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College of Nursing

2025 News

2025: Year in Review

USC Nursing continues to build a culture of caring as the state's premier nursing program. With our nationally ranked programs, we're committed to transforming health care and preparing the next generation of nurse leaders.

How an Honors College student's thesis became a children's book

Paige Canady planned to write a straightforward honors thesis. 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.

Innovative cardiac teaching tool earns recognition for nursing faculty

Heart defects affect about 1 percent of all babies born in the United States each year, making the cardiovascular system an important part of the nursing curriculum. To help students master this material, assistant professor Stephanie Schaller invented a new tool that lets students learn heart defects through hands-on activities.

USC Nursing alumna dedicated to service, leadership and healing

Ret. Colonel Marguerite Knox has built a career defined by service, leadership and compassion. A Gulf War veteran and national advocate for veterans' health, she embodies a lifelong commitment to caring for others on the battlefield and beyond.

Viana McCown Lectureship 2025

The 2025 Viana McCown Lectureship celebrated nursing innovation, featuring expert panelists from leading South Carolina health systems sharing advances in care, safety, and innovation.

Alumni Association recognizes Nursing alumna award recipient

The University of South Carolina Alumni Association celebrated and recognized all award recipients during Homecoming Weekend. Nursing's Stephanie Burgess is among the honorees.

USC Nursing research helps lung cancer patients live better, longer

Nurse scientists at the college's Cancer Survivorship Research Center are leading innovative studies to help people living with and beyond lung cancer better manage symptoms, maintain treatment, and enhance their quality of life.

Honoring Excellence: 2025 Nursing Alumni Award Recipients

Each year, USC Nursing recognizes three outstanding alumni for excellence in care and leadership.

Heart-to-heart talk

Jewel Scott says women are more likely to be dismissed in medical settings because their symptoms aren’t as well understood – or health care providers just aren’t listening. Scott is working to change that by helping patients and practitioners become better advocates.

The Power of Peer Support

At the College of Nursing, students aren't just learning from professors--they're learning from each other. Through PASS, peer coaches and tutors empower their classmates to overcome challenges, build strong study habits, and thrive together.

A Culture of Caring

From saving premature babies to advancing chronic illness research to shaping the next generation of nursing leaders, USC faculty have built careers centered on connection and care. Their legacies will live on through their centers' lasting impact.

Shaping Tomorrow's Nurse Leaders: Tina Ralyea

Dr. Tina Ralyea has been named the new director of USC Nursing's Center for Nursing Leadership. With more than 35 years of experience spanning clinical care, hospital administration and academia, she is poised to advance the development of future nurse leaders across the state.

Gamecock Nurse Receives State's Highest Honor

Renatta Loquist, a USC Nursing alumna and longtime faculty member, has been awarded the Order of the Palmetto for her extraordinary impact on nursing in South Carolina and beyond. Her decades of leadership have shaped education, policy, and practice across the state.

Alumni Spotlight: Nurses Transforming Health Across the Globe

Our alumni are shaping the future of global health as they advance psychiatric nursing education in Rwanda and inspire new approaches to simulation in Nigeria.

Cutting-Edge Upgrades to USC's Nursing Simulation

From digital cadavers to AI-powered manikins, USC Nursing's revamped simulation center is transforming how future nurses train.

Garnet Apple award: Kate Bernheisel

Kate Bernheisel has always had a knack for innovation, something that she has been able to combine with her passion for empathy and her career in health care. It’s what helped earn the nursing professor the Garnet Apple award for teaching innovation.

USC expands nursing pathways for people with disabilities

The University of South Carolina College of Nursing is launching a multi-year, Duke Endowment–backed initiative to expand nursing career pathways for people with disabilities. The program aims to close critical workforce and care gaps through summer immersion experiences, professional development and inclusive training.

Student Summer Spotlights

See how our students are gaining real-world experience through their nursing externships over summer break.

