Archaeologists uncover new evidence for Younger Dryas impact hypothesis McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2024-05-23 | The Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis says that pieces of a comet crashed into Earth 12,800 years ago, setting off environmental change that wiped out the wooly mammoth.A new paper by Christopher Moore, an archaeologist in the South Carolina Institute for Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of South Carolina, outlines new evidence for this hypothesis.📍Read more: https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/about/news/2024/archaeologists_uncover_new_evidence_for_prehistoric_comet.php
Diana and Hal Stevenson - Deans Award McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-09-17 | Diana and Hal Stevenson have dedicated their careers to building and growing Grace Outdoor Advertising while remaining deeply engaged in service to their community and industry. Together, they founded what became Grace Outdoor Advertising in 1984 and have helped shape it into one of South Carolina’s leading independent outdoor advertising companies. Under Diana’s leadership since assuming ownership and management in 2014, the company has experienced substantial growth, while Hal played a key role in establishing and expanding the business throughout the Southeast.A native of Columbia and the daughter of German and Colombian immigrants, Diana Stevenson has combined entrepreneurial leadership with a strong commitment to education, mentorship, and professional development. Beyond her business accomplishments, she has served in advisory roles with the South Carolina Philharmonic, the Foundation for Out of Home Advertising Research & Education (FOARE), and the Midlands Business Accelerator. She is also a charter member of SC Women in Leadership, was selected to the Palmetto Venture Fellowship Class of 2022, and serves nationally as a board member of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA), where she also chairs the Independent Council.Hal Stevenson, a Rock Hill native and Wofford College graduate, has paired business leadership with decades of civic involvement across South Carolina. His community service includes leadership roles with the Columbia Rotary Club, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council, Providence Home, the Outdoor Advertising Association of South Carolina, and Share the Dream Project. Through these organizations, he has championed business development, community engagement, and charitable initiatives throughout the state.
William C. Harris, Ph.D. - Distinguished Alumni Award McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-09-17 | William C. Harris earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of South Carolina in 1970 and began his career as a chemistry professor at Furman University before joining the National Science Foundation (NSF). During his tenure at NSF, he led major national research initiatives, including the creation of the agency's first Science and Technology Research Centers and later served as assistant director for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, overseeing programs in chemistry, physics, mathematics, astronomy and materials research.Harris went on to serve as assistant director of Columbia University's Earth Institute and as vice president for research at the University of South Carolina before becoming the founding director general of Science Foundation Ireland. There, he led a landmark investment that transformed Ireland into a global leader in research and innovation. He later founded Science Foundation Arizona, helping drive the state's emergence as a hub for advanced technology and semiconductor manufacturing.A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the Royal Irish Academy, Harris has received numerous honors for his contributions to science and innovation. In 2024, he co-authored How to Change the Future: Lessons from Ireland on Revolutionizing Innovation and Scientific Prosperity, which draws on Ireland's success to offer a roadmap for strengthening research, education and economic growth.
Moss Blachman, Ph.D. - Distinguished Service Award McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-09-17 | Moss Blachman Ph.D. is a longtime educator, administrator and leader whose career has been defined by service to higher education, health care and the broader community. At the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and Prisma Health, he has led initiatives in physician leadership, faculty development, strategic planning and continuing professional development, while serving in numerous leadership roles with national organizations including the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education (SACME) and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).Throughout his career, Blachman has been committed to advancing leadership and organizational excellence through service. He has chaired and served on countless university, health system and national committees, mentored faculty and physician leaders, developed leadership programs and strategic planning initiatives, and contributed to accreditation, governance and professional development efforts that have strengthened academic medicine and health care organizations across the country.Beyond the university, Blachman has devoted decades to civic leadership and community service throughout South Carolina. He has served on the boards of the United Way, Columbia Jewish Federation, Columbia Area Mental Health Center and numerous nonprofit organizations, while providing pro bono consulting, mentoring and leadership development. His distinguished service has been recognized with numerous honors, including the United Way of the Midlands' Alyce Kemp DeWitt Award, the USC School of Medicine Dean's Distinguished Service Award and multiple national awards for leadership in continuing professional development.
