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McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

2021 News Archive

From metalhead to metal researcher

Three-time sociology graduate Anna Rogers used her love for heavy metal and gender studies to inspire the research she used in her first co-authored book.

Joe Exotic channels the spirit of America’s 19th-century tiger kings

Madeline Steiner, a recent UofSC history Ph.D. graduate and a post-doctoral fellow of history, examines parallels between larger-than-life Joe Exotic and 19th-century circuses and showmen for The Conversation.

Professor's new book shows how to speak truth to power

Allen Miller, a Carolina Distinguished Professor of comparative literature, explores the late lectures by French philosopher Michel Foucault, which focused on truth and power.

Rivers play key role in destructive coastal flooding, new research shows

If you think moving away from the coast means you're safe from flooding, think again. New research from a University of South Carolina scientist shows that rising rivers pose a danger.

New book highlights hidden history of the American Revolution

Our founders were pretty darn diverse when you include everybody," says history professor Woody Holton. His new book shines the spotlight on often overlooked people who influenced the American Revolution.

UofSC research team will bring mental health services to over 14,300 public school children

UofSC researchers on the School Behavioral Health Team will bring mental health services to thousands of K-12 children through the Enhancing Capacity in School Mental Health Program.

Archaeologists dive for a Civil War-era torpedo and the ship it sank

October expedition will uncover history about the first warship sunk by a submarine.

A giant space rock demolished an ancient Middle Eastern city and everyone in it

UofSC archaeologist Christopher Moore wrote for The Conversation to explain what research reveals about how a rock from outer space destroyed an ancient city near the dead sea, possibly inspiring the Biblical story of Sodom.

Political science major, English minor receives Rotary grant to study in Thailand

Clare Steiner received a Rotary Global Grant to help her pursue graduate studies in international development. She plans to expand on her work with refugees in Columbia and explore how development can assist vulnerable populations.

UofSC professor: Human-driven climate change devastating ocean ecosystems

Erin Meyer-Gutbrod's research shows that warming oceans have caused countless fish and many North Atlantic right whales to move migrate to new habitats, putting them in harm's way.

UofSC history professor Tom Lekan wins book prize

Gigantic Zoo looks at the blind spots and unintended consequences of German and European wildlife conservation and nature tourism in post-colonial Africa.

How one UofSC Ph.D. candidate kept his research going during the pandemic

Travel restrictions kept Peter Tereszkiewicz from the sand dunes he needed for his research. So he built his own.

How sociology prepares you for nuclear explosion

UofSC researchers are helping the U.S. predict how people would react and adapt after a nuclear explosion in a mid-sized city. Disaster preparedness depends not only on a study of the physical impact of an explosion, but on evidence-based social science.

Moving forward in a time of change

letter from Interim Dean Joel Samuels to Arts and Sciences alumni. "I believe your collective story represents how a broad arts and sciences education prepares people to improve their communities.

African American Studies Program celebrates its 50th year

Luther Battiste graduated before there was an African American Studies major at UofSC. Nearly 5 decades later, he proudly watched his daughter graduate from the program he helped build.

Faculty-produced indie film gives students industry experience

A handful of Department of Theatre and Dance students, graduates and faculty have been hard at work on a full-length movie which they will submit to premier independent film festivals like Sundance and South by Southwest.

New major uses interdisciplinary approach to keep up with changes

Walker Institute develops cyber intelligence major to help broaden skill sets in cybersecurity

Undergraduates tutor students set back by COVID-19 pandemic

Community engagement internship offers experiential learning to hone professional skills

UofSC history professor, undergraduate tell the untold stories of women in microwave science

By amplifying the voices of women in microwave science and engineering, Allison Marsh and Kate Kuisel hope to inspire others to join their ranks.

UofSC alumna leads global energy exploration group through sustainable transition

Nikki Martin is helping the world meet its energy needs while working toward a greener tomorrow.

