February 21, 2024, Carol J.G. Ward
Building and understanding community has motivated Jackie Whitmore since he was captivated by his grandmother’s family stories during his childhood in Columbia, South Carolina. It led him to a career in social work and fueled a passion for African American history in his home state.
February 14, 2024, Gregory Hardy
It’s natural for anyone to become anxious or scared about entering a new environment. As children cope with their anxieties, parents can help by building routines to follow.
February 05, 2024, Téa Smith
When Lee Patterson earned her master’s in social work in 2012, she never imagined putting it to use at Richland Library — or any library. Ten years later, she is doing exactly that.
January 05, 2024, Gregory Hardy
It’s inevitable that children of all ages will struggle with the social and academic expectations of their years in school. Parents can easily feel overwhelmed with providing answers, especially as children continue to struggle with stress and anxiety from the disruptions of pandemic shutdowns. Cheri Shapiro, a research professor in the University of South Carolina’s College of Social Work and the director of USC’s Institute for Families in Society, focuses her research on prevention of social, emotional and behavioral problems in youth and implementation of evidence-based interventions in community settings.
December 14, 2023, Carol J.G. Ward
Melissa Watson Ward grew up in a low-resource community in Columbia, South Carolina and has dedicated her career to helping people from communities like hers. When a career opportunity emerged to make a real impact on clients’ lives, she took it. Now she's training women and non-binary individuals to run at all levels of government from local to federal.
October 10, 2023, Carol J.G. Ward
Social Work professor Ben Roth is co-authoring a book about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. About 500 individuals in six states, including South Carolina, participated in interviews for the research. Roth’s team found that young people who received DACA benefited in important ways but also faced constant signals that make them feel like they don’t belong.
October 10, 2023
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The University of South Carolina has several faculty members who can offer expertise on the subject.
October 03, 2023, Laura Morris
The Palmetto State — facing physician and nursing shortages, an aging population and a growing number of children requiring welfare services — is partnering with universities and organizations to recruit and retain students interested in health care careers by reducing financial barriers.
September 06, 2023, Dan Cook
From both sides of the political spectrum, the social space for spirited dialogue and debate has been steadily shrinking for years. A new group on campus hopes to expand the conversation.
July 18, 2023, Carol J.G. Ward
As Baby Boomers age, the number of older adult households is rapidly growing. Many of those planning for their retirement years are deciding there’s no place like home. Researchers from the College of Social Work teamed up with Richland Library to teach life skills that promote independence and allow individuals to age in a familiar space and environment, reducing long-term care costs and maintaining established routines.
May 22, 2023, Rebekah Friedman
When it comes to understanding the challenges related to pregnancy, birth and early childhood, USC’s researchers deliver answers.
May 09, 2023, Hannah Cambre
Teri Browne will assume her role as dean of the College of Social Work on May 15.
May 05, 2023, Lauryn Jiles
When Jenna Wilson became director of the Carolina Closet, she never imagined she’d be in the graduation business. She launched a joint collection project for students unable to buy their own cap and gown.
April 19, 2023, Téa Smith
When Lee Patterson earned her master’s in social work from the University of South Carolina in 2012, she never imagined putting it to use at Richland Library — or any library. But 10 years later, she is doing exactly what she set out to do when she entered the field: help people.
April 10, 2023, Rebekah Friedman
As senior director of policy and research at Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, Chynna A. Phillips is taking on poverty one partnership at a time.
April 05, 2023, Chris Horn
Robert Hock, a USC's College of Social Work professor, is heading an NIH-funded study to assist parents of children recently diagnosed on the autism spectrum. The project deploys autism parent navigators experienced in finding and using resources for children on the autism spectrum to serve as guides for uninitiated parents.
February 14, 2023, Téa Smith
New interim bachelor of social work program coordinator Bree Alexander is eager to give students more opportunities to pursue their research interests — on their own or working with a faulty member.
January 10, 2023, Rebekah Friedman
Health care workers are in the midst of a burnout crisis. As director of field education for the College of Social Work, Melissa Reitmeier has seen it first-hand when placing students in clinical sites across the state. She and her colleagues hope their new online training series will help.
November 14, 2022, Kyndel Lee
The West Columbia Outreach Program allows social work graduate students to complete field hours in the law enforcement field, giving them hands-on experience with case file management.
July 29, 2022, Craig Brandhorst
Associate professor of social work Kristen Seay and her collaborators take on adverse childhood experiences among foster children.
May 24, 2022, Carol J.G. Ward
Katie Slick and Cody Markow, student co-directors of Pillars for Carolina, say the program builds community and confidence among incoming first-year Gamecocks. The student-led program offers extended orientation sessions focused on leadership, self-discovery, service and engagement on campus.
January 26, 2022, Abe Danaher
The university’s interprofessional education program allows future social workers, pharmacists, nurses, doctors and others to step outside their educational siloes and engage their future colleagues in meaningful conversation.