Patricia A. Sullivan, Ph.D. - Distinguished Faculty Award McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-09-17 | Patricia Sullivan, Ph.D. is the William Arthur Fairey II Professor of History at the University of South Carolina and one of the nation's leading scholars of the Civil Rights Movement, African American history and modern U.S. history. During her career, she has taught at USC, Harvard University, the University of Virginia, Boston University and the University of California, Berkeley, while also directing major research initiatives and National Endowment for the Humanities institutes for college faculty and teachers.An award-winning historian, Sullivan is the author of several influential books, including Justice Rising: Robert Kennedy's America in Black and White (2021) and Lift Every Voice: The NAACP and the Making of the Civil Rights Movement (2009), a finalist for the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. Her scholarship has earned fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Library of Congress, Harvard University's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute and the National Humanities Center.Beyond her teaching and research, Sullivan has helped shape the field of civil rights history through extensive public scholarship, editorial leadership and historical consulting. She has advised the Obama Presidential Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and PBS documentaries, while mentoring generations of students and scholars through her leadership in professional organizations and academic publishing.
Zoie Horecny, Ph.D. - Young Alumni Award McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-09-17 | Zoie Horecny, Ph.D. is a native of Chapin, South Carolina, and a graduate of Chapin High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in History with Distinction and a minor in Southern Studies from the University of South Carolina, followed by both a master’s degree in Public History and a Ph.D. in Early American History. Her passion for historical research and preservation developed during her undergraduate studies and led to a career focused on public history, documentary editing, and education.Today, Zoie Horecny serves as Digital Washington Papers Editor at the George Washington Presidential Library, where she oversees workflow migration for the Papers of George Washington project and edits major public-history initiatives, including the Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington. She also collaborates with universities and is developing a documentary editing project examining Mount Vernon during the Civil War era.Prior to joining the Presidential Library, she worked on the Civil War Governors of Kentucky and Pinckney Papers projects, developing expertise in documentary editing, public history, and educational outreach. Her scholarship on slavery in the Atlantic World has appeared in multiple academic publications, and her work has been recognized through honors including the Brecht Family Fellowship, the Wilfrid and Rebecca Callcott Award, and the Walter Edgar Scholarship.In addition to her professional accomplishments, Horecny remains deeply committed to education and service. She has taught students at both the elementary and collegiate levels and serves in leadership roles with the Association for Documentary Editing, Alpha Xi Delta at the University of South Carolina, and Ballyshaner, Inc., the nonprofit organization that supports Alexandria, Virginia’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
McCausland College of Arts and Sciences Live Stream McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-09-10 | ...
Forging Democracy: The 1776 South Carolina Constitution and its Enduring Impact McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-08-27 | Hosted by the Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse, this event commemorates the 250th anniversary of the 1776 South Carolina Constitution and its lasting impact on the development of representative government, constitutional law, and civic life in South Carolina. This panel will feature distinguished leaders and scholars from the fields of law, government, and history, including the Hon. Jean Hoefer Toal, the Hon. J. Michelle Childs, Vincent Sheheen and William Watkins. The conversation will be moderated by the Hon. Julius N. Richardson. The VIP Reception will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the Perrin Family Room, followed by the panel discussion at 6:00 p.m. in the KJW Courtroom.
Forging Democracy: The 1776 South Carolina Constitution and its Enduring Impact McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-08-26 | Hosted by the Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse, this event commemorates the 250th anniversary of the 1776 South Carolina Constitution and its lasting impact on the development of representative government, constitutional law, and civic life in South Carolina. This panel will feature distinguished leaders and scholars from the fields of law, government, and history, including the Hon. Jean Hoefer Toal, the Hon. J. Michelle Childs, Vincent Sheheen and William Watkins. The conversation will be moderated by the Hon. Julius N. Richardson. The VIP Reception will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the Perrin Family Room, followed by the panel discussion at 6:00 p.m. in the KJW Courtroom.