Languages professor pens new book on religion in Mexican film

In her forthcoming book, Unholy Trinity: State, Church, and Film in Mexico, Rebecca Janzen explores how religion and religious symbolism in Mexican film and culture influence each other.

UofSC student works with SC broadband office to map internet access across the state

French and geography major's broadband mapping project helps bring hundreds of thousands of homes up to speed.

UofSC alumna charts her own course toward public health

Arts and Sciences graduate Raphaela O'Connor found her passion through global studies program.

Outstanding Arts and Sciences instructors receive Undergraduate Teaching Awards

Four outstanding faculty members -- Erin Carlson, Mana Hewitt, Leslie Lovelace and James Risk -- were named non-tenure track Undergraduate Teaching Award winners.

How one UofSC political science student went from the student senate to the U.S. Congress

Smiling faces, warm weather and big-time sports drew Morgan Spinner to the University of South Carolina. She found opportunities to pursue a passion for politics and public service.

New associate deans named for undergraduate studies and arts, humanities and social sciences

Two new associate deans will lead the college's efforts in student recruitment, advising, retention and student services; and facilitating success among the college's core liberal arts disciplines.

Found in translation: Amelia Parkes discovers home in Russian program

Childhood love of languages led humanities graduate to majors in Russian and French.

Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award: Lori Ziolkowski

Lori Ziolkowski, a professor in the School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment, shares her philosophy and experience teaching as a Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award recipient.

UofSC chemist brings passion for science to schools statewide

Whether she is leading chemistry research in her UofSC lab or making slime with elementary students around South Carolina, Linda Shimizu spreads her passion for science through experience. She received the 2021 Governor's Award for Excellence in Scientific Awareness.

UofSC history professor pens new account of the Kennedys' fight for racial justice

In her newest book about Robert Kennedy, history professor Patricia Sullivan challenges prevailing arguments that the Kennedy administration did not do enough to support the Civil Rights Movement.

UofSC political science graduate propels Veteran Affairs equity efforts

In February, James Anderson -- already a UofSC graduate, Air Force veteran and Fulbright Scholar -- was appointed to a post in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Among other tasks, he is working to review department policies and benefits with equity in mind.

Breakthrough Research: Michelle Passerotti earns graduate scholar award

UofSC graduate Michelle Passerotti has earned a Breakthrough Graduate Scholar Award for her cutting-edge research on fish aging techniques, the first of its kind in her field.

Twin sisters graduate together from UofSC

First-generation twins graduate together from the College of Arts and Sciences and leave as more well-rounded individuals.

English faculty study Octavia Butler and Napoleon Sarony at Huntington Library

Only 8 percent of applicants received a Huntington Library fellowship in 2021. Two of them are in the UofSC Department of English.

Chemistry professor lauded for polymer research and inspiring young scientists

Chuanbing Tang earned a spot in the top tier of biomedical engineers for his research on synthetic materials that can slow down antimicrobial resistance. At the same time, he earned respect of future scientists by opening doors for their careers.

Research and mentors open doors for geology graduate

Jaquan High's curiosity led him to study geology at UofSC, which opened doors to travel the country for research. Now the 2021 graduate is heading to graduate school supported by a National Science Foundation fellowship.

Students find wonder and fascination in astronomy research

Students who once thought astronomy was just a hobby have found that they can make big contributions to research on galaxies millions of miles away.

New theatre grad goes from lights to law

Not long before graduating, Xander von Klar was sending people through time and space with the help of lights on a stage. Now the theatre and English double major is heading off to law school.

New criminal justice / law graduate puts theory to practice

Earning a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Juris Doctor degree in just three years, Maya Weeks is prepared to bring a holistic approach to criminal justice. She doesn't just want to help people in the courts system. She wants to help them out of it.

First-generation physics student finds promise at UofSC

A phone call from the Gamecock Guarantee changed Alan Rowland's chances for attending college. Then his experiences at UofSC changed his life. As he graduates in 2021, he will continue to graduate school to study physics.

