Recent Stories

A group of winners gather together holding their awards.

USC students and alumni win South Carolina InnoVision Awards

November 14, 2025, Laura Erskine

Six finalists with ties to USC were recognized by the 2025 InnoVision Awards, with three winning top honors. The winning businesses are led by students in the South Carolina Honors College, alumni and graduate students from the Molinaroli College of Engineering, and alumni from the Darla Moore School of Business and the Honors College.

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Clinical Practice Teaching Award: Megan Tran

November 12, 2025, Dan Cook

It would be a stretch to say that playing the clarinet led to Megan Tran’s career as a pharmacist — but not much of one. In high school, Tran — now a clinical assistant professor at the College of Pharmacy — played the clarinet and the tenor sax. Playing in the marching band was a big reason the Clover, South Carolina, native came to USC, and she considered a career as a band director. But an aunt encouraged her to keep an open mind about career options, and Tran ended up falling in love with pharmacy.

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper looking toward video screen displaying logo and photo of students

Department of Sport and Entertainment Management named for David and Nicole Tepper

October 14, 2025, Allen Wallace

USC announces the newly named David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management in honor of its visionary partners. A new $5 million investment extends their longstanding support for high-achieving students and adds funding for elite practitioner-educators.

Head and shoulders photo of James Bowers

Law school's first full-time African American professor cements his legacy

October 07, 2025, Megan Sexton

James E. Bowers was an undergraduate student at USC in the early days of desegregation and the first full-time African American law school professor. He will cement his legacy with an endowed professorship in his name at the Joseph F. Rice School of Law, the first named for a Black law school professor, and an endowed lectureship series that will share knowledge about democracy and the rule of law.

Tremayne Ansani sits on the tailgate of an ambulance.

South Carolina Honors College graduate Tremayne Ansani finds his path at USC

October 07, 2025, Megan Sexton

Tremayne Ansani had big plans before he even set foot on campus, but he had one overarching goal: to create and support community. Four years and a double major later, the Honors College graduate sat on the commencement stage as the recipient of the university’s highest student honor, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.

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Michael J. Mungo Graduate Teaching Award: Julie Hubbert

October 03, 2025, Dan Cook

Julie Hubbert, recipient of the Michael J. Mungo Graduate Teaching Award, is particularly adept at teaching in the context of forging one's own path. That’s because her interests have always extended beyond music to include film, film music and the social, cultural and economic contexts in which music and film are created. With this broad outlook as a starting point, she helps students understand the wider context in which they operate and to develop the mindset they’ll need to thrive.

path and building on the USC Horseshoe

US News: USC retains top rankings in international business, first-year student experience

September 23, 2025, Megan Sexton

USC retained its top ranking in international business and is home to the nation’s top first-year student experience among public institutions, while the College of Nursing BSN degree jumped 17 spots to No. 22 nationally, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings released Sept. 23.

Head and shoulders photo of Zachary Winkelmann

Clinical practice teaching award: Zachary Winkelmann

September 12, 2025, Megan Sexton

Zachary Winkelmann, who teaches in the athletic training program in the Arnold School of Public Health, is the 2025 recipient of USC'sclinical practice teaching award, which recognizes a faculty member for outstanding clinical teaching, practice, advising and mentoring of health science students.

A man standing in front of a garden

Michael J. Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award: Brett Robertson

September 05, 2025, Téa Smith

Associate professor Brett Robertson believes education goes beyond content delivery — it should challenge students to think critically, empower them to engage with real-world problems and inspire tangible impact. And the best way to do that? Appeal to students’ individual interests, abilities and learning styles. He was awarded the Michael J. Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award for his commitment to quality classroom instruction.

Headshot of Amy Taylor-Perry

Michael J. Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award: Amy Taylor-Perry

August 11, 2025, Laura Erskine

For nearly 14 years, Amy Taylor-Perry has taught general chemistry classes and labs at USC. Hundreds of students take these courses each semester, and Taylor-Perry has designed them to provide a solid foundation. She has now received the Michael J. Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award, with her nomination endorsed by the entire Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Susan Elkins sits on a bench on USC's historic Horseshoe with a vase of yellow, lavendar and white flowers over her left shoulder

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.