September 23, 2021, Abe Danaher
There’s no denying that college is a time of great change. For the students living on-campus in the International House at Maxcy College, the change is especially pronounced: Not only are they adapting to college, they’re also adapting to living with people from different cultures throughout the world. Breanne Grace, new faculty principal at Maxcy College, hopes to provide a supportive community that will promote learning and expand students’ perspectives as they settle in.
June 24, 2021, Megan Sexton
Black Girls in Social Work, an organization created by alumna Bodequia Simon, helps more than 20,000 members around the country network and learn about the profession.
June 17, 2021, Chris Woodley
Teri Browne has been named interim dean of the College of Social Work, effective Aug. 1. She succeeds Ronald Pitner, who has served as interim dean since April 2020.
April 21, 2021, Chris Woodley
South Carolina College of Social Work professor Sue Levkoff and College of Arts and Sciences professor Alan White established the South Carolina - Advancing Diversity in Aging Research (SC-ADAR) program to address the lack of diversity among scientific experts.
April 14, 2021, Page Ivey
Jaeseung Kim, assistant professor in the College of Social Work since 2018, studies work and caregiving challenges for low-income parents and how work-family policies, both private and public, can help address such challenges. We asked Kim about how the pandemic has affected men and women differently and how to help those suffering the effects.
April 09, 2021, Chris Woodley
Kimberly Tissot was met with a challenge in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the executive director of Able South Carolina, a Columbia-based organization that provides services to people with disabilities, Tissot had to find a way to continue offering services to those in need.
December 18, 2020
It’s been a year — but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty to celebrate, recognize and honor at the University of South Carolina in 2020. UofSC rose to each and every challenge this year and raised the bar for the year to come.
November 05, 2020, Communications and Public Affairs
President Bob Caslen and host Sally McKay talk with Jared Evans, director of military engagement and initiatives, and student-veteran Ashley Johnson.
October 28, 2020, Megan Sexton
Military-affiliated students play an important role at the University of South Carolina. Veterans and active duty Gamecocks excel in the classroom and beyond, including alumni like Candace Terry who earned her Master of Social Work degree in May and now is the director of governmental affairs for the S.C. Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
September 10, 2020, Caleigh McDaniel
Student Health Services’ weekly podcast, “Hear Me Out,” has just begun its third season with new student hosts who are highlighting diverse perspectives on mental health topics.
April 28, 2020, Page Ivey
Melissa C. Reitmeier is an associate clinical professor and director of field education in the College of Social Work. She addresses how COVID-19 is impacting both the need for and the delivery of social services.
March 05, 2020, Megan Sexton
While artificial intelligence research and programs are growing around the country, the University of South Carolina’s AI Institute is among the first in the Southeast to include diverse colleges and departments.
March 03, 2020, Tenell Felder
The College of Social Work is celebrating 50 years of improving the lives of people in South Carolina and beyond. Two alumni and a faculty member are among the many who are continuing that work.
November 25, 2019
"Doing good to others is easy when you are surrounded by a community that encourages and celebrates service."
November 04, 2019, Craig Brandhorst
John Doering-White became interested in immigration issues as an undergraduate and followed his research interests to Mexico as a graduate student. Now an associate professor at the University of South Carolina with a joint appointment in social work and anthropology, he hopes his research will contribute to the development of a more humane immigration system in the both the United States and Mexico.
June 18, 2019, Chris Horn
About one-quarter of children in the U.S. under the age of 18 are immigrants or the children of immigrants, a status that often translates into educational disadvantages. A College of Social Work faculty member is involved in surveying school social workers nationwide to learn what they are doing to help those children navigate successfully through their public school experiences.
May 29, 2019, Chris Horn
A new Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of South Carolina will launch this summer, building on and harnessing the collective efforts of dozens of faculty members who already are advancing AI research initiatives in diverse academic disciplines.
May 22, 2019, Page Ivey
Social work and public health researchers Sue Levkoff and Daniela Friedman are teaming up to open a new front line in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, particularly among the African American population, which has a greater incidence of the disease and related dementias.
April 05, 2019, Megan Sexton
Breanne Grace got her first glimpse of a refugee community as an undergraduate, studying abroad in Tanzania. A political science major interested in law school and a career in politics at the time, the immersive experience opened her eyes to war and conflict issues she had studied in the classroom, seeing them in a much more human way.
April 04, 2019, Mia Grimm
Stuck on what to do with your class schedule for next semester? We've compiled a list of cool, unconventional classes in every college.
April 03, 2019, Chris Horn
When Wendy Rothermel’s son Cade was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, her family life was upside down, punctuated by his frequent temper tantrums. But when the family connected with Project HOPE and Cade’s therapy began, positive changes followed. The nonprofit foundation, launched by two university alumnae, is bringing hope to families across the state.
