Creative writing students inspire creativity and community

A creative writing class has found ways to serve the community, even with social distance requirements in place.

Cicely was young, Black and enslaved – her death during an epidemic in 1714 has lessons that resonate in today’s pandemic

As COVID-19 affects frontline workers and communities of color far more than other demographic groups, and protesters agitate for racial justice, American society is wrestling with its racial memory and judging which monuments and memorials deserve a place. In The Conversation, history professor Nicole S. Maskiell looks back at how a few marginalized and oppressed people who served on the front lines of prior epidemics have been treated and remembered.

Drawing on both sides of the brain

If you think the visual arts and the hard sciences don’t mix, think again. Or maybe just talk to Eliza Stierle. The Dayton, Ohio, native and 2020 University of South Carolina graduate double-majored in studio art and biology (with a minor in art history) and aspires to become a medical illustrator.

Connect Lab shifts online to promote fitness

Student researchers got creative to make new ways to promote physical fitness in after school programs in South Carolina.

Garnet Apple winner: Hayden Smith

Take a criminal justice course with Hayden Smith, and at some point in the semester, you’ll probably find yourself behind bars, inside a 6-by-9-foot cell. You might also hear voices and see hallucinations, just like inmates diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Mungo award winner: Mary Robinson

As a professor in the School of Visual Art and Design, Mary Robinson believes in creating a sense of community – both in the classroom and beyond.

3 professors earn AAAS honor for scientific accomplishments

Three faculty members in the University of South Carolina College of Arts and Sciences have been elected fellows in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The recognition is an honor bestowed by a scientist’s peers to recognize distinguished contributions to science.

Garnet Apple winner: Micky Myrick

Two things you should know about chemistry professor Micky Myrick: He doesn’t shy away from a challenging task even if there’s little reward in it, and once he has committed to something, he’s in it for the long haul.

The class assignment that morphed into legislation

A speech that Gweneth Gough wrote for an English class eventually influenced a new law that gives middle school students more access to mental health education.

Mungo award winner: Anna Swartwood House

Knowledge is constructed, not passively received. That, in a nutshell, is Anna Swartwood House’s teaching philosophy, the underpinning of everything she does in the classroom. But the University of South Carolina assistant professor of art history isn’t the sole architect of her students’ education; everyone shares in the heavy lifting.

U.S. Navy veteran embarks on a new mission to earn doctorate

Before Marco Hernandez was incubating proteins in a laboratory, he was flinging fighter jets from aircraft carriers. The veteran’s job in the U.S. Navy was to maintain and operate the steam catapults that launch jets and the cable systems that catch them as they land.

Student leads volunteers in Census work

David Olds spent the past 15 months working to make sure everyone in Columbia, South Carolina, had the chance to be counted in the U.S. Census. For this geography major, this was about much more than gathering data, but about making sure people have the resources they need.

First-generation alumnus returns to UofSC to pursue history Ph.D.

Trey Capps excelled in high school and graduated at the top of his class in the tiny town of Aynor in eastern South Carolina. When he considered his college plans, he knew he was ready for new experiences in a larger city.

History background inspires cancer researcher

Matt McMillan is a prolific science researcher at the forefront of radiation oncology. But it was the history major at UofSC that inspired his interest in science and prepared him to succeed in medical school.

Gamecock Battalion tops among Navy ROTC programs

The University of South Carolina has the best Navy ROTC program in the country. That recognition comes as no surprise to the midshipmen and alumni of the program that began at Carolina in 1940. And it comes as the result of hard work by a team of staffers and the university’s support for it and other military-affiliated programs on campus.

Garnet Apple winner: Andy Schumpert

Andy Schumpert got his first taste of teaching in graduate school at the University of South Carolina. Now an instructor and lab coordinator for the university’s Department of Biological Sciences, he credits his early experience as a graduate teaching assistant with kickstarting his career.

An example for her siblings

History professor Myisha Eatmon's experience as a first-generation college student shapes her approach to teaching.

'Series of discoveries' leads to breakthrough Parkinson's research

Richard Youle has made breakthrough discoveries regarding the cause of Parkinson's Disease thanks to a scientific approach he learned at the University of South Carolina.

How do pandemics end?

In all of human history, only one disease has been truly eradicated. The others remain, although vaccines and other measures help keep them in check. Nükhet Varlık, a history professor whose research focuses on the history of pandemics, wrote about the topic for The Conversation.

'Pandemics in Literature' class shines light on history

UofSC students are exploring stories written about pandemics, ranging from medieval to futuristic, despondent to hopeful. They've found that 2020 isn't so different from similar moments throughout history, and there are some lessons to learn.

UofSC research finds trigger that leads to faster nerve healing

Damaged nerves regenerate faster when protein clusters are broken apart, releasing components that can be used to rebuild the nerve. South Carolina scientists have found the trigger that could be used to accelerate regrowth more.

Saltwater data can predict monsoon seasons, UofSC student finds

The 2019 monsoon surprised forecasters and hit India harder than any other monsoon in 25 years. Thanks go one UofSC oceanography Ph.D. student, forecasters could use salinity measurements to predict the storms more accurately in the future.

Experience the literary world – at home

The Fall Literary Festival continues in 2020 on three consecutive Wednesday evenings in October – with a twist.The three featured authors will share their readings and talks online.

Mungo award winner: Andrew Greytak

Andrew Greytak isn’t content with his students learning chemistry two or three times a week in class. He wants them to realize the world outside the classroom and many of the things they do in it are examples of the chemical concepts they’re studying.

UofSC professor helps geography come alive in classrooms around SC

Third graders are mapping rubber ducks in the Pacific Ocean, and seventh graders are finding out who owns Antartica. Thanks to Jerry Mitchell, students around South Carolina are studying geography as never before.

