Recent Stories

woman sitting on a bench

Graduate student inspired by U101 experience to get a master's degree in student affairs

May 14, 2025, Téa Smith

Graduate student Morgan Grace Steele decided to change paths after participating in the South Carolina Washington Semester program — a program that gives students the opportunity to work and take classes in the nation’s capital — through the Honors College her junior year. After reflecting on her experience in the course University 101 and conversations with her professors and loved ones, she decided to pursue a master’s in higher education and student affairs.

Topics: Students, Student Voices, College of Education

David Prim poses in front of the Paris skyline in spring 2024.

Biomedical engineering alum stays on mission with work in venture capital

May 12, 2025, Laura Erskine

USC alumnus David Prim has dedicated his career to fighting cardiovascular diseases — first as a researcher and now as a venture capitalist. He works for Broadview Ventures in Boston, helping the organization identify and invest in promising new technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Topics: Alumni, Research, Graduate Studies, Economic Engagement, Health Sciences, Careers, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, The Graduate School, South Carolina Honors College

Natasha Brison, associate professor in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management's Department of Sport and Entertainment Management

HRSM professor melds law and marketing expertise to prepare students

May 08, 2025, Thom Harman / photo by Kim Truett

Natasha Brison has practiced law and worked in the entertainment industry, starting a business as a marketing consultant for professional athletes. She also conducts research and came to South Carolina despite already earning tenure at another top institution. Now Brison brings her experience to USC's classrooms as an associate professor in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management's Department of Sport and Entertainment Management. Her diverse background is proving to be a great resource for her students as she prepares them to pursue their dreams after graduation.

Topics: Faculty, Academics, Research, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

Brandi Revels smiles for the camera during her trip in Antarctica

For marine chemist Brandi Revels, remote work means an Antarctic cruise

May 07, 2025, Megan Sexton

It’s not hard to understand why Brandi Revels loves her job as a researcher aboard the expedition ship Viking Polaris. The sense of awe — for our world, for our planet — drew her to science. Her love of adventure took her from West Columbia, South Carolina, to the far ends of the Earth. Revels, who earned her master’s in marine chemistry from the University of South Carolina in 2013, now lives in Zurich, Switzerland — when she’s not spending months at sea as the chief scientist aboard the Viking Polaris.

Topics: Alumni, Research, Recognition, Leadership, Careers, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Carolinian

man stands outside a building holding a violin on his shoulder with the bow on the strings

Honors student builds career path in engineering, while nurturing his passion for music

May 05, 2025, Page Ivey

Aidan Billings followed his head and his heart when he came to the University of South Carolina. Billings, who also is in the South Carolina Honors College, didn’t think a career as a musician would provide the income he wanted for his life, so he chose engineering for that aspect. But the second violinist in USC’s Symphony Orchestra says he loves playing classical music and does it professionally with several orchestras in the state.

Topics: Students, Research, Student Voices, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, School of Music, South Carolina Honors College

Rick Layman smiles for the camera with Matt Bruccoli’s photo in the background

English alumnus, literary collector reflects on time at USC

May 02, 2025, Craig Brandhorst / photo by Kim Truett

Rick Layman studied under English professor, publisher and F. Scott Fitzgerald collector Matthew J. Bruccoli and later became Bruccoli’s business partner. Like his mentor, Layman also became a collector — in his case of Dashiell Hammett. And both men’s collections are now housed in USC’s Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.

Topics: Alumni, History, Collections, Recognition, Leadership, Careers, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Carolinian

A South Carolina road with a “Welcome to South Carolina” sign

USC health sciences graduates have major impact in rural areas

May 02, 2025, Rebekah Friedman / photos by Kim Truett

From obstetricians and nurses to social workers and psychiatrists, University of South Carolina graduates are especially needed in rural areas, where more than a quarter of the state’s residents live. And the impact isn’t only felt by the patient; it’s also felt by the communities themselves. Carolinian visited several alumni whose small-town efforts are having a big impact. These proud health care workers showed us the meaning of dedication and their commitment to the people and communities they serve.

Topics: Alumni, Recognition, Economic Engagement, SC Impact, Careers, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Medicine (Columbia), College of Social Work, Carolinian

The fountains and reflecting pool in front of Thomas Cooper Library

SC impact: Pell Grant recipients thrive in a wide range of fields

April 29, 2025, Laura Erskine

For more than 50 years, USC has made an undergraduate education more attainable through TRIO programs. The foundation of these opportunities is the Pell Grant. Here, USC alumni share how the Pell Grant opened the door for them to achieve their dreams of earning their degrees and attaining fulfilling, impactful careers.