USC Nursing Leaders Honored by American Academy of Nursing

Four outstanding faculty members from the University of South Carolina College of Nursing have been selected for induction into the American Academy of Nursing's prestigious 2025 Class of Fellows. Their national recognition highlights USC Nursing's continued leadership in research, innovation, and health policy.

Spring 2025 Honors List

Each semester, the university publishes the President's Honor List and the Dean's Honor List to recognize undergraduate students who, at the end of the previous semester, had achieved outstanding academic success.

Shaping a smarter, more compassionate sickle cell nursing workforce

Assistant professor Lori Vick is advancing national efforts to train nurses to better understand and treat patients living with sickle cell disease. At the heart of that effort is the Sickle Cell Nursing Boot Camp, an initiative that promotes specialized knowledge in treating this chronic and often misunderstood condition.

Nursing faculty member achieves her goals by degrees and with determination

Jessica Gonzalez was recently selected to become a Jonas Scholar, an elite cohort of emerging nursing leaders from across the country. And her current PhD research, which focuses on disparities in breast cancer diagnoses, was recognized by the NIH with an R25 training grant.

Recognizing Outstanding Employees

From innovative teaching to impactful research, this year's award winners are transforming nursing education and practice.

Student Spotlight: Nurse Cocky

Nursing student Nicole Hurley has beak flapped since the end of her sophomore year. The chance to finally tell her friends and family has been both surreal and exciting.

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

Jennifer Baumstark, a seasoned certified nurse-midwife and newly appointed director of the University of South Carolina’s accredited nurse-midwifery program, spearheads efforts to improve maternal health across South Carolina.

Alumni Spotlight: USC Nurses Advocate for Sexual Assault Survivors

Each year, thousands of survivors of sexual assault seek support and care--and University of South Carolina Nursing alumni are answering the call. From the bedside to groundbreaking research, discover how these dedicated nurses are making a difference during Sexual Assault Awareness Month and beyond.

2025 Awards Day

The annual Awards Day ceremony honors graduating seniors for excellence at South Carolina.

Spring Break in Germany with Global Nursing Education program

13 nursing students embarked on a Spring Break adventure to Germany, immersing themselves in local culture while exploring historical landmarks and engaging with peers.

University of South Carolina launches nurse-midwifery program

Midwives care for women throughout their lifetime and play a critical role in maternal health. The College of Nursing is launching the state’s only accredited nurse-midwifery education program to address South Carolina’s maternal health needs, particularly in rural communities.

Poor neighborhoods, health care barriers are factors for heart disease risk in Black mothers

Curisa Tucker, assistant professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health & Nursing Science, writes for The Conversation about her research on how living in disadvantaged neighborhoods increases the risk of peripartum cardiomyopathy, particularly for Black mothers.

Nursing student Allan Cabanayan has a global impact

Allan Cabanayan was a leader among students interested in health occupations even before he entered upper-level nursing classes at the University of South Carolina. 

BOLD Nursing Faculty Program

Meet three of our graduate students enrolled in the BOLD Career Pathways Nursing Faculty Loan Program. The BOLD Program offers up to $30,000 annually in tuition reimbursement for South Carolina nurses advancing their education, in exchange for a commitment to teach for at least two years after graduation.

Honor's List Fall 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Compassion in Crisis

Nurse Practitioner and USC Nursing alumna Stephanie Turner used her education to become a lifeline after Hurricane Helene.

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

For the fifth straight year, the University of South Carolina’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.

Human Trafficking Awareness: The Role of Health Care Professionals

Dr. Armstrong trains students and health care providers on properly identifying and responding to individuals who experience trafficking when seeking health care.

2024 In Review: Gamecock Nursing

In 2024, we grew significantly in commitment to innovation, leadership and inclusive service. Key milestones included the opening of a new Clinical Education Building, top rankings, and groundbreaking research, all made possible by the dedication of faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.