The University of South Carolina Upstate is expanding its academic offerings with two new degree programs designed to address workforce needs across the Upstate and beyond. The university plans to launch a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Hospitality and Tourism Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Languages and Global Studies in fall 2026.

The new programs reflect USC Upstate’s commitment to preparing students for high-demand careers while supporting economic growth throughout South Carolina.

“The addition of these programs demonstrates USC Upstate’s dedication to aligning academic opportunities with workforce needs and regional priorities,” said Chancellor Dr. Bennie L. Harris. “These degrees will equip students with practical, career-ready skills while strengthening industries that are critical to the Upstate’s continued growth and success.”

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Hospitality and Tourism Management will be housed in the AACSB-accredited Johnson College of Business and Economics. The program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing industries through a combination of business fundamentals, specialized hospitality coursework and experiential learning opportunities.

According to the 2025 Spartanburg County Talent Gap Analysis and supporting labor market data, hospitality and tourism remain among the region’s most important economic sectors while facing workforce shortages in management, operations, guest experience, digital engagement, revenue management and sustainable operations.

“Hospitality and tourism continue to play a major role in the economic vitality of the Upstate,” said Dr. Jeff Stinson, dean of the Johnson College of Business and Economics. “This program was developed to help address workforce shortages while preparing graduates to lead and innovate in an industry that continues to experience significant growth both regionally and nationally.”

The program will require 120 credit hours and will be offered through traditional face-to-face and blended formats. Initial enrollment is projected at 20 students in fall 2026, growing to 43 students by fall 2030.

USC Upstate also plans to launch a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Languages and Global Studies through the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. The interdisciplinary program is designed to prepare students with language proficiency, intercultural communication skills and applied professional experience for careers in healthcare, business, education, government, nonprofit organizations and technology.

Students will be able to choose from four concentrations:

• American Sign Language and Deaf Culture
• Spanish for Global Careers
• Spanish Translation and Interpretation
• Global Studies and Intercultural Communication

The degree will be offered in person and in blended formats, with fully online options available for all concentrations except American Sign Language and Deaf Culture.

“The demand for multilingual professionals and individuals with intercultural competency continues to grow across industries,” said Dr. Esther Godfrey, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “This program creates flexible pathways for students while directly responding to workforce and community needs identified by employers throughout the region.”

Regional employers, including BMW, Michelin, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System and local chambers of commerce, provided feedback during the development of the program. Employers identified a growing need for professionals with multilingual communication skills, translation and interpretation expertise, and cultural fluency to support increasingly global operations and diverse communities.

Enrollment for the Applied Languages and Global Studies program is projected to begin with eight students in fall 2026 and increase to 35 students by fall 2030.

Both programs are expected to strengthen talent pipelines for critical industries while expanding educational opportunities for students seeking flexible, career-focused degree pathways.

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Hospitality and Tourism Management program is pending approval from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Languages and Global Studies program is pending approval from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

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Project INSPIRE NextGen at the University of South Carolina Upstate Foundation has received funding from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind to continue expanding educational opportunities and resources for students who are blind or have low vision.

The funding will support Project INSPIRE NextGen initiatives over the next 18 months, including revisions and expansions to seven previously developed professional development courses. The updated braille math courses for educators will include new activities and assignments utilizing the NERCVE Brailler 2.0 and will be offered during spring 2027 and fall 2027. The project team also will host office hours and webinars in conjunction with the courses.

In addition, the funding will support the development and virtual delivery of “Graphing in a Box” for middle school braille readers in grades 5-8 during fall 2026 and fall 2027, as well as the fourth annual Mathlete Competition for braille readers in grades 6-12 planned for spring 2027.

The Project INSPIRE NextGen website will continue to be hosted through the Paths to Literacy team at the Perkins School for the Blind.

Project INSPIRE NextGen encourages the community to follow its work on Facebook and LinkedIn or sign up for notifications about upcoming courses and events.

The Project INSPIRE NextGen team includes:

• Dr. Tina Herzberg, Professor and Coordinator of the Visual Impairment Program
• Dr. L. Penny Rosenblum, Consultant, Vision for Independence LLC
• Sara Larkin, Statewide Math Consultant, Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Susan Osterhaus, Statewide Math Consultant, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Find more information on Project INSPIRE on their website.

