McCausland College of Arts & Sciences

Portrait of a brunette woman standing against a red wall. White text reads "Brandi Byers Department of Mathematics".

Brandi Byers, a McCausland College advisor and math instructor pursuing her Ph.D. in educational psychology, earned a $10K USC grant to study how high-achieving STEM students cope with perfectionism and fear of failure. “I hope this research helps colleges better support honors STEM students.”

Portrait of Alissa Armstrong smiling, wearing a red blouse, with text announcing their achievement of the National Science Foundation CAREER Award as a McCausland Fellow.

USC biologist and McCausland Fellow, Alissa Armstrong, has earned an NSF CAREER Award. Her lab studies how fat tissue and ovaries “talk” to control fertility, linking diet, reproduction and outreach in SC.

Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor of the Year: Greg Carbone Greg Carbone is USC's 2025 Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor of the Year, but lecturing and leading classroom discussions didn't always come easy for the veteran geography professor. His secret is to remind himself that good teaching comes from a...

Congrats to geography professor Greg Carbone, USC's Distinguished Professor of the Year! 🏆

His secret? Inspiring students to follow their curiosity.

https://bit.ly/4nR0uH4

graphic with a headshot of Jessica Bradshaw with text that reads: Jessica Bradshaw talks about early detection and autism on SC Public Radio, McCausland Fellows.

USC researchers, like psychologist Jessica Bradshaw, are studying links between premature birth and autism.

Their early detection work, recently featured on SC Public Radio, is helping families today and shaping care tomorrow. #McCauslandFellows

Tune in 🎙️ : https://bit.ly/46tmguR

A smiling Cecilia Marquez holding a book titled "Making the Latino South: A History of Racial Formation"

USC's Latin American, Caribbean, and US Latinx Studies Program will host a book talk with Cecilia Márquez, author of "Making the Latino South: A History of Racial Formation."

📌 TUESDAY, SEPT. 23
4:30-6:00 PM
GAMBRELL 429

Person presenting geological samples on a table inside a tent with diagrams in the background, another person observing from behind.

Three geology faculty members smiling for a selfie in a rocky desert landscape.

Group of geology students with backpacks exploring a rocky terrain with snow-capped mountains in the background.

It's not just a field trip, it's a passion project.

Behind our geology students' epic field camp adventures are dedicated faculty and staff who make it happen. Geology Field Camp Director David Barbeau and his team help turn the American West into a classroom.

Read more: https://bit.ly/41TKXOf

Portrait of Annie Bourbonnais, a McCausland Fellow, standing under a tree with a caption about her team's engagement in summer research cruises.

Over the summer, Annie Bourbonnais led a six-week expedition in the Bay of Bengal, studying nitrous oxide dynamics in one of the world's largest oxygen-deficient zones. Her work, along with student research in the Gulf of Mexico, is deepening our understanding of climate change. #McCauslandFellows

How can we ensure justice for all, even in jail?

Criminology Ph.D. candidate Christina Plakas is working to close a constitutional gap, advocating for "meaningful access to the courts" for thousands of incarcerated individuals.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4m7nVuw

Portrait of a smiling individual wearing glasses and a dark suit with a blue tie, set against a textured gray background.

How do our identities fuel misinformation? 🤔

USC sociology graduate Matthew Facciani breaks it down in "Misguided: Where Misinformation Starts, How It Spreads, and What to Do About It."

🔗: https://bit.ly/4njXd2O

Promotional graphic for SC Public Radio quiz show featuring historian Joseph McCausland Fellows, discussing World Wars, adorned with images of historical figures and military aircraft.

History professor Joseph November joined SC Public Radio's "Who What When" gameshow to teach listeners about technology developments during World War II.
Give it a listen to test your knowledge bit.ly/460kOzO
#McCauslandFellows

New statistical tool enhances prediction accuracy An international team of mathematicians, led by Lehigh University statistician Taeho Kim, has introduced an innovative method that could significantly improve how scientists make predictions, especial...

An interview of our alumnus Dr. Taeho Kim (PhD 19) about his work with Dr. Edsel Pena.

phys.org/news/2025-09...

The paper is now on arXiv arxiv.org/abs/2304.04221!

Photo of Meena Khalili looking straight on with a text overlay that reads: Meena Khalili explores the intersection of design and AI

Studio art professor Meena Khalili shared her paper and workshop “Play the Algorithm” at a conference in Charlotte this summer, presenting insights from her AI and Design course supported by a McCausland Innovation Grant.

#McCauslandFellows

Dr. Anru_Zhang will give a colloquium talk on 9/4 (Thursday) at 2:50 p.m. All are welcome!