UofSC artist sparks joy for children at Charleston hospital

Marius Valdes, professor in the School of Visual Art and Design, completed murals in Charleston's new children's hospital to help make it a more welcoming place for patients. "I couldn't think of a more deserving audience."

UofSC professor helps geography come alive in classrooms around SC

Third graders are mapping rubber ducks in the Pacific Ocean, and seventh graders are finding out who owns Antartica. Thanks to Jerry Mitchell, students around South Carolina are studying geography as never before.

Cast of creators

Jarad Greene is one of many former UofSC media arts students who have launched successful creative careers thanks in part to the efforts of Hollywood screenwriter-turned-professor Northrop Davis.

Poet Nikky Finney embraces outspoken candor to inform, educate, motivate

New partnership gives UofSC students greater access to national lab

When you're reinventing the way America stores nuclear waste, it helps to have the most cutting-edge technology at your fingertips. And a new partnership will give students and faculty more opportunities to conduct research at Savannah River National Laboratory.

Mungo professor of the year: Amit Almor

For psychology and linguistics professor Amit Almor, the job always circles back to the students. While maintaining a robust research agenda in experimental psychology and publishing at a steady clip, he sees his role in the classroom as a responsibility, “a kind of a sacred obligation to serve.”

Theatre and Dance season goes online

Students and faculty have found innovative ways to bring the performing arts to the small screen during the Fall 2020 season.

Discovering a passion for science

Libby Davenport came to the University of South Carolina on the pre-med track, but experience in a biological sciences laboratory pointed her in a new direction focused on basic research in disease ecology.

Cast of Creators

Media arts professor inspires and motivates students to land their dream jobs.

Dance Professor Receives National Leadership Award

Dr. Stephanie Milling, professor in the dance program, has been honored by the National Dance Education Organization with its 2020 Outstanding Leadership Award.

Outreach program for racial reconciliation moves to Arts and Sciences

The South Carolina Collaborative for Race and Reconciliation fosters conversations that help people foster better relationships between races. It's led by Jennifer Gunter, a UofSC history Ph.D. graduate.

History department staff wins international award for comic book writing

IT consultant by day, comic book writer by night. Chuck Brown's comic book series "Bitter Root" took a 2020 Eisner Award for "Best Continuing Series."

Opportunity and community

Issy Rushton promised herself to make UofSC her home by saying "yes" to as many opportunities as possible. Now she's leading student government through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Competence and compassion

Loren Knapp's career has been focused on helping students gain the knowledge and skills they need for a career and extending the helping hand they need to meet their challenges.

What literature can tell us about people’s struggle with their faith during a pandemic

Professor Agnes Mueller wrote for The Conversation about how pandemics impact religion, according to literature. She is teaching a Theme Semester course about pandemics in literature.

Dean's welcome message for students — Fall 2020

Dean Lacy K. Ford welcomed students to the Fall 2020 semester, encouraging them to see the unusual semester as an opportunity for growth.

ROTC cadet proves himself in combat diving courses

Cole Falkenstine created a club that helps ROTC cadets prepare for elite military training programs. Then he became UofSC's first ROTC cadet to complete the Army's combat diving supervisor training.

How the Rollin Sisters started the women's suffrage movement in South Carolina

African American women were some of the early activists in the women's suffrage movement in South Carolina. History professor Valinda Littlefield presented a webinar about the Rollin Sisters on August 10, 2020.

Barra brings environmental justice study to South Carolina

Monica Barra has studied the cultural consequences of rising tides in Louisiana for years. Now she is bringing that study to the Atlantic Coast with the support of a national fellowship.

Remembering Congressman John Lewis

The College of Arts and Sciences joins the nation in remembering the late congressman John Lewis for his legacy of leadership and civil rights activism.

Professor receives comic book industry award

English professor Qiana Whitted's book about EC Comics received an Eisner Award for Best Academic/Scholarly Work. The book explores how EC Comics shared shared social justice messages alongside its popular horror and fantasy comics.

How Renaissance art led to white European image of Jesus

Writing for The Conversation, art history professor Anna Swartwood House shared how historical Christian art that gravitated toward a white, European image of Jesus.

UofSC and health care providers unite to increase colon cancer screenings

A new $3.8 million award from the Centers for Disease Control will help the university's Colorectal Cancer Prevention Network and health care providers to improve colon cancer screening rates in the most medically underserved parts of the state.

English alum leads educators as SC Teacher of the Year

Sarah Gams says her English professors inspired her student-centered focus. The high school English teacher is the 2020-2021 South Carolina Teacher of the Year.

How performing artists and educators are keeping the lights on

How will theatre and dance thrive during a pandemic? Jim Hunter and Tanya Wideman-Davis discussed innovative ways for artists to keep performing and teaching in this webinar that attracted viewers around the world.

Teaching plague literature when plague is no longer a metaphor

"The narratives we choose to believe and retell will reflect and affirm what we value as a species -- a daunting task, but also an empowering one."

UofSC receives $11.2 million grant to design crystals to keep nuclear waste safe

Scientists in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering and Computing are designing waste forms to safetly contain radioactive waste for thousands of years.

UofSC research uncovers details foraminifera fossils and life cycle

While completing a postdoctoral assignment in the School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment, Kate Davis and her research team became the first to document the entire lifecycle of planktic foraminifera.

Narrative Filmmaking class shows resilience in pandemic

It was scene change no one expected ― producing their film class final projects at home with smartphones instead of on campus with professional equipment. But the students and award-winning instructor used creativity to make it work.

How war, peace and a pandemic changed the senses

History professor Mark Smith began the college's summer 2020 webinar series with a discussion about sensory history, the Civil War, and the COVID-19 pandemic.