The Lavelle Fund bridge grant was awarded through the USC Upstate Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.

About Project INSPIRE NextGen: Project INSPIRE NextGen at the University of South Carolina Upstate is dedicated to increasing access to STEM education for students who are blind or have low vision and read braille. Through professional development courses, student programming, and accessible educational resources, Project INSPIRE NextGen supports teachers, families and students nationwide in building skills in braille math and science. The initiative develops innovative tools and learning opportunities designed to expand STEM accessibility and student success.

About the Lavelle Fund for the Blind: The Lavelle Fund for the Blind is a charitable foundation dedicated to supporting programs that assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The Fund focuses on initiatives that promote education, employment, and independence for people with visual impairments.

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Story and photo provided by the USC Upstate Athletics Department

The goal before every season for the USC Upstate baseball program is to play in an NCAA regional. This season, the path to said goal did not come without adversity, trials, or tribulations. But in the end, the Spartans accomplished their goal by punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament as Big South Champions for the second straight season.

The road to this season’s league title took a slight detour as the 2026 Big South Baseball Championship, due to Mother Nature, was moved from HomeTrust Park in Asheville, N.C., to John Henry Moss Stadium in Boiling Springs, N.C. Championship Sunday also featured a slight speed bump, ending in a winner-take-all, second game on the event’s final day. After dropping the day’s first contest, the Spartans responded, dispatching No. 6 seed Longwood 8-1 to claim the title.

Pitching proved the difference maker in the winner-take-all finale as Upstate limited the Lancers to two hits, tied for the fewest allowed by the club to an opponent all season. Junior left-handed pitcher Chris Torres, returning on short rest to start the final game, surrendered one run on no hits and struck out four over 3.0 innings. Behind him, relievers, redshirt freshman right-hander Jacob Kirby and freshman righty Andrew Kummer combined to toss 6.0 scoreless innings.

The catalysts at the plate, senior first baseman Wylie Waters and senior pinch-hitter Brady Small, each homered for the Spartans. Waters’ long ball, his third of the tournament, answered Longwood’s lone tally, putting momentum heavily in Upstate’s favor. Small added insurance for the Spartans as his opposite-field blast moved the momentum squarely in Upstate’s column.

Game Information (Game One)
Score: Longwood 4; USC Upstate 1
Records: USC Upstate (32-28; 13-11 Big South); Longwood (34-26; 11-13 Big South)
Location: John Henry Moss Stadium | Boiling Springs, N.C.

Game Information (Game Two)
Score: USC Upstate 8; Longwood 1
Records: USC Upstate (33-28; 13-11 Big South); Longwood (34-27; 11-13 Big South)
Location: John Henry Moss Stadium | Boiling Springs, N.C.

Connect with the Spartans:
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
X | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans

INVEST IN CHAMPIONS – Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!

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Story provided by the USC Upstate Athletics Department

Photo by Big South Sports

Taking the field for the Big South Softball Championship Final with another chapter of the Spartans and Eagles for the third consecutive year, Upstate Softball completed the three-peat defeating No. 1 seed, Winthrop with a 12-2 final in run rule fashion over the Eagles. 

Opening the top of the first, Winthrop opened the scoring column with a base hit followed a double that brought a run home. The Eagles followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to put Upstate behind two runs. Taliyah Thomas and Sophia Kardatazke opened the bottom of the first inning with base hits which was followed by Ella Christopher driving in a run with an RBI single through the left side to cut into the deficit.

Heading into the second inning, Upstate cooled the Eagles’ offense as Maddie Drerup struck out two batters keeping the Eagles at two. Upstate began to warm the bats up in the bottom half as Laney Jennings opened with a solo home run to left center for the tying run. With Abby Polk following a with a base hit and stealing second, Taliyah Thomas entered the fray putting the Spartans ahead with a two-run homer.

As Ashlyn Brown entered the circle, the help of the defense displayed with a double play from Ella Christopher to Carson Shaw to quickly end the inning. Upstate continued their firepower at the plate as Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan added a leadoff single and Alyssa Davenport drove in the fifth run with a double down the left field line.

 Abby Polk followed with driving in the sixth run for a double on the right field line along with Taliyah Thomas adding her third hit with an RBI single through the left side to increase the lead to 7-2.

