University of South Carolina named one of America's Best-In-State Employers
August 18, 2025, Jasmine Hunter
The University of South Carolina was named one of South Carolina's best employers by Forbes.
Press Releases
Elkins receives Order of the Palmetto
August 08, 2025, Thom Harman / photo by Kim Truett
Susan Elkins, the founding chancellor of USC’s Palmetto College, is being awarded the Order of the Palmetto after a career of service in education. The award is South Carolina’s highest civilian honor. Elkins announced that she was stepping down from her role in May. As chancellor, Elkins oversaw tremendous growth at Palmetto College's four campuses around the state as well as in its online offerings.
Law school alum Betsy Gray reflects on women in leadership
June 05, 2025, Kristine Hartvigsen
Betsy Gray ('77 law) followed the fearless example of childhood neighbor Jean Toal ('68 law) and others in her decades-long legal career. Today, the highly accomplished founding member of Robinson Gray law firm reflects on change, peer support and the opportunity in daily challenges.
Honors College junior named USC's 18th Udall Scholar
May 14, 2025, Brandon Pugh
Rising Honors College senior Ella Michel has been awarded a 2025 Udall Undergraduate Scholarship to continue her work at the intersection of energy, environment and community.
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.
Dean Tayloe Harding to lead national music accreditation organization
March 06, 2025, Carol J.G. Ward
Tayloe Harding brings more than three decades of experience with the National Association of Schools of Music into his new role as its president to advance the cause of music in American life, establish and maintain accreditation standards and provide a national forum for related issues.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist's second act connects athletes' minds and bodies
January 15, 2025, Anna Francis
Natasha Hastings came to the University of South Carolina with dreams of excelling as an athlete. Although her talent eventually would propel her to an NCAA championship, multiple world championships and two Olympic gold medals, her initial start on the Gamecock track and field team was less than stellar. Her body was sound, but she had psychological demons to slay.
USC top college in the Southeast for veterans, military service members
November 07, 2024, Katherine Progler
Military Times has ranked the University of South Carolina as the nation’s No. 7 “Best for Vets Colleges 2024,” making USC the top-ranked school in the Southeast.
New research explores the 'thoughts' and abilities of AI chatbots
November 04, 2024, Kristine Hartvigsen
Artificial Intelligence advocates might defensively suggest, in good humor, that chatbots are “only human” and therefore prone to occasional mistakes. New research by a team at the University of South Carolina Department of Psychology basically confirms that notion with some important caveats.
Student ensembles kick off School of Music centennial celebration
September 04, 2024, Carol J.G. Ward
The Centennial Celebration Concert joins more than 500 student musicians in the first of a series of events showcasing School of Music programs, students and faculty.
Introducing USC's Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing
June 06, 2024, Gregory Hardy
The University of South Carolina College of Engineering and Computing has a new name that reflects the vision and generosity of generations of the Molinaroli family. The official name, the University of South Carolina Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, was announced on Thursday (June 6) during a signage unveiling ceremony at the college’s Swearingen Engineering Center on Main Street.
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.
Double honor: USC historian lands Guggenheim Fellowship, Rome Prize
April 25, 2024, Laura Erskine
Carol Harrison is headed to Rome for the upcoming school year thanks to two major fellowships supporting her research on the First Vatican Council (1869-1870). A professor in USC’s Department of History, Harrison recently won both the Guggenheim Fellowship — one of the world’s most prestigious grants for scholars — and the Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome.
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.
USC chemist elected to National Academy of Engineering
March 07, 2024, Hannah Cambre
Susan Richardson was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering for her pioneering work in improving water quality by measuring disinfection byproducts.
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.
Journalist and TV personality Leeza Gibbons helps caregivers through Leeza's Care Connection
January 11, 2024, Rebekah Friedman
After losing her mother to Alzheimer’s, journalist and TV personality Leeza Gibbons devoted her second act to helping caregivers through Leeza’s Care Connection.
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.
USC Sumter professor Ray McManus wins Governor's Award for the Arts
April 27, 2023, Craig Brandhorst
Poet Ray McManus won a 2023 Governor’s Award for the Arts, but the USC Sumter English professor’s impact stretches beyond the page.
Timir Datta: Magnetism Reimagined
January 27, 2023, Craig Brandhorst
Physics Professor Timir Datta was recently named a 2022 American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow for his research on “high-temperature” superconductors. But it’s the puzzling nature of electromagnetism that has pulled at his imagination for the last half a century.
Former journalism professor lands on front lines of Murdaugh trial
January 26, 2023, Dan Cook
The Murdaugh saga is the most talked-about case in the country, inspiring sustained national media attention and an entire podcast devoted to the subject. Right at the center of it is Jay Bender, a former University of South Carolina media law professor who retired in 2016. Bender has been appointed by S.C. Circuit Judge Clifton Newman to serve as a liaison between the court and the media for the high-profile case.