Topics: Alumni, Scholarships, SC Impact, Careers, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, The Graduate School, College of Information and Communications, Joseph F. Rice School of Law, Medicine (Columbia), College of Nursing, Arnold School of Public Health

Parent reaches out hand to hold daughter's hand.

Mentoring program empowers families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

April 29, 2025, Carol J.G. Ward

Preliminary results from a five-year NIH-funded study at the University of South Carolina show that the Autism Parent Navigator Program improves mental health, parenting confidence and caregiver relationships for families with children diagnosed with autism. Led by social work professor Robert Hock, the program connects parents with experienced peer navigators to offer guidance, emotional support and skill-building.

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

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Remembering the Days -- Monuments and memorials: A conversation with Lydia Brandt

April 29, 2025, Chris Horn and Evan Faulkenbury

As an architectural historian, Lydia Brandt is trained to read the world around her, which at USC means understanding the context of campus buildings — why they were built in a certain style, why they were named for particular individuals and how the institution defines its identity through its physical space. Our conversation with Brandt touches on those ideas and the university's recent efforts to tell a larger story of its past through figurative monuments. 

Topics: History

Woman offers comforting embrace to peer during group counseling session

New USC clinic tackles mental health provider shortage in rural South Carolina

April 29, 2025, Carol J.G. Ward

The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia is opening a free mental health clinic to serve rural communities in Bamberg, Calhoun, Fairfield, Orangeburg and Chester counties. Launching this summer, the student-operated, faculty-supervised clinic will offer in-person and telehealth services to those with limited access to care.

Topics: Students, Faculty, Academics, Experiential Learning, Health Sciences, Medicine (Columbia)

Jennifer Baumstark stands in a white coat outside the College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina.

Jennifer Baumstark leads Nurse-Midwifery program, advancing maternal health in South Carolina

April 29, 2025, Gregory Hardy and Laura Morris

Jennifer Baumstark, a seasoned certified nurse-midwife and newly appointed director of the University of South Carolina’s accredited nurse-midwifery program, is spearheading efforts to improve maternal health across South Carolina. With a focus on mentorship, advocacy and expanding the nursing-midwifery workforce, Baumstark brings over two decades of clinical and academic experience to this pivotal role.

Topics: Faculty, Academics, Graduate Studies, Health Sciences, Leadership, College of Nursing

Student in cap and gown stands with fists in the air

Class of 2025

April 28, 2025, Megan Sexton

As the Class of 2025 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.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Recognition, Health Sciences, Student Voices, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Darla Moore School of Business, College of Education, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, The Graduate School, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, College of Information and Communications, school-of-law, School of Music, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, Arnold School of Public Health, College of Social Work, South Carolina Honors College

A photo of William Joyce

USC football player combines engineering, business off the field

April 25, 2025, Téa Smith

Gamecock football player William Joyce was one of the first students selected to participate in the 4+1 pathway partnership between the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing and the Darla Moore School of Business. The program prioritizes engineering and computing graduates for direct admissions into the Moore School's one-year Master of Business Administration or the Master of Science in Business Analytics programs.

Topics: Students, Academics, Graduate Studies, Student Voices, Darla Moore School of Business, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing

man stands in front of a wall of windows

Biomedical engineering faculty member studying the biomechanics of brain injury

April 23, 2025, Chris Horn

Sudden violent impact to the head, the kind that can happen in car crashes, football games and other activities, can shear and stretch brain tissue in ways that are very difficult to see. That’s why USC biomedical engineering assistant professor Ahmed Alshareef is part of a team studying the biomechanics of brain injuries with a goal of understanding exactly what happens dynamically to the brain during concussive events.

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

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.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Faculty, University Leadership, University President, Academics, Recognition, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

A student pours a bucket of ice water on Wade Jefferson, splashing another student.

USC MIND club's mental health awareness challenge goes viral

April 21, 2025, Laura Erskine

The Ice Bucket Challenge is back, and a student organization at the University of South Carolina is behind it. In March, USC's Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND) club launched the #SpeakYourMIND challenge, which went viral and hit the national news. Who doesn’t love to see videos of friends, family and even strangers getting doused in buckets of ice water?

