Joseph F. Rice School of Law, College of Nursing, Arnold School of Public Health, Carolinian

Exterior of USC's Swearingen Engineering building with fall foliage in the foreground

University of South Carolina and Westinghouse partner to advance nuclear workforce development

September 29, 2026, Marketing and Communications

Agreement will explore opportunities to build the nuclear workforce needed to support fleet deployment of AP1000® reactors in the U.S. through USC’s planned Nuclear Innovation Center.

Topics: Alumni, Faculty, University Leadership, Academics, Research, Experiential Learning, Economic Impact, Campus Change, SC Impact, leadership, Careers, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing

University of South Carolina (USC) students walk past a large USC logo outside a campus building. A graphic reads, “U.S. News Nation’s Best First-Year Experience — Public Universities.”

USC retains top US News rankings for international business, public first-year experience

September 22, 2026, Delaney Freistuhler

The University of South Carolina continues its ranking as one the No. 1 public institution for first-year experience and as one of the best business schools in the nation with a top-ranked international business undergraduate program, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings.

Topics: Students, Faculty, Academics, Experiential Learning, Undergraduate Admissions, Recognition, Darla Moore School of Business

An archival image of housing on the USC Horseshoe.

Inside 225 years of on-campus housing at USC

September 15, 2026, Craig Brandhorst

On-campus living has been a rite of passage at the University of South Carolina since before it was actually a university. But the campus housing experience has changed pretty dramatically since the first nine students arrived at South Carolina College in 1805.

Topics: History

Morgan Stefik poses in his lab, where two graduate students discuss their battery research in the background

USC researcher finds imperfect crystals could make lithium-ion batteries faster, longer-lasting

September 14, 2026, Zoe Nicholson

What if the key to discovery is imperfection? Led by USC chemist Morgan Stefik, a team of researchers has found that flaws in crystal anodes could help lithium-ion batteries charge faster and last longer. The practical uses of the discovery offer enticing applications in energy storage.

Topics: Faculty, Research, Recognition, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Breakthrough Research

sign reading 'university of south carolina' seen through a patio with trees and tables

USC researchers land major AI-driven grants from Department of Energy

September 09, 2026, Collyn Taylor

Two University of South Carolina faculty were recently awarded significant grants as part of the first wave projects selected for the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission. Designed to bring together a national consortium of researchers and pair them with Department of Energy resources, the Genesis Mission will help build AI-enabled workflows to expedite discoveries in energy, national security and more.

Topics: Faculty, Academics, Research, Recognition, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing

students walking past a university of south carolina sign

USC welcomes new and returning students to Columbia

September 01, 2026, Jeff Stensland

The University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus is welcoming thousands of new college students from across South Carolina, the nation and the world. With an increase of overall enrollment, now approaching 42,000, USC is serving more students today than at other time in its 225-year history.

Topics: Students

3 young men point at the camera, getting excited at a football game

A guide to Gamecock game day

August 28, 2026, Hannah Magner

It’s that time of the year again when Gamecocks flock to Williams-Brice Stadium decked out in their garnet and black. Whether it’s your first for your 50th Gamecock game day, we’ve created a guide to ensure you have a great “Saturday in South Carolina.”

Signage of the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing under a garnet University of South Carolina sign

2026 nuclear faculty experts list

August 26, 2026, Gregory Hardy

Nuclear energy is drawing renewed attention as the nation considers reliable power, advanced reactors, safety and its energy future. This list connects journalists with faculty experts from the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing who study how nuclear reactors work, how to make them safer and how new technologies are shaping the field’s future.

Topics: Faculty, Research, Health Sciences, Experts List, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing

Icon of how an artificial intelligence brain connects to concepts of technology, transportation, vision, the brain, ideas and health care.

2026 artificial intelligence faculty experts list

August 24, 2026, Gregory Hardy

University of South Carolina researchers explore how artificial intelligence can be used for advancements in health care, education, manufacturing, energy, disaster management and transportation. They are also helping shape and inform the ethics and policies surrounding these emergent solutions.