Head and shoulders photo of Jessica Gonzalez

Nursing faculty member achieves her goals by degrees and with determination

May 21, 2025, Chris Horn

Nursing faculty member Jessica Gonzalez was recently selected to become a Jonas Scholar, an elite cohort of emerging nursing leaders from across the country. And her current Ph.D. research, which focuses on disparities in breast cancer diagnoses, was recognized by the National Institutes for Health with an R25 training grant.

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.

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

Richard Layman: Sharing collections

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.

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.

Student in cap and gown stands with fists in the air
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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

two women nurses stand at hospital bedside, one using a portable ultrasound on a patient

US News rankings: USC's online nursing master's remains No. 1 in the nation

January 21, 2025, Megan Sexton

For the fifth straight year, USC's College of Nursing is ranked No. 1 in the country for its online master’s in nursing program, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual online program rankings released Tuesday (Jan. 21).

woman with track shoes around her neck and a U.S. flag draped on her shoulders stands in an arena

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.

woman stands in a shower of confetti with hands raised to the ceiling
Drum major Maggie Boyd in her band uniform

Senior biology major Maggie Boyd is one of three drum majors in USC's 2024 marching band

December 06, 2024, Craig Brandhorst/Photos by Kim Truett and Lawson Estridge

Senior biology major Maggie Boyd is one of three drum majors in USC’s 2024 marching band. The Matthews, North Carolina, native has won the coveted spot two years in a row and has cherished every opportunity to lead her bandmates, but marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was a capstone experience.

Two women in caps and gowns turning tassles on graduation caps

Class of 2024 December graduates

November 20, 2024, Megan Sexton

As the December Class of 2024 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.

Stan Brown in the Imperial Theater, New York City

Gamecocks Take Manhattan: Stan Brown

November 08, 2024, Craig Brandhorst/Photos by Kim Truett

This spring, actor Stan Brown made his Broadway debut at the age of 61. The theatre double alumnus, ’84, ’89 MFA, calls the role as Camel in the musical ‘Water for Elephants’ “a dream deferred,” but it’s not as if he has been waiting in the wings all these years. The Great White Way is just the latest chapter in a long and gratifying career.

Eva Pilgrim laughs during her interview at GMA3 studios

Gamecocks Take Manhattan: Eva Pilgrim

November 08, 2024, Craig Brandhorst/Photos by Kim Truett

You’ve seen Eva Pilgrim in the co-host seat on ‘Good Morning America’ and ‘GMA3,’ but the broadcast journalism alumna has a rich life beyond TV. And while she’s been living, working and enjoying her career in New York City for nearly a decade, she remains true to her South Carolina roots. In fact, they’re a big part of her success.

Rutvik Desai

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.

students walking on USC Horseshoe

US News rankings: USC tops in international business, first-year experience

September 23, 2024, Megan Sexton

The University of South Carolina is home to the nation’s top first-year student experience among public institutions, and its living-learning communities are ranked 10th best in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings released Sept. 24.

portait of a man with greenery in the background

Garnet Apple winner: Khalid Ballouli

July 31, 2024, Page Ivey

Khalid Ballouli’s path to academia took a detour through professional baseball, so it’s only natural this his teaching style is a little different. An associate professor in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, Ballouli teaches undergraduate classes in sport and entertainment marketing as well as graduate-level courses in research design and business research and analytics.

woman stands outside with grass and trees in the background

U101 instructor of the year calls on lifetime of experiences to guide students

July 24, 2024, Page Ivey

Kitty Sutton began her professional life as an attorney and thinks the lawyerly ability to hear a person’s story without passing judgment is part of what makes her successful as a University 101 instructor. In fact, her students were so impressed with Sutton’s skills that she is the 2024 recipient of the M. Stuart Hunter Award for Outstanding Teaching in University 101.

Portrait of USC alumnus and donor Alex Molinaroli

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.

portrait of Kimberly Rogers

Honors College alumna finds success in higher education

May 29, 2024, Kathryn McPhail

Honors College alumna Kimberly Rogers recently completed her first year as a college president — an impressive achievement for anyone, especially a first-generation university graduate. She took the first steps on that path in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where she discovered a passion that would lead her far.