Topics: Students, Service, Leadership, Student Voices

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Remembering the Days --The Colorful History of Gamecock Sports: A conversation with Alan Piercy

April 21, 2025, Chris Horn and Evan Faulkenbury

You can stay up to date on current Gamecock sports through multiple news outlets and platforms, but to delve into the history of Gamecock sports, Alan Piercy is your guy. He writes a blog about Gamecock sports history and has written a book on USC sports during the independent era of 1971-91. He's also contemplating another book on the men's basketball program in the early Frank McGuire era and construction of the Carolina Coliseum in 1968.

Topics: History

a woman standing in front of greenery

USC geographer Jessica Barnes awarded prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship

April 18, 2025, Rose Cisneros

Associate professor Jessica Barnes has been awarded a 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship — one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for scholars, artists and scientists. Barnes is known for her research on how people interact with the environment in their everyday lives — especially how resources like water, food and air are used, controlled and experienced unequally across different communities.

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

Emily Rabon and Joseph Buchmaier pose outside on campus.

Student government experience leads two USC seniors to Harvard Law

April 17, 2025, Laura Erskine

USC’s student government has two graduating seniors who have been accepted to Harvard Law School, one of the nation’s top programs. The students credit their time in student government, along with the excellent training they received both in the classroom and beyond, with helping them reach their goals.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Academics, Experiential Learning, Service, Leadership, Student Voices, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, South Carolina Honors College

a woman tacks a poster to a bulletin board in a large convention hall

Discover USC highlights 1,000-plus research projects by students, postdocs

April 14, 2025

Reading through descriptions of the 1,000-plus research projects featured annually at Discover USC, it’s impossible not to be inspired by the passion fueling the wide-ranging research projects. From history to public health, USC scholars — including undergraduate and graduate students, medical scholars and postdocs — work with faculty mentors to explore topics that interest them, learn more about research skills and work on how to present their findings to an audience. Here are a few of their stories.

Topics: Students, Research, Recognition, Signature Events, Student Voices

four squares with images and icons representing cool classes for Fall 2025

Cool Classes Fall 2025

April 11, 2025, Téa Smith

We're back again for another year and another round of some of the coolest classes you can take for fall 2025. There are a ton of unique learning experiences waiting to be uncovered. Whether you’re into sports, true crime, dancing, cooking or even something a little otherworldly, South Carolina has you covered.

Topics: Students, Academics, Experiential Learning, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, College of Information and Communications, University System

A student makes the

Get ready for graduation

April 09, 2025, Catherine Pruitt

Although it feels far away, the countdown to graduation is on. Spring commencement ceremonies will be held May 8-10 in Colonial Life Arena and other locations around campus. For graduates, we’ve compiled a roundup of what you need to do before then, along with some suggestions for enjoying the rest of your time at the University of South Carolina.

Topics: Signature Events

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.

Topics: Faculty, University Leadership, Academics, Graduate Studies, Recognition, Darla Moore School of Business, College of Education, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Joseph F. Rice School of Law, College of Nursing

woman stands in front of a glass wall

New Economic Policy Center offers data-driven analysis to state agencies, other policymakers

April 07, 2025, Chris Horn

In a perfect world, state agencies and local governments would implement each new policy and program only after rigorous economic analysis that maps out the cost benefits, potential side effects and hidden costs of choosing one option over another. That data-driven approach to policymaking is the focus of S.C. EPiC, the South Carolina Economic Policy Center based in the economics department of the Darla Moore School of Business at USC.

Topics: Faculty, Research, Darla Moore School of Business

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.

Topics: Faculty, Research, Health Sciences, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Medicine (Columbia), School of Music, Arnold School of Public Health, College of Social Work

A table covered in multiple dishes from The Spur

The Golden Spur lives on in two campus dining spots

April 03, 2025, Michaela Taylor

The Golden Spur legacy lives on through two new campus dining destinations: The Spur in Campus Village and The Golden Spur at 650 Lincoln. These modern eateries draw inspiration from the original hotspot, blending Gamecock spirit with a fresh take on American fare.

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.

Topics: Alumni, Faculty, Experiential Learning, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, School of Music

Multicolored brain scan on computer screen over shoulder of researcher

USC neuroscience experts working to understand, improve brain health

April 01, 2025, Communications and Marketing

The University of South Carolina is focused on the brain. From autism and aphasia to Alzheimer’s and other related dementias, university researchers are working across several academic disciplines to better understand how the brain works and to develop solutions that will improve people’s health.