Civic Education in S.C. Classrooms McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-08-05 | As South Carolina teachers welcome students back to the classroom, some of them are better prepared to teach American history and civics thanks to a USC program that helped them learn more about government, America’s founding and the best methods for teaching.
Can the Constitution Unify Americans? featuring Yuval Levin McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-07-02 | The Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse will present "Can the Constitution Unify Americans?" featuring Yuval Levin.In a polarized, divided era, many Americans have grown frustrated with a system of government that feels stuck and unresponsive. More and more on both the right and the left have come to blame the Constitution for the resulting discord. But what if the Constitution is not the problem we face but the solution we need? How might better understanding the system and its aims help us recover the real meaning of unity in a free society?
George Washington’s Jewish Letters and the Creation of a Constitutional Republic McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-07-02 | Join us for the official launch to celebrate the opening of the Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse. Featuring a talk by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik titled “George Washington’s Jewish Letters and the Creation of a Constitutional Republic,” the event will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at the Joseph F. Rice School of Law (Karen J. Williams Courtroom).
A Conversation on Faith, Family, and Feminism featuring Erika Bachiochi McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-07-02 | A Conversation on Faith, Family, and Feminism featuring Erika Bachiochi at the Jospeh F. Rice School of Law. Join Erika Bachiochi, Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, for a discussion with Philosophy Department faculty members Leah McClimans and Mary Nickel.This event is sponsored by The Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.
The Career Studio McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-06-30 | Step inside the new McCausland College of Arts and Sciences Career Studio and see how we're helping students apply what they learn to becoming excellent candidates ready for fulfilling careers.
Southern BBQ Explained McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-05-27 | There's more to southern BBQ than meets the eye. 🍖 🔥 ♨️We caught up with a couple of students from Southern Studies 350: Barbecue, to find out how this delicious dish taught them about history, politics, culture and more. [A video featuring two students sharing their classroom experience in a USC course on barbecue. Other scenes feature students partaking in BBQ food]
Dean Hodges is all-in for this Give 4 Garnet. McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-03-19 | Help us "Dunk the Dean" by reaching 500 donors to support our programs that touch lives throughout South Carolina.
A Conversation on Faith, Family, and Feminism featuring Erika Bachiochi McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-03-06 | A Conversation on Faith, Family, and Feminism featuring Erika Bachiochi at the Jospeh F. Rice School of Law. eventbrite.com/e/a-conversation-on-faith-family-and-feminism-ft-erika-bachiochi-tickets-1934981795639Join Erika Bachiochi, Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, for a discussion with Philosophy Department faculty members Leah McClimans and Mary Nickel.This event is sponsored by The Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.Doors will open at 5 p.m. The program will begin promptly at 6 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is suggested. The event will be video recorded. By registering, you agree to being filmed.
Midterm scaries are real! Student ambassador Pagelyn Smalls shares how to survive! McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-03-05 | ...
Give 4 Garnet 2026 McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-03-05 | The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences teaches students across the University of South Carolina and touches lives throughout our state and beyond. From our classrooms and laboratories to our stages and studios, we help students achieve their potential. Their education here prepares them to lead in their careers and serve their communities as engaged citizens. Your support gives them every opportunity to learn and grow, all while they partner with faculty on research that creates breakthroughs for health and wellbeing, resilient communities and a more connected, ethical world. When you choose your cause during Give 4 Garnet, please consider the following priority funds:McCausland College Carolina Fund: Provides flexible support for departments and programs, helping us meet strategic priorities and sustain excellence across the college.Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment Research Center: Conducts research and outreach to improve the quality of life and health for students and South Carolinians with autism, fragile X, Down syndrome and other neurodevelopment conditions.Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse: Prepares students for informed, engaged leadership through civic learning and dialogue.Dean's Fund for Excellence: Allows the Dean to respond to basic needs of McCausland College of Arts and Sciences students when other campus resources have been exhausted.Choose the cause that means the most to you. When our community comes together on Give 4 Garnet, we make an impact.