Winthrop added their best shot to cut into the deficit with loading the bases, but the Spartans were able to get out the jam to continue to hold the Eagles at two. Ella Christopher joined the hitting parade with a leadoff home run to left center to push Upstate closer to run rule territory. Following a fielding error from the Eagles, Alyssa Davenport advanced home for the ninth run. 

Taliyah Thomas continued her day with her fourth hit for a two-RBI double down the left field line and Sophia Kardatzke added her second hit advancing Thomas home for the 12th run.

Winthrop looked for one last chance to extend the games but the Spartans held their ground with a three up, three down inning to complete the three-peat while becoming the first host school to win the Big South Softball Championships since Longwood in 2017. 

Up next for the Spartans:

Following the Championship win, Upstate Softball is now an automatic qualifier for the 2026 NCAA Regionals and will find out their next destination to continue their journey on Sunday, May 10th during the NCAA Softball Selection Show at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time. 

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Graduates crossed the stage Thursday evening as University of South Carolina Upstate leaders delivered a clear message to the Class of 2026: opportunity may be closer than they think, beginning right here in the Upstate.

The university celebrated its 50^th undergraduate commencement ceremony May 7, honoring the achievements of the Class of 2026 while also recognizing longtime Greenville Mayor Knox White with an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree.

Chancellor Bennie L. Harris opened the ceremony by reflecting on the meaning of an undergraduate education and the persistence required to earn a degree.

“This is a moment of completion, but also of beginning,” Harris told graduates. “Your degree is not the end of your education. It is the beginning of your impact.”

The ceremony featured processional music by the City of Greenville Pipes and Drums and the presentation of colors by cadets from the Army ROTC Southern Guards Battalion. USC Upstate student Aleena Acosta performed the national anthem and alma mater.

In his commencement address, White encouraged graduates to embrace reinvention, pointing to Greenville’s transformation from a textile-based economy into one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.

“When textiles failed, it felt like rejection,” White said. “But that rejection led to redirection. And that redirection led somewhere far better than what came before.”

White also urged graduates to recognize the opportunities surrounding them in the Upstate, particularly in industries experiencing significant growth.

“You are not graduating into uncertainty,” White said. “You are graduating into demand.”

During the ceremony, Harris and Provost Pam Steinke formally conferred White’s honorary degree. The university cited his leadership in revitalizing downtown Greenville and his commitment to civic engagement and economic development throughout the region.

Student Government Association President Madisen Robinson-Miller encouraged graduates to remain confident as they enter their next chapter.

“Be the one who keeps going,” Robinson-Miller said. “Be the one who chooses growth when it’s hard.”

Greetings were also shared on behalf of the Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education by Chairwoman Cathy McCabe, who praised the university’s role in supporting regional workforce development and economic growth.

Following the conferral of degrees, graduates participated in the traditional tassel-turning ceremony before officially joining USC Upstate’s alumni network of more than 35,000 graduates.

“Your story is now and will forever be intertwined with the story of this institution,” Harris told the Class of 2026. “You are always welcome to come home.”

USC Upstate also celebrated a standalone graduate hooding ceremony, recognizing 50 students who earned master’s degrees across the university’s academic colleges.

The formal ceremony honored graduate candidates as faculty members placed academic hoods over each student, symbolizing the completion of advanced academic study and welcoming them into the next chapter of their professional and academic journeys.

More photos can be found on our Flickr album.

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When former South Carolina Rep. Harold Mitchell decided to go back to school this past August to finish his bachelor’s degree, friends often asked him why. After all, they argued, most people get degrees to land a good job and he already had one.

It was a fair point. Mitchell has achieved many successes without a degree. His decades of public service include establishing ReGenesis, a nonprofit dedicated to improving health care and economic conditions in underserved communities; leading the cleanup of toxic chemicals in the Arkwright and Forest Park communities; and collaborating with federal and state lawmakers to secure millions in grant funding for neighborhood revitalization.

But as the years passed, Mitchell felt incomplete. “Deep down, it was like, ‘You’re missing something here,’” he says.

While attending different events in Spartanburg, Mitchell learned about the Re:Degree program, which offers a pathway to degree completion for people who have done some college coursework. He reached out to Debbie Little, the Re:Degree program advisor at USC Upstate, and within a few days Little had him registered for the fall 2025 semester.