Topics: Faculty, University Leadership, Research, Health Sciences, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Medicine (Columbia), College of Pharmacy, Arnold School of Public Health

Joffrey dancers fan out across the stage.

Joffrey Ballet delivers unparalleled experience for USC student performers

March 27, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen

It’s been a whirlwind semester for dancers and musicians at the University of South Carolina. Twenty-four Joffrey Ballet company members arrived on campus March 17 for a three-week residency culminating in an unprecedented collaborative performance April 5 at the Koger Center for the Arts. Students and faculty from USC’s Betsy Blackmon Dance Program and the USC Symphony Orchestra have joined forces with members of the Joffrey entourage to marry movement and music into a spectacular concert for the community.

Topics: Students, Experiential Learning, Initiatives, Student Voices, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

woman standing in front of USC logo

USC alumna, Marine champions veterans

March 18, 2025, Megan Sexton

For USC alumna Caroline Fermin, the decision to join the Marines at a time when only 2 percent of the officer corps were women led to a successful 25 years in the military with high-level global postings and numerous medals for meritorious service. She followed her military service with a thriving second career in public service, now as the director of Veterans Affairs for Beaufort County.

Topics: Alumni, Diversity, Recognition, Leadership, Careers, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

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.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Faculty, Experiential Learning, Careers

Dr. Phyllis MacGilvray and Dr. Gerald Harmon shake hands on USC's Columbia campus.

USC's medical schools work to train, retain key players in medicine

March 07, 2025, Laura Erskine

A primary care doctor is a key player in patient care, but South Carolina is facing a doctor shortage. That’s why both USC’s School of Medicine Columbia and School of Medicine Greenville are prioritizing primary care, with an emphasis on family medicine, thanks to their deans, Dr. Gerald Harmon (Columbia) and Dr. Phyllis MacGilvray (Greenville).

Topics: University Leadership, Graduate Studies, Health Sciences, SC Impact, Leadership, Careers, Medicine (Columbia), Medicine (Greenville)

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Remembering the Days -- Reconstruction at USC: A conversation wtih Christian Anderson

March 07, 2025, Chris Horn and Evan Faulkenbury

The story of the Reconstruction era at the University of South Carolina is remarkable. A previously all-white institution admitted Black men, established a Normal School to train Black women to be school teachers and welcomed Black faculty and trustees. Museum of Education director Christian Anderson talks about his ongoing research on that chapter of USC's past.

Topics: History

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.

Topics: Students, Faculty, Academics, Experiential Learning, Signature Events, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

man holds a booklet while standing against a dark backdrop

Nursing student has a global impact on future health care professionals

March 05, 2025, Catherine Pruitt

Allan Cabanayan was a leader among students interested in health occupations even before he got into upper-level nursing classes at the University of South Carolina.  Growing up just down the road from USC in Hopkins, South Carolina, Cabanayan discovered his passion for nursing while attending Lower Richland High School, where he joined his school’s HOSA-Future Health Professionals chapter.

Topics: Students, Academics, Experiential Learning, Health Sciences, Leadership, College of Nursing

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Remembering the Days -- A Touch of Faith Gospel Choir

March 04, 2025, Chris Horn

In the decade after USC desegregated, the small but growing number of Black students wanted to establish a sense of belonging on a big campus that was growing bigger every year. In 1975, the Southern Christian Fellowship student group was established with a gospel choir called A Touch of Faith. 

Topics: History

Female student using a camera

USC youth summer camps 2025

March 03, 2025, Téa Smith

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.

Topics: Experiential Learning, Initiatives, Diversity, Partnerships, Health Sciences, Campus Construction, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Medicine (Columbia), School of Music, College of Pharmacy

Person at a laptop interacting with digital and AI technology

Professor explores intersection of AI, advertising and public perception

February 26, 2025, Brandon Pugh

As CIC’s associate dean for research, Linwan Wu is leading the college’s work to understand the influence and impact of artificial intelligence in advertising. Through the first two USC AI Index reports and those to come, he’s helping to evaluate national sentiment on the now-prevalent communications technology.

Topics: Faculty, Academics, Research, College of Information and Communications

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.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Faculty, University Leadership, University President, Research, Health Sciences, Medicine (Columbia)

Paulia D. Williams, winner of the 2024 Dennis A. Pruitt Outstanding Advocate for First-Year Students Award

2024 outstanding student advocate talks career, TRIO, award

February 18, 2025, Thom Harman / photo by Kim Truett

Paulia D. Williams won the 2024 Dennis A. Pruitt Outstanding Advocate for First-Year Students Award, the fourth TRIO staff member to win the award since its inception. Williams knows that most students need some help transitioning to college, especially first-generation college students. She sees it every day in her role with TRIO Programs — and she lived it herself.