Image of Ian Adams standing in front of a brick building, wearing a polo shirt. The text on the image reads: 'Ian Adams Earns 2025 Early Career Experimental Criminologist Award - McCausland Fellows.'

We're thrilled to announce that Ian T. Adams, assistant professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, has been named the 2025 Early Career Experimental Criminologist Award recipient by the American Society of Criminology. #McCauslandFellows

USC launches South Carolina’s premier center for civic leadership and thought The University of South Carolina is creating a new academic center to promote broad understanding of the core ideals and values that have shaped American government and history.

We just launched the Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse.🇺🇸

We're proud to help lead South Carolina's efforts to help students explore the core values that shaped American history and prepare to lead in their communities.

sc.edu/uofsc/posts/...

History shows why FEMA is essential in disasters Since FEMA lost its independent status and became part of the Department of Homeland Security, it has faced complaints about delays caused by layers of bureaucracy. USC professor Susan Cutter looks ba...

Susan Cutter, director of USC's Hazards Vulnerability & Resillience Institute, writes for The Conversation exploring what history reveals about the legacy of FEMA.
sc.edu/uofsc/posts/...

graphic that reads: we are searching for you, McCausland Endowed Chair in Neurosciences

Applications are open for the Peter and Bonnie McCausland Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience. The incoming chair will bring a research program focused in or closely complementing university strengths in areas of neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
↪️ bit.ly/40Qv0b0

Kendall Deas, professor in the Department of African American Studies, writes for The Conversation about the history of school voucher programs.
www.sc.edu/uofsc/posts/...

Focusing on the brain The University of South Carolina is focused on the brain. From autism and aphasia to Alzheimer’s and other related dementias, university researchers are working across several academic disciplines to ...

Our neuroscience faculty are among USC researchers dedicated to enhancing brain health.

Learn more about our main research areas: mobile testing for autism research, advanced brain imaging with new MRI technology and Alzheimer's drug development.

@uscresearch.bsky.social

bit.ly/4jKSNQe

About the USC graduate who just named the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 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 pas...

It’s been a month since the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences was renamed.

Now, let's look back at the inspiring journey of Peter McCausland that led to this historic moment. ⤵️
www.sc.edu/study/colleg...

YouTube video by University of South Carolina Inside Carolina Episode 34: Transformational gift to benefit students, faculty

Learn more about how Peter and Bonnie McCausland and The McCausland Foundation are enriching the academic experience at USC — now and for generations to come.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-miu...

We're excited to announce the nomination period is now open for the 2025 Recognition of Excellence Awards.

sc.edu/study/colleg...

Forever to thee, Gamecock graduates! 🤙🎓🫶

2025 Tenure & Promotion Dinner Explore this photo album by UofSC College of Arts & Sciences on Flickr!

Highlights from our Tenure & Promotion reception honoring the dedicated faculty members of the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. 💫

flic.kr/s/aHBqjC41Qc

What Ivermectin Can (and Can’t) Do

McCausland College of Arts and Sciences professor Krissy Lunz Trujillo was recently quoted by The New York Times. Read the article: www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/w...

USC geographer Jessica Barnes awarded prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship 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...

Associate professor of geography Jessica Barnes has been awarded the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, one of the nation’s highest honors for scholars, artists and scientists.
www.sc.edu/uofsc/posts/...

Engineering and the Humanities: It's Complicated As an electrical engineer turned historian who now studies engineers of the past, I have a good sense of how the engineering profession evolved. And what I've learned is this: Engineers have long reco...

Historian and USC professor Allison Marsh discusses engineering’s historical ties to the humanities.
spectrum.ieee.org/engineering-...

USC's College of Arts and Sciences renamed following transformational gift USC's largest college has a new name honoring the vision and generosity of a prominent alumnus and his family: the University of South Carolina McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.

We're proud to introduce you to the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.

More on this historic day and the transformative gift from Bonnie and Peter McCausland and The McCausland Foundation.
www.sc.edu/uofsc/posts/...

AIs flunk language test that takes grammar out of the equation While the quality of AI systems' output sometimes rivals work done by humans, they are also prone to confidently churning out factually incorrect information. Skeptics have also called into question t...

Rutvik Desai, a professor of psychology at the University of South Carolina, writes for The Conversation about his research with AI chatbots.
www.sc.edu/uofsc/posts/...

How does the Post Office work? Civics 101 · Episode

How does the Post Office work? #USC history professor Allison Marsh chats about it on the Civics 101 podcast. 🎙️

Take a listen. 👇 open.spotify.com/episode/0bk0...