She also gave him some straight talk. While friends had suggested Mitchell could take classes online while continuing his advocacy work, Little recommended he stay laser focused on his studies. “She’s like, ‘You can’t do all these things at the same time,’” Mitchell recalls. “‘You’re going to have to prioritize.’”

Mitchell was more than happy to oblige. He had attempted to re-enroll in college more than once in the past, and work had always gotten in the way. This time, he says, he removed himself from all leadership activities and told his contacts he would be focusing exclusively on classes between August and December.

He also wanted to take all his classes in person. Though he hadn’t been in a classroom since 1988, he was eager to interact directly with professors and students. “Getting in that classroom and actually listening to young folks, you really realize what you don’t know,” he says.

On his first day of class, Mitchell admits he was a little anxious. He was determined to be just like any other student and did not reveal his legislative or environmental experience to his classmates. “I didn’t wear suits or anything, and they thought I was literally an old person in the community,” he says with a laugh.

After getting comfortable with classroom technology and how to navigate classes, Mitchell found his fear and anxiety subsiding. Little continued to offer encouragement and support, as did his family. His two daughters, one of whom graduated from Upstate, would call and give him pep talks and reassure him before exams. Even when he knew the material, he admits he would sometimes doubt himself and second guess his answers.   

The first time he got an A on a quiz he was thrilled. When he was in college the first time, “I never saw an A, not even in PE, so to get that first one became almost contagious,” he says.

He’d turn down offers to watch a football game so he could delve into research for class. He discovered a joy in reading he’d never had in his younger years. “This has hit a reset button of wanting to get engaged, wanting to make a difference, wanting to help folks,” Mitchell says.

Taking history with professor Rob McCormick and African American studies with adjunct instructor the Rev. Keith McDaniel helped Mitchell draw connections between past and current events that he had never noticed. When he took sociology with professor Colby King, he saw how community activism related to movements he’d learned about in his other classes.

For Mitchell, it felt like he finally had the context to make sense of all the lessons he’d picked up through years of experience in politics and advocacy.

“I never really just embraced or learned from the moment,” he says. “I was always just moving, constantly moving. And being busy. That busyness wasn’t good.”

Mitchell is still processing what it means to finally have a degree. He will officially complete his coursework over the summer, but he will be walking in the spring ceremony. When he picked up his cap and gown, he felt the years fall away and he was an excited young man again. Though his mother had died during COVID, “The first thing I thought about was, ‘I can’t wait to get home and show my mom,’” he says.

Instead, Mitchell took his first semester grades to the cemetery. Standing by his mother’s grave, he told her, “Look, I did it. You can get off my back now, I made all these As. You can finally rest.”

Story by: Elizabeth Anderson, Director of Integrated Communications

The post More Than a Piece of Paper appeared first on USC Upstate.

The University of South Carolina Upstate has expanded its commitment to student well-being with the opening of the John M. Rampey Jr. Center for Health and Counseling Services, a centralized facility designed to provide accessible, comprehensive care.

Located on Hodge Drive adjacent to the residence halls and across from campus recreation, the center brings health and counseling services together in one location, making it easier for students to access care and support their overall well-being.

University leaders, faculty and community partners gathered to celebrate the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a significant investment in student health.

“This ribbon cutting represents a meaningful investment in the health and well-being of our campus community. At USC Upstate, we understand that student success extends beyond the classroom. By expanding access to high-quality health and counseling services, we are strengthening the support systems our students need to excel academically and personally,” said Bennie L. Harris, chancellor.

The new facility reflects the university’s broader commitment to integrating wellness into the student experience.

“The student experience and success are inseparable. When students feel a true sense of belonging, have access to meaningful support and see clear pathways from the classroom to their future, they don’t just persist, they thrive. Our responsibility at USC Upstate is to create environments where well-being, engagement and academic excellence are fully integrated, because when students are well, they are positioned to succeed at the highest levels,” said Tierney Bates, vice chancellor for student affairs.

According to the Division of Student Affairs, approximately 60% of students engage with at least one campus wellness department each year. Health Services alone averages more than 3,500 patient visits annually and serves more than 1,300 students, roughly one-third of the active on-campus population. The department also maintains a 98% immunization compliance rate among incoming students.

“Health Services provides accessible, high-quality medical care that meets students where they are. Our team supports students in addressing immediate health needs while helping them build a foundation for long-term well-being and success,” said Mary Bucher, director of health services.