February 27, 2026 McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-02-27 | Every day as a Gamecock looks a little different. But the opportunities? Endless. Spend the day with Pagelyn Smalls, a McCausland student ambassador and South Carolina Honors student double majoring in political science and African American studies.
University of South Carolina students spill the stereotypes about their majors. McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-02-27 | Need a midterm study break? We’ve got you. Students spill the stereotypes about their majors.
Double Major: Olivia Sherman in the studio and beyond. McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-02-06 | At USC, Olivia Sherman embraced opportunities that challenged her in the studio and beyond. Performing with renowned professional companies and exploring new dance styles pushed her past what felt familiar, helping her grow her confidence as both a performer and choreographer.That same willingness to explore led Olivia to embrace her interests outside of dance, supporting her decision to double major in biology and set her sights on medical school. Dance showed her she could take risks, pursue multiple passions and thrive in spaces that once felt intimidating. University of SC Department of Theatre and Dance Department of Biological Sciences - U of SC Columbia
George Washington’s Jewish Letters and the Creation of a Constitutional Republic McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2026-01-21 | Join us for the official launch to celebrate the opening of the Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse. Featuring a talk by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik titled “George Washington’s Jewish Letters and the Creation of a Constitutional Republic,” the event will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at the Joseph F. Rice School of Law (Karen J. Williams Courtroom). Free and open to the public. Pre-registration is suggested. bit.ly/3Z0dbF0
How USC inspired this filmmaker McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-12-17 | USC graduate Luke Hodges has been shortlisted for an Oscar. His film "Cashing Out" just advanced in the category for Documentary Short Film.It's just the latest thril for Luke this year. The New Yorker published his documentary. The award-winning filmmaker Matt Bomer became its executive producer. When Luke received the college's Young Alumni Award, he talked with us about how the USC community inspired him in his journey as a filmmaker.
Can the Constitution Unify Americans? featuring Yuval Levin McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-11-19 | The Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse will present "Can the Constitution Unify Americans?" featuring Yuval Levin.In a polarized, divided era, many Americans have grown frustrated with a system of government that feels stuck and unresponsive. More and more on both the right and the left have come to blame the Constitution for the resulting discord. But what if the Constitution is not the problem we face but the solution we need? How might better understanding the system and its aims help us recover the real meaning of unity in a free society?
Gamecock Mentors Give Back McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-11-14 | Once a Gamecock, always a Gamecock. Our alumni share why mentorship matters and how staying connected shapes the next generation of leaders. hashtag#MeantToBe
How open dialogue builds understanding. Dennis Ross & Ghaith al-Omari at USC. McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-11-12 | ...
Tyler Takes Us Inside Baruch McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-11-10 | In the marshes along South Carolina's coast, Tyler Pyatt found more than a research site. He found motivation.With a professor's encouragement, the biological sciences graduate student discovered he could apply himself to solving problems to protect coastal environments."I grew academically so much ... and I'm proud of who I've become working here," Tyler says.
McCausland Homecoming McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-11-07 | Watch as the McCauslands celebrate what it means to be a Gamecock. 🤙 #MeantToBe #ForSC
Baruch Institute McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-11-03 | At the Baruch Institute, USC students and researchers are advancing the future of marine science through innovation, collaboration and discovery. Their goal: to shape sustainable solutions for our world. #ForSC #MeantToBeUniversity of South Carolina School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment
Spend the day double majoring in the Classics and anthropology at USC. McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-10-30 | ...
Recognition of Excellence 2025: Bruce Baganz, Ph.D. McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-10-01 | Bruce Baganz, Ph.D., is the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, which honors individuals who have made a lasting impact on the college through their leadership, contributions, and dedication. Bruce earned both his M.S. (1975) and PhD (1979) in geology from the University of South Carolina before building a successful career as President and CEO of Security Energy Company. Beyond his professional achievements, he has been a transformational leader in the arts, most notably through his work as President of the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. Under his leadership, the museum’s endowment grew from $6 million to over $83 million, while its programs, facilities, and public reach flourished. An internationally recognized collector of antique rugs and textiles from Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, Bruce has shared his expertise and personal collection through exhibitions nationwide. He is currently preparing a landmark publication on Central Asian suzani embroideries. In 2024, Bruce and his wife, Terry, established the Bruce P. and Olive W. Baganz Geology Field Camp Endowed Fund to expand opportunities for USC students. His generosity ensures future generations can share the defining experience of field camp.