March 04, 2019, Craig Brandhorst
The University of South Carolina has been a global player for a long time. But since 2011, when the Focus Carolina strategic plan was announced, the university has significantly increased its internationalization efforts, transforming a healthy overseas presence into a clearly defined global footprint.
February 28, 2019, Allen Wallace
A year ago, University of South Carolina Dance Marathon made history, raising more than a million dollars for the kids at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital (then known as Palmetto Health). Just days after that success, they began working to do it again. That yearlong effort concludes Saturday with the student organization’s annual Main Event.
April 18, 2018, Marjorie Riddle Duffie
For USC senior William Benitez, graduating with his bachelor’s means more than just completing a degree. The former addict once thought he’d never get out of a jail cell.
March 19, 2018, Megan Sexton
The first class of Galen Health Fellows arrived on campus in August, a group of more than 450 first-year students with dreams of careers in the health sciences.
March 07, 2018, John Brunelli
The University of South Carolina is expanding its global reach in Southeast Asia. President Harris Pastides recently signed partnerships with three universities in Vietnam, which will allow for collaboration in teaching, research and service. Now, the Office of Study Abroad is sending a delegation of faculty and staff to the country over spring break to explore other opportunities for Carolina students.
February 08, 2018, John Brunelli
National Council for Behavior Health medical director Joseph Parks will be the keynote speaker at the Integrated Behavioral Health Symposium spearheaded by the College of Social Work. The symposium will be held Monday (Feb. 12) at the Alumni Center.
January 11, 2018, John Brunelli
The Carolina Family Practice, operated by nursing faculty, has a new home to better serve its patients. In November, the clinic opened at 1410 Blanding St. in downtown Columbia as part of its new affiliation with Palmetto Health USC Medical Group.
December 08, 2017, Megan Sexton
The USC Institute for Families in Society has a simple goal — find solutions to help vulnerable families in South Carolina. But the work, much like the issues faced by families, can be anything but simple.
December 02, 2017, Page Ivey
South Carolina’s Department of Social Services works with families in some pretty tough situations, but they don’t have to go it alone — thanks to support from USC’s Center for Child and Family Studies.
October 30, 2017, Megan Sexton
The toll of America’s opioid epidemic is tragic, but UofSC researchers are engaged in the struggle, finding tools that could help turn the tide.
June 16, 2017, Page Ivey
Christina Andrews’s research on how the Affordable Care Act has affected substance abuse treatment could provide the first national scale data on the ACA’s impact on an area of treatment that has been neglected.
May 31, 2017, Melinda Waldrop
Yancey Kemp Wise earned a master's degree in social work from USC to help others deal with the mental illness she battled for most of her adult life. A fellowship she established to honor her mother is helping present-day students continue her legacy of caring.
March 28, 2017, Megan Sexton
University of South Carolina students travel to developing countries to understand and tackle global health issues
March 03, 2017, Page Ivey
When Sue Levkoff came home to South Carolina seven years ago, she was tasked with helping establish interdisciplinary research that would help reduce health disparities in the Palmetto State.
December 15, 2016, USC Times
A is for alphabet, at least according to USC Times. To help close out 2016, the University of South Carolina’s monthly magazine for faculty and staff devoted its entire December issue to the ABCs of 2016 — with each letter representing a different accomplishment, announcement or notable arrival from the past year.
December 15, 2016, Chris Horn
Ever since grade school, Terry Wolfer knew he wanted to teach. But it wasn’t until he had earned three degrees and started his career as a social work professor at USC that he found a teaching approach that resonated with him and his students.
June 14, 2016, Chris Horn
The Cold Case Project, an initiative in the Children’s Law Center, focuses on a select group of adolescents who have lingered in the S.C. foster system and are at risk for aging out of foster care without achieving legal permanency — that is, without a family. Partnering with DSS and the family courts, Cold Case staff find ways to reunite these at-risk foster children with responsible family members or to match them with a new family. With children’s lives at stake, giving up is not an option.
February 04, 2016, Olivia Currey
Carla Damron writes what she knows. With more than 30 years of experience in social work, this University of South Carolina alumna’s novels center on characters in the midst of crises — whether they are dealing with grief, mental illness or a mixture of both.
March 20, 2015, Craig Brandhorst
Social work alumna Mary Lohman directs Girls on the Run Columbia, a nonprofit that develops self-esteem and other positive attributes in young girls while training them to run a 5k. Social work assistant professor Aidyn Iachini is conducting research that’s helping making the program even better.
January 15, 2015, Page Ivey
You cannot speak with Anna Scheyett for more than five minutes without realizing her passion to help people and, soon thereafter, her indignation at the obstacles to getting that help to those who need it most. It is the hallmark combination for any good social worker: individual well being and social justice.