Meet Our Graduates: School of Humanities and Social Sciences

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) is the largest of the academic schools at the College of Charleston. HSS offers innovative teaching, robust mentorship, engaged learning opportunities and collaborative research in an interdisciplinary community that celebrates the diversity of its members.

World-class faculty offer some of the most popular and multifaceted programs at the College. HSS explores what makes us human. Students critically examine their own ideas as well as those of others, so they may lead lives of awareness, compassion and purpose.

What CofC School of Humanities and Social Sciences Graduates Are Doing Next

Katie Hughes ’26

Environmental and Sustainability Studies (Interdisciplinary) Major, Biology Minor

Enrolled in the College of Charleston’s concurrent Master of Public Administration and Master of Science in environmental and sustainability studies, with plans to use this experience to pursue a career in community development and environmental justice work

While at the College of Charleston as an undergraduate student, Katie Hughes ’26 of Clover, South Carolina, participated in an interdisciplinary degree path, indulging in courses in subjects such as environmental and sustainability studies, political science, sociology, biology, geology, math, economics, project management and urban studies. She expanded her knowledge on human-environment interactions, and focused on environmental justice issues in the United States and around the world.

Hughes is proud of both her dedication to her coursework and her active involvement in campus life. She is the co-founder and past president of the First-Generation CofC Students Club and worked with faculty around campus to promote resources for the first-gen student population. With the help of the club, the College produced a First-Generation Faculty and Staff Directory that students can use to connect with professors and staffers who had similar experiences navigating collegiate life.             

As part of her research internship with a Risks, Impacts, & Strategies for Coastal Communities grant, Hughes was able to perform historical and educational research on Edisto Island. Using a locally written secondary history book as well as a diary from 1865, she developed potential lesson plans that could be implemented in local high schools.

Hughes also worked on two Cougar Changemaker projects. One established a sweetgrass garden at the Avery Research Center for African and African American Culture to celebrate the cultural heritage, and the other established emergency food packs with the Cougar Pantry for students facing food insecurity.  

Hughes is grateful to the College for providing a welcoming atmosphere and so many ways to connect to mentors who helped guide her through college life. She is excited to remain in Charleston to continue her exploration of the vibrant food scene, trying new restaurants and exploring new study spots near campus.

Lucas Guyton ’26

History and Political Science Double Major in the Honors College, with a Concentration in Politics, Philosophy and Law

Enrolled in the University of South Carolina’s Joseph F. Rice School of Law, with plans to deepen his understanding of public service and advocacy and practice law in South Carolina

Lucas Guyton ’26 of Cowpens, South Carolina, says his time at the College of Charleston has challenged him to grow both academically and personally. He was selected as one of two HSS Scholars in his history major, participated in the Global Ambassadors program and studied abroad in Edinburgh and London. Guyton is in Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society. He also participated in the Honor Board for three years.

Guyton pursued rigorous research while learning from faculty who pushed him to think more critically and write with clarity. Through Model United Nations, Model African Union, Model O.A.S., the Global Ambassadors program and studying abroad, he deepened his interest in diplomacy, law, history and international affairs while engaging with global perspectives in meaningful ways. Above all, CofC gave Guyton a strong community, dedicated mentors and the confidence to take the next step toward law school.            

Lucas says one of his most meaningful projects was his honors research in history, completed under the guidance of Phyllis Jestice, interim chair of the Department of History. His project examined how the Knights Templar were reimagined in 19th century literature and political thought. He explored how Victorians used the Templars, Freemasonry and conspiracy narratives to express anxieties about religion, secrecy and power. His capstone project in reproductive law allowed him to write about the rise in eugenic language, starting in extremist spaces then becoming more mainstream.

Lucas developed many close relationships with professors while attending CofC. He appreciated the smaller class sizes and faculty members devoted to his growth as a student. He says he’ll miss the nearby beaches, culinary scene and the easy-going atmosphere of Charleston.

Elizabeth Clark ’26

English Major and Women’s and Gender Studies Minor in the Honors College, with a Concentration in Politics, Philosophy and Law

Enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, with plans of becoming a public defender and criminal justice policymaker focusing on equitable criminal justice reform

Elizabeth Clark ’26 of Philadelphia is a Charleston Fellow and first-generation college student. She received numerous scholarships, including the Swanson Family Endowed Scholarship, which made CofC a clear choice. Clark was also awarded the Alison Piepmeier Endowed Scholarship for her feminist activism and leadership, the Jill Conway Annual Scholarship for her intellectual engagement and curiosity and the John Creed Award for her extracurricular experiences in political science.

With internships in local government and Congress, Clark strengthened her interest in public service. She is a member of five prestigious honor societies and was a recipient of several research conference awards, all of which helped her develop into a scholar dedicated to meaningful community justice work.     

Her bachelor’s essay, “Criminal Record Sealing in South Carolina: What Does it Take to Make a Clean Slate State?” examined the political, administrative and social barriers to expanding record sealing policies. In it, Clark proposed a three-pronged, state-specific solution for dismantling systemic inequalities. This work was especially meaningful to her because it connected her academic interests with her strong commitment to criminal justice reform and advocating for individuals navigating the long-term consequences of incarceration. 

During her time at the College, Clark launched and led three student organizations centered on advocacy, service and civic engagement: Students Demand Action, a gun-safety advocacy organization; Delight Ministries, an all-women organization for spiritual development; and the Political Science Club, a nonpartisan space for productive political conversation.

Her policy research was recognized locally and nationally, earning the Best Paper Award at the William V. Moore Conference and the Best Presentation and Policymaking Innovation Award at Carnegie Mellon University’s Public Service Conference.

The College of Charleston taught Clark how to think critically across disciplines, communicate with clarity and approach complex problems from multiple perspectives, which will help her navigate the demands of law school and ultimately serve others with rigor and empathy as a public defender.

One of her favorite spots on campus is the Cistern Yard, where she found the best people-watching on campus and also gave her the chance to breathe and reconnect with nature and the campus community after focusing on intellectual pursuits. Clark will miss the close-knit, collaborative community that supported and sustained her academic and personal growth. She will always remember CofC as the place where she felt genuinely known, challenged and encouraged.

Start Your Journey in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Want to embrace your curiosity and discover unique perspectives? HSS prepares students to become independent, engaged lifelong learners.