Recognition of Excellence 2025: Gordon Smith, Ph.D. McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-10-01 | Gordon Smith, Ph.D., is the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award, which honors faculty members for their excellence in teaching, research, and service. Throughout more than four decades at the University of South Carolina, Gordon has embodied these values, leaving a lasting mark on the college and its students. He joined the USC faculty in 1979 as an assistant professor of Political Science, teaching graduate courses on Russian politics, democracy, and legal systems. Over the years, he rose through both academic and administrative ranks, retiring in 2021 as Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Generations of students and scholars have been shaped by his teaching, mentorship, and example. Beyond the classroom, Gordon held numerous leadership roles, including Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Associate Dean, Associate Provost, Dean of the Graduate School, Director of the Walker Institute, and, perhaps his proudest achievement, founding Director of the Rule of Law Collaborative. In each role, he championed innovative programs, strengthened faculty support, and advanced the university’s mission of research and service. Gordon’s career reflects a lifelong dedication to education, civic responsibility, and public service. His impact on USC and its community continues to inspire, making him a most deserving recipient of this honor.
Recognition of Excellence 2025: Luke Hodges McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-10-01 | Luke Hodges is the 2025 recipient of the Young Alumni Award, which honors graduates within ten years of earning their degree who have shown outstanding success, service, and dedication to the values of the college. Luke graduated in 2016 with a BA in English and is now the co-founder of Nine Patch Pictures. His first film, Cashing Out, a story about a forgotten chapter of AIDS-era history, is distributed by The New Yorker and is eligible for the 2026 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. He is committed to telling powerful queer stories that bring visibility and respect to communities often left out of mainstream film. His next project, Odd Man In, executive produced by Oscar winner Caroline Waterlow, will premiere on PBS’ Independent Lens in 2026. Like all of Luke’s work, it combines personal storytelling with a strong social message. A Columbia native and son of former Governor Jim Hodges and First Lady Rachel Hodges, Luke continues to draw inspiration from his South Carolina roots. At USC, mentors like Professor Nikky Finney helped him discover his voice as a writer, artist, and citizen.
Recognition of Excellence 2025: Paula LEcuyer, Ph.D. McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-10-01 | Paula L’Ecuyer, Ph.D., is the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, which honors graduates who achieve success in their fields, serve their communities, and reflect the values of the college. Paula earned her PhD in Political Science from the University of South Carolina, where she also taught graduate courses in international relations and political economy. She has since built a distinguished career as a diplomat and national security advisor, known for her ability to lead with compassion and navigate complex global challenges. She served as Acting and Deputy Foreign Policy Advisor to the U.S. Central Command Commander, helping to shape U.S. policy across the Near East and Southwest Asia. In this role, she played a key part in critical planning for evacuations from conflict zones. She also managed U.S.-Jordan relations during times of crisis, overseeing royal visits and securing major financial agreements, including three sovereign loan guarantees. Guided by the values of her liberal arts education, Paula has approached her work with empathy, cultural awareness, and strategic insight. Her achievements stand as an inspiring example for students and alumni, showing how education and service can create a meaningful impact on the world.
Biology major Cailyn Tosadori went abroad this summer to Milan for the @doctorsinitalyfellowship McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-09-19 | ...
Here’s 5 ways to secure your dream internship. McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-09-19 | ...
Cyber policy and ethics major Claudia Case spent the summer interning with the West Columbia PD. McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-09-19 | ...
