Spring 2026 WGST Highlights
The latest highlights from the WGST community include 3 Office of the Provost awards, 2 McCausland College Faculty Fellowships, countless conferences & presentations, and a number of other awards and honors.
Spring 2026 WGST Publications
Read the latest publications from our accomplished students and faculty!
New WGST Affiliate Faculty - Spring 2026
WGST welcomed three new affiliate faculty members this spring: Dr. Marta Bornstein (HPEB), Dr. Ashley Hamm (HPEB), and Dr. Garrett Pierman (Walker Institute).
Rolling Through Richland: The Regulators
WGST Student Assistant Emma Philbeck recently had the opportunity to chat with folks from the Richland County Regulators roller derby team about what goes into the sport, their community involvement, and the rich history behind the team name.
9th Annual Dr. Mary Baskin Waters Lecture
On Tuesday, March 24th, 2026, the Department of Women's and Gender Studies hosted the 9th annual Dr. Mary Baskin Waters Lecture, featuring Dr. Brooke Bauer. The title of the lecture was "Surrounded and Beset By Enemies: Eighteenth-Century Catawba Women's Responses to War".
Student Org Spotlight: USC Women's Club Rugby
WGST Student Assistant Sage Braddock explores with members of USC Women's Club rugby the passion, drive, and community they have experienced through the sport.
Student Org Spotlight: No Periods Left Behind
WGST Student Assistant Amiya Ramkissoon recently conducted an interview with the USC campus organization, No Periods Left Behind, the first-ever USC organization centered around menstrual-equity and period poverty.
Student Org Spotlight: Reproductive Freedom Rising
Undergraduate assistant Emma Philbeck sat down for an interview with student leaders of the organization Reproductive Freedom Rising, which brings together like-minded undergraduate and graduate students who support reproductive freedom and reproductive justice.
Censorship and School Libraries
In an interview with WGST Student Assistant Sage Braddock and Dr. Jenna Spiering, USC's School Library Concentration Coordinator and an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, the two explored the troubling rise of book banning in school libraries.
Student Award Spotlight: Courtney Brooks
Student Award Spotlight: Courtney Brooks, a senior WGST minor was the recipient of the 2025 Arney Robinson Childs Award! Courtney's application showcased her work related to women's health and reproductive justice, focusing on reducing reproductive health disparities in marginalized communities.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Tia Andersen
Learn more about Dr. Tia Andersen's work, including her research on juvenile justice policies, the Adolescent Mentoring service-learning course she teaches, and the ways she views the intersections of Criminal Justice and Criminology & Women's and Gender Studies.
Fall 2025 Newsletter
The Department of Women's and Gender Studies is proud to share the latest edition of our newsletter, featuring the latest faculty publications; accomplishments from our faculty, staff, and students; exciting news about this year's Dr. Mary Baskin Waters lecture; and more!
WGST Faculty Member Honored in Emory's 2025 Class of 40 Under Forty
WGST faculty member Dr. Loron Benton was named as an honoree in Emory's 2025 Class of 40 Under Forty, selected from hundreds of nominees, representing the very best in achievement and service across the diverse and influential Emory alumni community.
Fall 2025 WGST Highlights
Read the latest accomplishments and accolades from faculty, staff, and students within the Department of Women's and Gender Studies!
Free Mom Hugs: Love Goes A Long Way
From a nonprofit started in Oklahoma City to a lively, inspirational, and active chapter represented on the USC campus, Free Mom Hugs is making a difference. WGST Student Assistant Sage Braddock recently interviewed founder of Free Mom Hugs, Sara Cunningham to get a glimpse into the organization's history and mission.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Allison Marsh
WGST Student Assistant Emma Philbeck sat down with Dr. Allison Marsh to discuss her latest work, including her time the NEH Fellow in residence at the Linda Hall Library for Science, Engineering, and Technology in Kansas City, MO, the creation of a historical database of women in engineering, and her role as co-director of the Ann Johnson Institute for Science, Technology & Society at the University of South Carolina.
2025 Adrenée Glover Freeman Lecture
On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the Department of Women's and Gender Studies welcomed Dr. Shannon Eaves for this year's Adrenée Glover Freeman Lecture.
WGST Presents: Novel Nook
Novel Nook: Book Hangouts began in March 2025 as a simple idea: to build a space for honest, thoughtful engagement around books and community. Facilitated by the USC Department of Women's and Gender Studies and hosted monthly at All Good Books in Five Points, the group brings together students, faculty and staff from the University of South Carolina and community members from across Columbia.
OPEN: Search for Assistant Professors
The Department of Women's and Gender Studies is seeking two assistant professors!
Spring 2025 Newsletter
The Department Women's and Gender Studies is proud to share the latest edition of our newsletter, featuring department updates; recognition of this year's award winners and graduates; the latest publications from our accomplished faculty; and more!
8th Annual Dr. Mary Baskin-Waters Lecture
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025 the Department of Women's and Gender Studies hosted the 8th Annual Dr. Mary Baskin-Waters Lecture, featuring Dr. Elizabeth Dale. The title of the lecture was Portraits of Women's Philanthropy: Understanding Giving Through a Gender Lens.
An Interview with Women in Computing by Karleigh Belli
Student assistant Karleigh Belli sat down with the executive board of Women in Computing, an organization that is aimed at supporting and empowering women interested in computing fields at USC.
WGST 551: Adolescent Mentoring, An Interview with Dr. Tia Andersen
Dr. Tia Andersen provides insights into the importance of USC's Adolescent Mentoring Program and the way the program functions. She also speaks to the ways it bridges the fields of Criminal Justice and Women's and Gender Studies, providing a greater impact for both USC students and the youth of Columbia.
Upcoming Talk: Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood with Dr. Gretchen Sisson
The Departments of Sociology, Women's and Gender Studies, and the Carolina Consortium on Health, Inequalities, and Populations (CHIP) are co-sponsoring a talk by Dr. Gretchen Sisson on Friday, April 4th.
Preview: Fall 2025 WGST Courses
Check out the newest courses being offered during the Fall 2025 semester!