USC Upstate College of Education, Human Performance, and Health

08/25/2026

One of the best parts of what we do is seeing our alumni succeed. We were so excited to see that Megan has been named District Two's, Teacher of the Year!

Congratulations, Megan! What an incredible accomplishment. We are so proud of you and the impact you're making on your students and community. 💚🖤

Congratulations to our 2026-27 Spartanburg School District 2 Teacher of the Year Megan Coffey from Chesnee High School. Mrs. Coffey is an English Teacher at CHS.

"I was shocked to hear my name, because there was some very tough competition," Coffey said. "I was up against some really strong educators, so I'm very grateful."

Mrs. Coffey received the recognition at our Welcome Back Convocation this morning. Thanks to our community partners at Thompson Turner Construction, she also received a check for $4,500 at the event.

"My students," Coffey quickly answered when asked what drives her to excel. "And then trying to refine my practice so that I can best serve them."

Mrs. Coffey took the opportunity to use her spotlight on this special day to encourage others that are considering a career in education.

"You really just don't know how fulfilling it is until you come and experience the classroom. Until you experience those kids having success. Experience those overall success stories," she said. "I work in the high school environment where I get to see kids move from childhood to adulthood, and that is just so rewarding. It is just the greatest blessing that I've ever received."

08/18/2026

First day of school. First day of school.
We are so excited to welcome back our students. Dr. Swanson, Dr. Jackson Smith, and Dr. Brisebois have been downstairs saying hello and helping navigate students. Hope everyone has a great day and semester. 💚💚

05/18/2026

Join us at USC Upstate for the Murph Challenge—a powerful way to honor our veterans through fitness, community, and resilience.

📅 Friday, May 22
⏰ 7:30 AM (start at 8:00 AM)
📍 USC Upstate Tree Houses

✅ Free & open to all skill levels (modifications welcome)
👕 Proceeds from merchandise support Upstate Warrior Solution

Come out, get moving, and honor those who served!

05/14/2026

Thankful Thursday…
We’re proud to share that USC Upstate’s College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH) has earned national accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)!

CAEP accreditation—recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation—affirms that our educator preparation programs meet rigorous national standards and are committed to excellence and continuous improvement in preparing future educators.

05/14/2026

Absolutely thrilled to share that the Lavelle Fund for the Blind has awarded funding to Project INSPIRE through the University of South Carolina Upstate Foundation — launching Project INSPIRE NextGen! Congratulations to Dr. Tina Herzberg and her team!

We are absolutely delighted to share that the Lavelle Fund for the Blind has awarded funding to the Project INSPIRE through the University of South Carolina Upstate Foundation. Our new project is titled Project INSPIRE NextGen. Look for our new logo coming soon!

We are pleased that Perkins School for the Blind’s Paths to Literacy team will continue to host our Project INSPIRE website.

Over the next 18 months Project INSPIRE NextGen’s team will do the following:
• Revise and expand Project INSPIRE’S 7 previously developed PD courses with the new addition of activities and assignments using the NERCVE Brailler 2.0.
• Offer the revised courses in spring 2027 and fall 2027, including holding office hours and webinars.
• Develop and virtually offer Graphing in a Box for Middle School Students (grades 5-8) in fall 2026 and fall 2027.
• Develop and virtually offer our fourth annual Mathlete Competition in spring 2027.

As part of expanding our courses, we are looking for pictures, videos, and student materials that show “real world” examples of what K-12 students are using and learning in STEM classes. Also, we are interested in interviewing students in grades 4-12, TSVIs, paraprofessionals, braille transcribers, and families. If you are willing to give us a bit of your time or share pictures, videos, or student materials with us, please email Penny Rosenblum at [email protected]. She is happy to set up a time for the video interview if you are willing. Video interviews and photos will be embedded into the courses.

Please reach out to any of us on the Project INSPIRE NextGen team at any time. Your input guides our work!

PD: The words Celebrate Our Funding are written in a fun letters and are shown with the Project INSPIRE logo, a megaphone, and a photo of Penny Rosenblum, Sara Larkin, Tina Herzberg, and Susan Osterhaus on a Zoom screen. Below is written, thank you to Lavelle Fund for the Blind for funding Project INSPIRE Next Gen!

05/05/2026

Congratulations to our graduates.
The USC Upstate College of Education, Human Performance, and Health proudly celebrated students at the Pinning, Hooding, and Awards Ceremony last night.
This ceremony recognized undergraduate and graduate students from Education and Human Performance and Health programs. Students were honored for academic achievement, professional growth, and dedication to service as future educators and health professionals.
Faculty and staff recognized graduates through pinning and hooding ceremonies, along with awards for outstanding students and interns. The ceremony also featured remarks from an alumni guest speaker, who shared professional insights and words of encouragement with the graduating class. Families, friends, and university leadership joined us in celebrating this important milestone.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026. We are proud of your accomplishments and look forward to the impact you will make in your schools, organizations, and communities.

05/05/2026

Celebrating Our Outstanding Students!

We’e proud to share moments from the Student Affairs Award Ceremony:
Emma Hudson received the Earl Gordon Medal, recognizing her exceptional leadership and service.
Savannah Noll and Kimberly Dovi were honored with Upstate 7 Awards for their dedication and impact on campus.

Also, celebrating two incredible scholar‑athletes:
Savannah Noll was named Female Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Caden Sanders (Psychology major but valued member of our lab) was named Male Scholar Athlete of the Year.

We’re so proud of all their hard work, commitment, and excellence—both in and out of the classroom.

04/27/2026

Carolina Gourmet Snowballs on Campus
The Teaching Fellows are wrapping up the year with a Field Day on Monday afternoon, and Carolina Gourmet Snowballs will be on campus selling snowballs.
Location: Lower section of the HEC parking lot, near the pavilion in the arboretum
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The snowball truck will be open to everyone. Students, faculty, staff, and neighbors in nearby apartments are welcome to stop by and purchase a snowball from the truck. Come cool off and help celebrate the end of the semester.

04/13/2026

HPH Spring Career Series: Preparing Students for What’s Next
This spring, the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Human Performance (HPH) hosted a dynamic Spring Career Series focused on helping students build confidence, skills, and connections for their future careers.

The series included three events:
• Resume Workshop – Students received one on one guidance and practical tips for building strong, professional resumes.
• Professional Crash Course – A session focused on workplace expectations, communication, and career readiness skills.
• HPH Career Fair – Students connected with employers, explored career options, and practiced networking in a welcoming environment.

We are proud of our students for actively engaging in these opportunities and thankful to the faculty, staff, and career partners who made this series a success. Special shoutout to our own, Mrs. Sarah Kleinfeld, for all her hard work on this!

Photos highlighting the events are included below.

04/01/2026

📢 Student Worker Position Available – Help Us Improve Accessibility
We are hiring a student worker to help support accessibility across our college. This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in inclusion, access, and making campus resources more usable for everyone.

Position highlights:
• Support accessibility-related tasks and projects
• Help ensure materials and resources are usable by all students
• Gain hands-on experience that supports inclusive practices

This position is open to currently enrolled students.
How to apply:
Apply online using this link:
👉 https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/203643

If you have questions or need assistance with the application process, please reach out to us directly.

We encourage students of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. 💙