Research helps new sociology graduate realize her potential

After changing majors a few times, Logan Hickey finally discovered her love for sociology. That led to her work as a research assistant, which helped prove her potential to herself. As she looks forward to graduation, she says, “I am most proud of my accomplishment to stay true to who I am as a person.

Little-known Star Wars facts from UofSC Film and Media Studies

May 4 is known as "Star Wars Day" among fans of the Star Wars universe -- or, at least among those who are also fans of puns. ("May the fourth be with you.") Lauren Steimer, director of Film and Media Studies, and English professor Mark Minett shared these insights on Star Wars and its place in film and literature. Enjoy!

Blind poet's writing brings new beauty into focus

Ann-Chadwell Humphries recently published a book of poetry that reflects on family life, blindness, and community. Some of the poems were written or workshopped in her graduate English courses at UofSC.

Reaffirming a safe and inclusive community

A message to the faculty, staff and students of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Walker Institute director featured in The Conversation

Robert Cox was featured, this March, in The Conversation for his work studying long term care workers and their role in the pandemic.

UofSC student expands bird-tracking technology in Mexico

When Juilán García Walther went looking for data about how his favorite bird spends its winters in Mexico, the information didn't exist. To fix that, the University of South Carolina student is leading the installation of two-dozen radio towers that will track migratory birds through his home country.

Biology major gives back from Columbia to Costa Rica

Whether she's volunteering with doctors in Costa Rica, giving back with her sorority or mentoring Honors freshmen, Reagan Davis is motivated by her passion for helping others in nearly everything she does.

Arts and Sciences student combines passion for medicine and outdoor adventure

If you can't find Honors student Maya Duffy somewhere on campus, chances are she's taken off for an outdoor adventure. Duffy is a junior majoring in biology with minors in statistics and medical humanities, but her passion is the great outdoors.

Chemistry Ph.D. wins Breakthrough Award recognizing nuclear waste research

Kristen Pace's "amazing chemical insight" and dedicated work on research regarding nuclear waste forms earned her one of the university's top awards for graduate student research.

UofSC civil rights center to reveal historical marker for landmark protest

On Tuesday, March 2, the Center for Civil Rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina will commemorate the courage of hundreds of students who marched on the South Carolina State House 60 years ago, leading to landmark changes in the Civil Rights Movement. 

Dance professors awarded NEA grant for original work "Migratuse Ataraxia"

Two theatre professors are creating a unique performance to tell the story of Black liberation and migration through dance at several historic sites in Columbia, South Carolina.

Noted geoscientist to headline 'Climates' Theme Semester

The Climates Theme Semester will include a keynote lecture by Richard Alley, a scientist known for his ability to teach about climate change in ways that span partisan divides. He says his talk for Theme Semester will focus on the opportunities that can be realized in dealing with climate issues.

Marine science students realize dream career on research cruise

Two University of South Carolina undergraduate students spent their winter break diving deep into their dream career.

Claudia Benitez Nelson chosen for oceanography mentoring award

The Oceanography Society selected Claudia Benitez Nelson, a South Carolina marine science professor and associate dean, for its first Mentoring Award.

Online workshops will help foster constructive talks about race

The Ed Talks on Race workshops will address topics at the forefront of race relations in the U.S. and help attendees to develop skills and perspectives that support constructive conversations about race and racism.

Dean Joel H. Samuels' welcome message to students

A message from the interim dean.

Mentoring changes lives, even online

A UofSC criminology course helps students become mentors to local teens. In 2020, they saw how even a shift to online mentoring could change lives, for the college students as well as the high schoolers.

Political science, Spanish graduate sees signs of success in international business

2020 was a challenging time to launch an international business. But John Bailey '05 says there is opportunity, too. His signage company took on the creation of a specialized sign for Krispy Kreme in New York City.

Five Arts & Sciences students receive Gilman scholarships for international study

Five students whose majors or minors are in the College of Arts and Sciences were named Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholars. They will use the Gilman scholarships to study abroad in Japan, Spain and the UK.

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