Supporters celebrate success of Anne Frank Center
December 01, 2022, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina hosted a reception on Wednesday (Nov. 30) to thank those who supported the establishment of the Anne Frank Center on the Columbia campus and its ongoing mission to educate visitors about antisemitism and other forms of discrimination. Reception attendees included university President Michael Amiridis, former President Harris Pastides, state Rep. Beth Bernstein, S.C. Ports Authority Chairman Bill Stern and former state Sen. Joel Laurie.
New vice president for research aims to mentor junior faculty
October 03, 2022, Craig Brandhorst
Julius Fridriksson loves a challenge. After climbing to the top of his field — and building out a research team of more than 40 faculty, post docs and graduate students at the Arnold School of Public Health — the onetime first-generation college student from a small village in Iceland agreed to become USC’s interim vice president for research in 2021.
UofSC ranked #1 college in country for veterans and military service members
September 12, 2022, Grace Salter
The University of South Carolina has been ranked the No. 1 “Best for Vets Colleges 2022” by the Military Times. The ranking, which covers 311 public and private institutions, serves as the gold standard among the veteran and military community in terms of higher education.
University's pioneering first-year seminar recognized for 50 years of innovation
August 22, 2022, Dana Woodward
University 101 began in 1972 as a class to help students adjust to college life and learn more about campus resources. Fifty years later, Gov. Henry McMaster will proclaim Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, as “University 101’s 50th Anniversary Day” in recognition of U101’s international impact.
Stamps of Approval
July 27, 2022, Craig Brandhorst
Michael Amiridis is a proven leader with the resume to match. But if you want to know what makes the university’s 30th president so successful, ask the people who have worked alongside him.
Michael Amiridis named Great Immigrant by Carnegie Corporation of New York
June 29, 2022, Jeff Stensland
Michael Amiridis, who becomes 30th president of the University of South Carolina on July 1, has been named to the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s annual list of Great Immigrants. This year’s list, announced today, honors 34 naturalized citizens whose contributions and actions have enriched and strengthened our society and our democracy.
Nursing alumnus, medical grad student honored for work on suicide prevention
May 12, 2022, Mollie Roe and Emily Miles
During his sophomore year, nursing student Bradley Quarles lost a family member to suicide. That experience, combined with the medical knowledge he learned in his studies, spurred Quarles to look for ways to prevent suicide and promote mental health on campus.
Music professor gets creative in managing change
April 05, 2022, Dan Cook
When you think of change management, you might think of the Harvard Business Review or McKinsey’s global consultants. You probably don’t think about musicians. But in David Cutler’s new book, the distinguished professor of entrepreneurship and innovation in the School of Music takes lessons that began in the arts and translates them into a broad-based way of thinking about change in any other facet of life.
Alumna plays crucial role in media company's inclusion efforts
September 21, 2021, Craig Brandhorst
As an executive vice president and global head of inclusion at ViacomCBS, Marva Smalls plays a crucial role in the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. And while her commitment to advocacy predates her time at the University of South Carolina, Smalls’ undergraduate and graduate experiences shaped her philosophy in profound ways.
Her Adidas: Vicky Free
August 18, 2021, Craig Brandhorst
Broadcast journalism alumna Vicky Free was named vice president for global marketing at Adidas in 2020. Free focuses on marketing strategies, but the ethos of diversity, equity and inclusion informs her thinking every step of the way.
Business graduate shares vision for developing historic Greenville location
July 26, 2021, Craig Brandhorst
Greenville developer and business administration graduate Brody Glenn oversees major construction projects for corporate clients nationwide. With Camperdown, a mixed-use, live-work-play development in the heart of downtown Greenville, he is reshaping his hometown.
UofSC No. 1 in U.S. in sport science for fourth time
November 18, 2020, Allen Wallace
The University of South Carolina’s sport science programs are ranked No. 1 in the United States for the fourth consecutive year in the Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.
UofSC earns top ranking for first-year experience; international business program
September 13, 2020, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina is once again recognized for offering the best first-year experience of any public college in the nation by U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings released Monday (Sept. 14). This is the second year in row UofSC was ranked the No. 1 public institution in the category.
UofSC earns top ranking for first-year experience; international business program
September 13, 2020, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina is once again recognized for offering the best first-year experience of any public college in the nation by U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings released Monday (Sept. 14). This is the second year in row UofSC was ranked the No. 1 public institution in the category.
