Meet Our Graduates: School of Natural and Environmental Studies

The School of Natural and Environmental Sciences (SNES) is home to explorers, innovators and visionaries. SNES students are creative, curious and critical thinkers.

The school offers programs like marine biology, life sciences, geology, physics, chemistry and environmental sciences which benefit from the College’s harbor-side location and the rich biodiversity of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Students have opportunities for relevant internships with community partners in the human-health and industrial sectors as well as hands-on research with accomplished faculty members conducting cutting-edge research and publishing in international scientific journals.

Whether it’s the ideal location or the overall excellence of its programs, the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences offers unparalleled opportunities for success.

What CofC School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Graduates Are Doing Next 

Jack Hyland

Biology (B.S. and B.A.) Major in the Honors College, with a Biomedical Concentration

Enrolled in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the Medical University of South Carolina, pursuing his M.D. and Ph.D. while fully funded by the National Institutes of Health

Jack Hyland of Belmont, North Carolina, was one of only 20-25 incoming freshmen selected for the Charleston Fellows Top Scholars Program, which provides four years of prestigious scholarships, mentorship and enrichment opportunities. He received several scholarships, including the J. Gorman ‘43 and Gladys Thomas Endowed Annual Memorial Alumni Scholarship, the Boykin Scholarship and the Swanson Family Endowed Scholarship.

During his time at the College of Charleston, Hyland contributed to a published scientific paper as an author and was selected for the Pipeline for Aspiring Surgical Scientists Fellowship the summer before his senior year. He also conducted cancer prevention and treatment research at MUSC for three and a half years under the supervision of Dr. Denis Guttridge.

Hyland says the support and mentorship from his advisors at the College were instrumental in shaping both his professional and personal development. With their guidance, he learned how to navigate challenges, think critically and pursue opportunities with intention.

He is incredibly grateful for the encouragement to push beyond his comfort zone, which helped him succeed academically and deepened his involvement in both research and service, which helped to clarify his long-term goals.

While staying in Charleston for his graduate program, Hyland says he will miss the College’s green spaces, especially the Cistern Yard and Rivers Green, where he enjoyed studying outside surrounded by nature. He says the historic buildings on campus made his college experience truly unique.

Hyland is most grateful for the people who made his CofC experience so memorable, from classmates and professors to advisors and mentors. He thanks them for investing in his growth and helping shape the person he’s become: able to approach this next step with confidence and a strong sense of purpose.

Sophia Mucci

Environmental Geosciences and French and Francophone Studies Double-Major, Geoinformatics and International Studies Double-Minor in the Honors College

Moving to New York City to work as a GIS associate with PricewaterhouseCoopers

As a recipient of the Colonial Scholarship, a Charleston Fellow and an International Scholar, Sophia Mucci of Fort Mill, South Carolina, excelled in academics while participating in research projects, working with governmental organizations and gaining hands-on experience during internships, including with the National Geographic Society, where she worked as a cartographer. Mucci held the same role with the Naval Information Warfare Center, using spatial data to protect lives.

Mucci is the winner of the prestigious John Lewis Gervais, Jr. Award. In addition, she participated in the College’s AI Innovation Challenge, earning a team win for research focused on applying AI to predict harmful algal blooms.

Mucci visited 10 countries while completing her degree, including studying abroad in La Rochelle, France, which helped her develop proficiency in French. One of her most memorable experiences was a bit closer to home: a monthlong field study with the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, camping from the Rocky Mountains to the Grand Canyon.

She enjoyed spending time in the Santee Cooper GIS Laboratory, where many late nights working on collaborative projects formed lasting memories of the College. She also cherished her time relaxing in rocking chairs with friends on the Honors College balcony.

Another special moment Mucci will savor is the “shirting” ceremony, where graduates playfully roast their professors before being roasted themselves. Being “shirted” alongside her classmates and receiving a special, tropical shirt is a memory she will treasure.

Mucci’s time at CofC is defined by growth and learning. She is confident in her ability to take on new challenges, saying she’s grateful for the many experiences that pushed her beyond her comfort zone, encouraging her to grow as a scholar and a global citizen. She says she will miss the friendships she’s built, and the faculty and staff who supported her along the way.

Harrison Caspino

Environmental Geosciences and Chemistry Double-Major, International Studies and Mathematics Double-Minor in the Honors College

Attending graduate school at the University of Arizona in Tucson, earning an M.S. in Environmental Engineering

Harrison Caspino of Columbia, South Carolina, is a Charleston Fellow who received the Colonial Scholarship as well as research funding during all four years of his studies at the College of Charleston. He was also on the President’s List throughout his academic career.

He worked with Vijay Vulava, chair of the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, to conduct research and monitor water quality in the Charleston metropolitan waterways. The project provided an opportunity to complete a statistical analysis of bacteria trends.

Caspino says the College of Charleston equipped him with critical skills to pursue an engineering graduate degree and prepared him well for the type of complex data analysis he’ll be conducting in the future.

The skills gained in laboratory classes enabled him to feel comfortable in lab settings. And his hands-on work in a groundwater monitoring project with the Lowcountry Hazards Center and the City of Charleston allowed him to develop a dashboard to visualize the water table’s response to heavy rainfall events.

Caspino spent a lot of time in the library while at the College, and will fondly remember his favorite study spot: the window seats to the left of the Stair 4 exit. He notes he did some of his best essay writing in those seats, tucked away and able to focus.

As he prepares to depart for Tucson, Arizona, Caspino will miss his friends the most. He says the connections he fostered were the most meaningful part of his experience at the College. That said, Caspino is taking a lively part of Charleston with him to the desert: He rescued and raised two cats that will make the journey to graduate school with him. Milk and Honey will provide just the right amount of home in his new surroundings!

Congratulations, Graduates!  

Want to experience unparalleled opportunities for success in STEM fields? Learn more about how the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences promotes faculty research and scholarship, enhancing the College’s intellectual environment by engaging students in inquiry and creative expression.