Topics: Faculty, Research, Health Sciences, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Joseph F. Rice School of Law

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

Multicolored brain scan on computer screen

USC researchers work to better understand the human brain

August 14, 2026, Communications and Marketing

Understanding how the brain works and improving outcomes for patients are major priorities for USC researchers. That work gained momentum this year with the opening of the new Brain Health Center, which is just one of the ways the university is concentrating on the brain.

Topics: Faculty, University Leadership, Research, Graduate Studies, Health Sciences, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Floyd School of Medicine, Arnold School of Public Health

Kathy Moore poses inside the College of Pharmacy museum.

Michael J. Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award winner: Kathy Quarles Moore

August 12, 2026, Laura Erskine

Pharmacist and instructor Kathy Quarles Moore is known for finding new ways to engage students. From keeping students on their toes in the lab to welcoming them to a peaceful garden in the College of Pharmacy’s courtyard, Moore’s holistic and student-centered approach to teaching has earned her the 2026 Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award.

Topics: Faculty, Experiential Learning, Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy

Chris Rorden smiles for the camera with the MRI machine in the background.

A Sharper Image: At USC, better brain health outcomes begin with cutting-edge neuroimaging equipment

August 10, 2026, Rebekah Friedman

The McCausland Center’s MRI scanner is a 3 Tesla, twice the strength of typical MRIs. Access to equipment of that caliber has enabled the center to bring in tens of millions in grant funding and has led to an explosion in research studies that have advanced our understanding of aphasia, stroke treatment and brain aging.

Topics: Faculty, Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, Carolinian, Breakthrough Research

Headshot of Alison Huppmann

Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation: Alison Huppmann

August 05, 2026, Laura Erskine

As a clinical associate professor at USC’s School of Medicine Greenville, Alison Huppmann teaches medical students in their first two years of the program. Her goal is to equip her students with a broad understanding of medicine. Her efforts have now been recognized with the 2026 Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation.

Topics: Faculty, Experiential Learning, Recognition, Health Sciences, Medicine (Greenville)

student in gray shirt pulling gray box of belongings on sidewalk during move-in

What you need to know for move-in 2026

August 05, 2026, Collyn Taylor

Move-in is quickly approaching, and soon the Class of 2030 will be on campus at USC. With a large freshman class coming to Columbia, this is a one-stop shop for the information students, faculty and staff need to know during move-in week.

Aaron Vannucci stands by a staircase and smiles.

Michael J. Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award: Aaron Vannucci

July 27, 2026, Chris Horn

Aaron Vannucci doesn’t have a sophisticated philosophy to explain his teaching style. He merely points back to his own high school chemistry teacher, who inspired him with his consistent excitement for the topic. Vannucci brings the same enthusiasm to his classrooms, and he is the winner of USC's 2026 Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award.

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

Author Julia Elliott, brown shoulder-length hair and wearing a brown suit, sits in a chair holding her book surrounded by group of onlookers

USC professor Julia Elliott wins one of fiction's most prestigious prizes

July 23, 2026, Kristine Hartvigsen

Known for her fluid, label-defying prose, author Julia Elliott found herself in excellent company last month among a literary cadre of distinct, even unconventional voices. She read the work of her fellow finalists with awe, never thinking she would win. But it was her name announced over the sound system as the winner of the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction for her critically acclaimed, genre-bending short-story collection "Hellions."

Topics: Faculty, Academics, South Carolina Honors College

portion of an early version of the American flag

After 1776, the founders designed a government that accounts for 'a degree of depravity in mankind'

July 20, 2026, Donovan Fifield

The Declaration of Independence was only the first step in making a unified country. A competing set of state and local interests required a defense of the U.S. Constitution (the Federalist Papers), which sought to define the role of government to keep basic human impulses toward political abuse, self-interest and even violence in check.

Topics: Faculty, Research, History, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, The Conversation

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