The expansion allows the university to meet current demand while preparing for continued growth.

“It just speaks to the university not only caring about students’ academic success, but their overall well-being,” Bucher said.

Health Services features a welcoming lobby with a designated sick nook and wellness check-in area, along with a separate checkout space to enhance patient privacy and confidentiality. The facility includes seven clinical spaces — six exam rooms and a larger procedure room equipped to treat minor injuries, administer IVs and EKGs and provide urgent care. Additional features include a lab, medication room and a dedicated sterilization area.

“The changes will help our workflow, our efficiency and increase our capacity,” Bucher said. “So as Upstate grows, we can help support that growth and serve more students because of this new layout.”

Designed with natural light and calming wood tones, the space creates an inviting environment for students seeking care. Health Services operates with a five-person staff and provides preventive primary care and reproductive health services regardless of insurance status, while also helping students navigate campus and community resources.

Counseling Services has also been enhanced as part of the project, with updates including a more welcoming lobby, improved reception area and dedicated staff spaces. Expanded hours have reduced wait times and increased access to care.

“Supporting student mental health is essential to overall well-being and success. We’re grateful to offer a space where students can feel at ease while connecting with the care and resources they need,” said Jennifer Gregory, director of counseling services.

The project builds on decades of growth. What began in the 1990s as a one-room operation has evolved into a comprehensive, student-centered health system. Over time, Health Services expanded its scope, transitioned to electronic medical records and integrated into Student Affairs, continuing to grow in response to student needs.

University leaders say the new center represents both a milestone and a foundation for the future.

“By embedding wellness into the student experience, from first-year programs to clinical care, the university is not only responding to student needs but anticipating them,” Bates said.

The facility was made possible through support from partners, including the Mary Black Foundation Mental Health Grant, which has already provided meaningful support to the campus community. University officials also recognized Messer Construction for its role in the project and Goodwyn Mills Cawood Architects for designing a space centered on patient care, safety and accessibility.

As USC Upstate continues to grow, university leaders say the center will play a critical role in ensuring students have access to the care, resources and support needed to succeed — both in and beyond the classroom.

More photos from the event can be found on our Flickr album.

Health Services is located at 995 University Way until May 7, 2026. From May 8-15, we will close to conduct the move to our new location at the John M. Rampey Center, 490 Hodge Drive. 

Health Services will reopen for patient appointments on May 18 at our new location.

Schedule future appointments on uscupstate.edu/myhealth. You can find local providers on the additional resources page for time sensitive medical needs during our clinic closure.

If you have any questions about USC Upstate Counseling Services, please call 864-503-5195.

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The University of South Carolina Upstate spotlighted more than four decades of musical excellence and community impact with the premiere of Elevate, a new documentary chronicling the USC Upstate Gospel Choir, on April 12 at the HPAC Theater.

The evening began with a red carpet welcome, followed by a formal program featuring the film premiere, awards and a panel discussion. The celebration concluded with a live worship experience led by the USC Upstate Gospel Choir, bringing together past and present voices in a powerful display of tradition and unity.

Hosted by Dr. Warren Carson, founder of the choir, and Alphaeus Anderson, the ensemble’s current director, the event highlighted the choir’s enduring influence on campus and beyond.

Anderson reflected on the significance of the moment, emphasizing the deep history behind the program.

“What made it so powerful was the full-circle moment,” Anderson said. “Dr. Olin Sansbury was the one who gave approval for the gospel choir to exist in 1981, and Sharon Robinson was the student who typed the original letter proposing it and helped name what began as the Gordon Colloms Gospel Choir. To have them both in the room over 40 years later was special. We also honored Dr. Warren Carson for his legacy in building the program.”

The event drew notable campus and community leaders, including USC Upstate Chancellor Bennie Harris and Spartanburg Mayor Jerome Rice, bringing awareness to the choir’s broad impact.

“We reunited alumni from 1981 to 2025, captured a powerful pop-up recording across generations, and truly built momentum for what’s next,” Anderson said.

The documentary and accompanying celebration reflect USC Upstate’s continued commitment to honoring its history while inspiring future generations of performers and leaders.

More photos from the event can be found on our Flickr album.

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The University of South Carolina Upstate is advancing student-athlete development through a new Student-Athlete Experiential Learning pilot designed to translate the elite performance mindset of its athletes into innovation, applied learning and real-world problem-solving.