Topics: Students, Initiatives

A 12-foot bronze statue of three people stands in front of McKissick Museum.

Video: Remembering desegregation at USC

February 17, 2025, Lawson Estridge

A 12-foot bronze statue in front of McKissick Museum on the historic Horseshoe was inspired by a photo taken Sept. 11, 1963, when three African American students exited the Osborne Administration Building after enrolling at the University of South Carolina. We take a look behind the scenes of the creation of the monument dedicated to those brave pioneers who led the desegregation of USC.

Topics: Alumni, Faculty, University Leadership, History

Sepia toned image of Augusta Baker from the archives.

Augusta Baker: Trailblazer's legacy shines through South Carolina library programs

February 10, 2025, Laura Erskine

Augusta Baker left a remarkable legacy in the fields of librarianship and children’s literature. After retiring from the New York Public Library system, Baker became storyteller-in-residence at USC from 1980 to 1994. It was the first position of its kind at an American university, a role created for Baker to teach students, librarians and educators how to make reading more exciting for children.

Topics: Faculty, Research, History, Service, Leadership, College of Information and Communications, University Libraries

woman sits in a movie theater with the words

Journalism alumna builds career in Columbia's arts scene

February 07, 2025, Page Ivey

Sumner Bender credits a movie with inspiring her first true career choice. It seems only fitting, then, that the 2007 public relations graduate now leads Columbia’s art house cinema, The Nickelodeon Theatre. Her journey from PR to nonprofit executive has woven through Columbia’s arts scene for most of her adult life.

Topics: Alumni, Experiential Learning, Careers, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, College of Information and Communications

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nomination signals new era of anti-intellectualism in American politics

January 30, 2025, Kristin Lunz Trujillo et al

The many controversial people appointed to the Trump administration have at least one thing in common: They dislike and distrust experts. While anti-intellectualism and populism are nothing new in American life, there has hardly been an administration as seemingly committed to these worldviews.

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

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.

Topics: Faculty, Graduate Studies, Health Sciences, Medicine (Columbia)

Site of Starbase operation on beach in Boca Chica, TX

The Starbase rocket testing facility is permanently changing the landscape of southern Texas

January 28, 2025, Robert A. Kopack

If there is a leader in the aerospace industry, SpaceX is it. Boca Chica, Texas, is home to SpaceX’s flagship assembly and test installation, Starbase. Since 2021, research has been conducted with environmental groups and community members in south Texas who see space exploration as a landscape-altering industry. Geography professor Robert A. Kopack writes about Starbase for The Conversation.

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

Two women holding Syrian flag

As Syria ponders a democratic future: 5 lessons from the Arab Spring

January 27, 2025, Robert Kubinec

The fall of Bashar Assad’s dictatorship in December 2024 has ushered in a nerve-wracking time of hope and fear for Syrians concerning future governance in the long-war-torn country. While it’s unclear what exact political path Syria will take, the dilemmas the country faces are similar to the experiences of other Arab countries more than a decade ago. Robert Kubinec, assistant professor of political science at the University of South Carolina, writes for The Conversation about his research on Arab uprisings in the Middle East.

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

A supermarket customer reaches for a carton of eggs.

Why government can't make America 'healthier' by micromanaging groceries purchased with SNAP benefits

January 27, 2025, Danielle Krobath

Banning junk food from SNAP is something that has divided public health experts for years. However, research shows that adding to the restrictions that already limit access to SNAP benefits do little to make Americans healthier. Danielle Krobath, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health, writes for The Conversation with Tufts University Assistant Professor of Community Health Benjamin Chrisinger about their research into safety net programs.

Topics: Faculty, Research, Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, The Conversation

Image of cherries treated with dye

FDA bans Red 3 dye from food and drugs - a scientist explains the artificial color's health risks and long history

January 23, 2025, Lorne J. Hofseth

Red 3, a synthetic dye linked to cancer, has been banned by the FDA due to growing evidence of its harmful effects on human health. College of Pharmacy professor Lorne Hofseth writes for The Conversation on the health risks of synthetic food dyes and the implications of stricter regulations.

Topics: Research, Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The Conversation

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