Christina Plakas, a criminology Ph.D. student at USC, is tackling legal access gaps in jails, creating national standards while using research, storytelling and community work to push for justice reform.
USC senior Claudia Case used Excel, data maps and tech savvy to help West Columbia Police reduce crime--without ever leaving her desk.
From red rock canyons to desert mountain peaks, USC geology students go beyond the classroom in a transformative field camp funded by alumni support.
How can hobbies and human connection help fight misinformation? USC grad Matthew Facciani explores the answer in his new book, Misguided.
Aaron Anderson works for months putting together whirlwind art auctions that last mere minutes, combining his art history and finance knowledge to connect collectors to historical pieces.
Graphic design graduate Kieran Ash creates striking designs for South Carolina's Department of Natural Resources, helping our state preserve its most vulnerable wildlife.
Kendall Deas has worked for over a decade advocating for and researching public education access and equity across South Carolina.
Philosophy and political science double major Zach McClure graduates from USC with a deep passion for big questions, complex answers, and a Yale Law School acceptance. From studying abroad to analyzing judicial credibility, his journey blends critical thinking with purpose-driven advocacy.
Arts and humanities graduate Emily Moffitt is making the arts more accessible in Columbia by curating inclusive exhibitions, supporting local artists and connecting the community.
A first-generation college student from Michoacan, Mexico, Reyes moved to the U.S. during high school and arrived at the University of South Carolina searching for direction. She found it in the International Studies program in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, where her passion for understanding global connections took shape.
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.
Celebrate the Class of 2025 from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences as graduates reflect on their experiences and share what's next.
Christian Geils, USC's first data science graduate, used AI to tackle research in biology and chemistry--earning a Magellan grant and launching the university's first AI student club along the way.
When Peter McCausland first visited the University of South Carolina as a teenager, he had no idea he would one day become the namesake of its largest college. From changing majors and finding his passion for history, to founding a Fortune 500 company and giving back through transformative philanthropy, McCausland's journey is a testament to the lifelong power of a liberal arts education. Learn how one USC graduate shaped his legacy -- and the future of the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.
Don Greiner set out to become a medical doctor. An encounter with the modern novel changed the course of his life.
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.
In Jie Li's chemistry lab at USC, undergraduate researchers discover how tiny microbes can lead to big discoveries for medicine and public health.
For more than 50 years, USC has made an undergraduate education more attainable through TRIO programs. The foundation of these opportunities is the Pell Grant. Here, USC alumni share how the Pell Grant opened the door for them to achieve their dreams of earning their degrees and attaining fulfilling, impactful careers.
As the 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.
McCausland College of Arts and Sciences neuroscientist Kristy Welshhans advances Down syndrome research while mentoring undergraduates in cutting-edge brain development studies to prepare them for careers in science, medicine and beyond.
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.
Ridha Fatima, a biochemistry and molecular biology major in the Honors College, says her experiences as a service-minded leader at the University of South Carolina will inform her career as a physician and health care advocate.
Tremayne Ansani, an Honors College neuroscience major from Columbia, has dedicated his University of South Carolina career to service and leadership in the classroom, in research and in helping his fellow students and the community at large.
Reese Lycan, an Honors College student from Lexington, Kentucky, is majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology with a goal of becoming a physician. But she also wants to advocate for better health care access, particularly for low-income residents of rural Appalachia.
USC’s student government has two graduating seniors who have been accepted to Harvard Law School, one of the nation’s top programs. The students credit their time in student government, along with the excellent training they received both in the classroom and beyond, with helping them reach their goals.
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