The initiative brings together academic and athletic leadership at USC Upstate with partners from the National Security Agency (NSA) and its Office of Research & Technology Applications. The collaboration reflects a shared belief that the discipline, strategy and teamwork required for high-level athletic performance also support academic achievement and innovation.

University leaders said student-athletes already demonstrate strengths in time management, goal setting, resilience and collaboration — skills that position them well for experiential learning opportunities connected to national security, technology and applied research.

The pilot will require coordination across academic and athletic units to ensure student-athletes can participate while maintaining balance between coursework and competition. Officials say the effort is intended to create a framework for long-term impact, with potential to expand into scalable opportunities aligned with workforce development and student success.

The Student-Athlete Experiential Learning pilot represents a forward-looking model linking higher education, athletics and federal innovation partners to broaden opportunities for USC Upstate student-athletes and prepare them for careers beyond competition.

Find information about USC Upstate’s National Security and Government Institute (NSGI) on their webpage.

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By Samuel Hermanson

Members of the USC Upstate and Spartanburg community had a chance to engage with an American journalist whose knowledge of foreign policy and domestic affairs spans 40 years.

David Ignatius, columnist for The Washington Post, was the featured speaker at the 11^th annual John B. Edmunds, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series. The event was held at the Chapman Cultural Center Thursday, April 9. The series is hosted each spring by Upstate’s Department of History, Political Science, Philosophy, and American Studies.

Ignatius was joined on stage by Rob McCormick, a professor of history at Upstate, for a conversation on topics ranging from the current U.S. war with Iran, the Ukrainian war, US-China relations, the inspiration for Ignatius’ spy novels, and tips for writing. 

As part of the discussion regarding the current war, he reflected on how little has changed in the Middle East over the past several decades.

“I’ve been covering the Middle East now since 1980, and I do have this feeling that I’ve been watching the same movie over and over again,” Ignatius said. “It’s a movie about the recurring cycles of violence in the region. It’s a movie about the limits of military power to achieve your goals.”

Later, he discussed the balance he found between working in news media and being a spy novelist. He shared that his novels are inspired by his experiences as a journalist. The inspiration for his first novel, “Agents of Innocence,” came during his time in Lebanon.

“I came 35 minutes from getting blown up by an Iranian car bomb that exploded the American embassy just after I left an interview there in 1983,” he said.

In the immediate aftermath of the bombing, survivors talked to Ignatius as a way of coping with their grief. In the process, they revealed the details of what he called “one of the biggest intelligence operations the CIA had run before or since in the Middle East.” 

He tells a fictionalized version of that operation in the novel.

Earlier in the day, Ignatius talked about his career and held a Q&A session with a select group of students on the Upstate campus. He also answered questions from the audience during the evening lecture, including how he writes his books.

Responding to an audience member, Ignatius offered some advice about writing and creative work in general: “What’s creative is preconscious,” he said.

The best creative ideas, he explained, don’t happen when sitting down trying to think of them. They happen during some other physical activity.

“You just need to get out of the way,” he added.

After letting what he calls “this preconscious, incredibly creative, pattern forming thing” form ideas, Ignatius said the next step is to be very conscious when evaluating and editing those ideas.

Ignatius started his career with The Wall Street Journal in 1976, covering the steel workers union in Pittsburg. Four years later, he became the Journal’s Middle East correspondent. In 1986, he joined The Washington Post as editor of the Sunday Outlook section and later became assistant managing editor for business news.

He’s been writing his column for the Post since 1998. He also served as the executive editor of the International Herald Tribune in Paris for three years and is the author of 12 spy novels.

USC Upstate Chancellor Bennie Harris acknowledged event sponsors and guests during the evening.

“Thanks to our generous sponsors, we have the opportunity to engage with exceptional scholars, journalists, historians, and authors to deepen our collective understanding and sharpen our ability to navigate the complexities of our world,” Harris said.

In reflecting on the purpose of the lecture series, RJ Gimbl, vice chancellor for University Advancement, closed by encouraging guests to continue the discussion.

 “Maybe it comes up in class for our students,” Gimbl said. “Maybe it comes up in conversation tomorrow or just sticks with you in a quiet way. That’s really the goal of this series, to start conversations and to keep them going.”

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