University of South Carolina linguistics professor, Brandon Waldon, contributed to a U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief in Flowers Foods v. Brock, arguing a commerce law should be interpreted based on ordinary language meaning, a decision that could affect millions nationwide.
University of South Carolina anthropologist Terrance Weik is helping to map and preserve Cedar Creek Cemetery in Richland County, with hopes to reveal an untold history of enslavement in South Carolina.
A new Hybrid Student Exchange Program, led by Olesya Kisselev, makes study abroad more accessible for USC's Russian language students by pairing virtual exchange with The Arctic University of Norway and a transformative 10-day immersive experience that builds language fluency and confidence.
Freelance photographer Nora Williams, now a second-year MFA candidate at the University of South Carolina, turned a passion for documenting history into a national career and continues to use her work to spotlight underrepresented stories across the American South.
USC chemistry professor Olja Simoska has earned the prestigious 2026 Cottrell Scholar Award to fund nanotechnology research, giving undergraduate students direct experience designing and conducting novel nanoparticle research.
Many people around the world owe their knowledge of geography, in part, to Jerry Mitchell. For decades, the University of South Carolina geography professor has led and supported efforts to unearth and share the best ways for teaching students about maps, migration, natural resources, energy, weather, climate and more. More than 40,000 teachers in South Carolina received support through his programs, and his international collaborations have reached even more.
The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences announces the 2026 Class of McCausland Faculty Fellows, recognizing six outstanding early-career faculty for excellence in teaching, research and student mentorship at the University of South Carolina.
Biochemistry junior Ria Kothari combines lab research and service work to make a tangible impact, from designing new antimicrobial compounds to leading USC's Habitat for Humanity chapter.
University of South Carolina chemistry professor Caryn Outten has been named a 2026 fellow of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for her groundbreaking research on fungal infections and iron metabolism, as well as her excellence in teaching and mentoring at the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.
A new grant from the National Institutes of Health will help USC faculty study fragile X-associated health conditions, which may affect thousands of people in South Carolina, and identify new ways to diagnose and treat the conditions.
USC Columbia sophomore Audrey Webb won the 2025 holiday card design contest. A computer science major from Fort Mill, South Carolina, Webb's winning design imagines what the Cocky statue on campus would look like if it snowed. Her design is featured on President Michael Amiridis' and First Lady Ero Aggelopoulou-Amiridis' holiday card, and it earned Webb a $500 gift card.
Assistant professor Feilong Ma joined USC's Department of Psychology with a research mission to understand how individual brains shape who we are and to advance tools that may transform neuroscience and clinical care.
An environmental chemistry research lab at USC at the forefront of efforts to find and identify disinfection byproducts in U.S. water treatment systems has discovered a new, highly toxic class of byproducts.
USC chemistry professor Linda Shimizu has a long list of accomplishments, including recently being named a fellow of the American Chemical Society, one of only 36 chemistry professors worldwide to receive the honor in 2025 for scientific and professional accomplishments.
Millions of times smaller than a grain of salt, nanocrystals have become extraordinarily useful in electronics, drug delivery, biological imaging and beyond.
Heading into 2025, the field of higher education faced significant challenges. But at the University of South Carolina, all signs point to dynamic growth and institutional strength.
Paige Canady planned to write a straightforward honors thesis, the kind that might get read once or twice, then put on a shelf. But after collaborating with an art education student, the project became a cleverly illustrated children’s book, one that Canady hopes will be read by families everywhere.
As the December 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.
USC has launched the new Center for School Behavioral Health to strengthen K-12 mental health across South Carolina. The interdisciplinary effort will expand research, support school personnel and help improve outcomes for students and families.
Scientists working with the James Webb Space Telescope discovered three unusual astronomical objects in early 2025, which may be examples of dark stars. Alexey Petrov, a USC endowed chair in physics, writes for The Conversation on how this could alter scientists’ understanding of how ordinary stars form.
Through a community service internship with Columbia's Harriet Hancock Center, sociology and women's and gender studies student Julia Smith discovered her passion for advocacy and turned classroom lessons into a career dedicated to strengthening her community.
USC Honors College student and public health major Hannah Brennen, who was a Rhodes scholar finalist, plans to attend medical school to pursue her interest in maternal health.
Senior Gracie Bellah started at USC with her plans mapped out. A history and anthropology double major in the Honors College, she dove into historical research and became a leader in student organizations. Her experience helping other students as a McCausland College ambassador helped her decide to take her career plans in a new direction.
South Carolina Honors College student Michael Pitre has been named a finalist for the 2026 Marshall Scholarships. If selected, he plans to pursue an MPhil in biological sciences to develop novel treatments for Parkinson's disease before returning to USC for medical school.
As the university marks the celebration of First-Gen College Celebration Week, we caught up with first-generation students, alumni, faculty and staff who are thriving in the classroom and beyond.