ROTC cadet proves himself in combat diving courses
August 17, 2020, Kelsey Hagon
University of South Carolina junior Cole Falkenstine recently completed the U.S. Army’s prestigious Combat Diving Supervisor Course, preparing him to oversee combat dive operations in the Army.
UofSC among top universities granted U.S. utility patents
July 08, 2020, Communications and Public Affairs
For the eighth-consecutive year, the University of South Carolina stands among the top 100 universities in the world, based on the number of U.S. utility patents faculty members received in 2019. South Carolina ranks 90th worldwide, named as the lead on 31 patents last year.
Scholarship transforms heartbreak into hope
December 11, 2019, Margaret Gregory
In 2002, 8-year-old Wanda Gibbs died after being hit by a car at her bus stop. After her tragic passing, the community came together and launched a fundraising initiative to ensure Wanda’s memory would live on. Their efforts established the Wanda Gibbs Scholarship at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, which was awarded for the first time earlier this year.
UofSC sets new bar in U.S. News graduate school rankings
March 11, 2019, Jeff Stensland
The new U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools publication released Tuesday (March 12) shows South Carolina now has 53 unique nationally ranked graduate programs—more than twice as many as any other school in the state.
UofSC tops U.S. in sport science for third straight year
October 19, 2018, Allen Wallace
The University of South Carolina’s sport science programs are making an impact around the world, and the success has earned global recognition. The programs are ranked No. 1 in the United States for the third consecutive year in the Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.
20 years on top: UofSC's international business program still the best
September 09, 2018, Jeff Stensland
U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings were released Monday, and the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business has reason to celebrate. For 20 straight years, its undergraduate degree in International Business has claimed the top ranking, besting programs that include Ivy League and other large public universities.
UofSC nursing graduates receive perfect pass rate on national licensure test
September 05, 2018, John Brunelli
May 2018 graduates of the University of South Carolina College of Nursing set a new record on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), the standardized test used for the licensing of nurses in the U.S.
UofSC listed among top patent-producing universities in the world
June 13, 2018, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina is again listed as one the top patent-producing universities in the world, a distinction it has held for six years in a row.
No. 1! UofSC sport science programs top national rankings
December 20, 2017, Allen Wallace
The University of South Carolina’s sport science programs are ranked No. 1 in the United States for the second year in a row, and No. 4 in the world by ShanghaiRanking's 2017 Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.
Art of change
October 03, 2017, Mary-Kathryn Craft
The Ford Foundation recognized professor and acclaimed poet Nikky Finney as a visionary artist driving social change in the United States.
UofSC receives $500,000 NSF grant to accelerate entrepreneurship
September 20, 2017, Mike Ettlemyer
The University of South Carolina has been named the first Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Site in the state with a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to accelerate entrepreneurship.
UofSC continues to climb in latest U.S. News rankings
September 11, 2017, Jeff Stensland
Boosted by a growing reputation for academic excellence and research prowess, the University of South Carolina climbed several spots in the latest U.S. News and World Report’s latest undergraduate rankings publication released this week, now ranking 46th among all public institutions, and 25th among state flagships.
3 students win Goldwater Scholarships
April 13, 2017, Peggy Binette
Three South Carolina Honors College students win Goldwater Scholarships. Carolina students have won Goldwater Scholarships for 25 consecutive years.
UofSC graduate programs shine in latest rankings
March 13, 2017, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business once again claimed the No. 1 ranking for its International MBA program in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools publication.
UofSC commencement set for May 6-7
April 14, 2016, Megan Sexton
The past president of the American Bar Association, the chairman and CEO of Fluor Corp. and the chief public policy officer for the Boeing Co. will deliver the commencement addresses May 6-7 at the University of South Carolina.
2016 Compleat Lawyer Award recipients
March 22, 2016, Peggy Binette
Nine alumni from the School of Law at the University of South Carolina have been named recipients of the 2016 Compleat Lawyer Awards. Established in 1992, the Compleat Lawyer Award is the School of Law’s highest recognition of professional achievement and civic leadership by the school’s alumni.
UofSC professor wins AAAS fellowship
January 26, 2016, Jeff Stensland
University of South Carolina geography professor Kirstin Dow has been named an inaugural fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) Leshner Leadership Institute.
UofSC's College of Nursing tops U.S. News online rankings
January 11, 2016, April Blake
The University of South Carolina College of Nursing has been ranked as the top online nursing graduate program in the nation in the 2016 U.S. News and World Report’s Best Online Education Programs rankings released Jan. 12.
UofSC recognized as national leader in graduating minority students
December 01, 2015, Jeff Stensland
The University of South Carolina was recognized Wednesday as one the leading universities in the country for improving graduation rates for minority students, and ranks in the top five among flagship universities for closing the graduation gap between minority and white students over the past decade.