The Office of Communications collects and shares news about student, faculty, staff, alumni and college achievement and impact. Please let us know about your successes!
Albert Robertson had the opportunity to pursue a master's in education administration at USC. He was a successful administrator, but missed working with students. In 2020, he found joy helping other teachers any way he could, finally becoming an award-winning assistant principal.
CarolinaLIFE students will soon have a new employment opportunity available in The Lantern Hotel Columbia!
More than 22 percent of children ages 3 to 17 have mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral health concerns according to the Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health. Researchers in USC's College of Education received $636,000 from The Duke Endowment to work with high-needs schools in Aiken County to provide evidence-based approaches to school mental health practitioners, meeting the needs of students and families.
- The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced today that University of South Carolina College of Education is one of 34 providers from 15 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to receive accreditation for their educator preparation programs. The Spring 2025 review by the CAEP Accreditation Council resulted in 34 educator preparation providers receiving accreditation.
The new $560K initiative will support up to 270 teachers through workshops, coaching, and collaborative training to elevate STEM education statewide
Serving as student body president can be a transformative role not only for the university, but also for the individual. We spoke with four former student body presidents to discuss their experiences and how their time at USC aided them in their professional lives.
Juan Alvarado is wrapping up his first year of teaching in Fairfield County and living in the newly developed Fairfield Teacher Village. The year has brought the excitement and challenges that all first-year educators face. As the inaugural resident in the College of Education Educator-in-Residence home, Alvarado built a strong foundation with fellow community members.
On March 24, 2025, the University of South Carolina Latino and Hispanic Faculty Caucus and SC Centro Latino co-hosted an inaugural summit, Advancing the Higher Education Pathway in the Southeast for Hispanics and Latinos. This groundbreaking event brought together scholars, students, and leaders from across the state and region to address the needs and experiences of Latino and Hispanic communities within higher education.
Each spring, the College of Education faculty recognizes students for their high level of achievement in their academic pursuits, research and community impact. Congratulations to our Spring 2025 award recipients!
Four University of South Carolina graduate students are the winners of University Libraries’ 2025 Graduate Student Data Visualization Award, including Pighla Arerzo Sediqi, Ph.D. candidate in Education Administration in the College of Education.
Matt Schilit, the dedicated principal of Airport High School, has recently been honored as Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Council for Exceptional Children. This prestigious award recognizes his unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students, particularly those with special needs. The council's mission is to "improve educational outcomes and quality of life of individuals with exceptionalities and their families through the actions of professionals, advocates and other agencies."
The College of Education improved two spots, ranking No. 27 in the overall Best Education Schools, and is No. 18 nationally among public institutions and No. 4 among SEC schools. The college has improved by 60 spots in the rankings over the past three years.
This year's workforce profile examines data by school organizational level, while also comparing state-level findings to national and regional trends, to better understand potential relationships between workforce characteristics and the teacher pipeline.
When most people hear, "principal of the year," they would likely imagine someone who grew up enjoying school and breezing through their lessons. For Matt Sherman, (2011, Education Administration) that was not the case. During his childhood, he struggled academically. With the support of his teachers, he persevered and went on to not only teach but become the 2025 South Carolina Association of School Administrators Secondary Principal of the Year.
Each year the College of Education honors outstanding and innovative educators in South Carolina.
Shea Ferguson's journey into the world of educational psychology began with a simple yet profound question: How can we better prepare teachers to understand the science of learning and development?
Keighley George (2018, Master of Education in Teaching) grew up in a family of educators. She always knew she would join the profession to make a difference in the lives of others. She wanted her job to be meaningful and purpose driven. Recently, her work was honored when George was presented with the Milken Educator Award, a prestigious national honor hailed as the "Oscar of Teaching," that recognizes exceptional educators for their dedication to excellence in education and leadership.
The Institute for Rural Education and Development presented critical thinking activities for children and adults at Family STEM Day in Charleston.
Natasha Hastings came to the University of South Carolina with dreams of excelling as an athlete. Although her talent eventually would propel her to an NCAA championship, multiple world championships and two Olympic gold medals, her initial start on the Gamecock track and field team was less than stellar. Her body was sound, but she had psychological demons to slay.
Gamecock EdQuarters Executive Director, Chris Burkett, Ed.D., is the 2025 Dr. Jennifer Wilson Excellence in Teaching Award recipient. Award recipients across the state were nominated by their peers for their dedication to middle level education.
Pre-med student Hailey Smith shares her experience working with the Institute for Rural Education and Development on the SKIP+CODE core of the project.
Norah Dixon graduated in December. Along the way she had a wide and varied educational journey, including research on Richard Greener alongside COE professor Christian Anderson.
Catherine Compton-Lilly was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame. This elite group of educators and scholars shapes reading education and helps to make reading accessible for learners of all ages. Compton-Lilly shares her research, career experiences and hopes for her position.
The University of South Carolina has recognized students, faculty and staff members for their work on campus and in the larger community with 2025 Social Justice Awards.
USC’s CarolinaLIFE is a nondegree, residential, inclusive program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. CarolinaLIFE students explore their career interests and hone their employment skills through individualized coaching and access to University of South Carolina courses. On any given day, staff members might prepare them for job interviews, teach them about budgeting money or introduce them to campus organizations.