Constitution Day featuring John Witte, Jr. at McCausland College of Arts & Sciences McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-09-18 | Wednesday, Sept. 17 | Constitution Day with John Witte | 6-7:30 p.m. | Joseph F. Rice School of Law; Karen J. Williams Courtroom | Free | Discover what the Founders really meant in the First Amendment at this free talk with renowned law and religion expert John Witte.*
Cornel West and Robert P. George In Conversation McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-09-16 | The Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse is pleased to present Cornel West and Robert P. George in Conversation.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cornel-w...The Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse at the University of South Carolina is pleased to welcome Cornel West and Robert P. George. The center’s first keynote event brings together two scholars well known for their friendship across disagreement. Cornel West and Robert P. George will speak at USC on September 12, 2025 about their longstanding collaborations and their recent book, Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division, which models intellectual engagement and constructive disagreement.Doors open at 6 p.m. The program will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is suggested.About Cornel WestCornel West is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary. He teaches on the works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer as well as courses in philosophy of religion, African American critical thought and a wide range of subjects.His numerous books include his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. His most recent book, Black Prophetic Fire, offers an unflinching look at nineteenth and twentieth-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies.About Robert P. GeorgeRobert P. George is the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. He was chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and served as a member of the President’s Council on Bioethics, the United States Commission on Civil Rights, and UNESCO’s World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology. He is a former Judicial Fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States, where he received the Justice Tom C. Clark Award.About the CenterThe Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse aspires to promote three kinds of literacy that are essential to a well-ordered and flourishing polity:Dialogic literacy provides the skills needed to make a rational argument. These skills enable participants in important debates to recognize the difference between reasoned belief based on evidence and mere opinion. And they shape the effort needed to make disagreement both civil and constructive.Cultural literacy requires knowledge of the sources, texts and traditions that go into making us who we are as a people, including who we are as a people who often disagree with one another. Our founding documents, and the philosophic, political, literary, and religious traditions out of which they emerged, aimed to identify core values and aspirations central to the American character. These values and aspirations were intended to bind us together even when other significant commitments – moral, political, religious – might be in conflict.Civic literacy brings the other two forms of literacy to bear on the central questions of citizenship: what does it mean to be a good citizen, and what are the tasks of good citizenship? The questions of citizenship cannot be answered without sound reasoning and productive debate; and answering those questions well requires that we draw from the inherited wisdom of our common culture. But civic literacy requires something more: a commitment to work for the sake of the common good. The Center for Civic Leadership and Public Discourse hopes to inspire those who share in our mission to renew their commitment to work for the common good of our University, our State, and our Nation.All attendees must adhere to the Carolinian Creed and the Gamecocks Code of Conduct.
Cornel West and Robert P. George discuss Charlie Kirk McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-09-13 | At the University of South Carolina, Cornel West and Robert P. George discuss the recent murder of Charlie Kirk and other recent incidents of violence. They emphasize the need to restore a sense of civic friendship that champions civil and peaceful disagreement.This was the opening discussion of an event that West and George presented for the Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse.
Alumni Spotlight: Moryah Jackson with Habitat for Humanity McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-06-26 | Moryah Jackson took what she learned in USC’s Master of Public Administration program and is now using it to change lives as a leader with Habitat for Humanity. #ForSC
Hannah Trumbull | Alumni Relations Manager McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-05-20 | Hi, I'm Hannah and I am your alumni contact for the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. With over 90,000 alumni. Our college is big. I'm here to help you stay connected, informed and engaged.Staying connected means holding on to what you loved most about your Carolina experience. You can also play a key role in supporting today's students. By sharing your experiences, you help open doors and inspire the next generation.There's so many ways to get involved, whether that's mentoring, attending lectures, reading our newsletter, or joining one of our social gatherings. However you choose to engage, we'd love to have you as an active part of our community.Your student days might be behind you, but your connection to the college can last a lifetime. Please reach out any time. I look forward to meeting you.
Chef Amethyst Ganaway McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-05-02 | "Majoring in religious studies helped me grow in my perspective and my skills, because I had to learn what makes a person a person. I wanted to learn about culture and anthropology, and art and music. And that today has shaped me into becoming the chef that I am." – Amethyst Ganaway, a first-gen USC graduate and award-winning chef.
McCausland Announcement: Dean Joel H. Samuels McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 2025-05-02 | ...
