Articles and Insights
Explore stories, research, and perspectives from across Furman’s community. Here you’ll find articles that showcase learner journeys, highlight the impact of our partnerships, share innovative research applications from faculty and industry experts, and reveal the career outcomes our programs help make possible.

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From Exam Room to Classroom: Dr. Al Mina’s MS-CEM Anatomy and Physiology Course
Ask Dr. Al Mina what the M.S. in Community Engaged Medicine’s Anatomy and Physiology course is about, and he will tell you it’s not solely about memorization. The most important aspect is to understand the language first, then use it to understand how the...Read more -
Emme Buzhardt, MSIL ’26 Hooding Ceremony Speech
New Master of Science in Innovation and Leadership graduate Emme Buzhardt was selected by her classmates to speak on their behalf at the Graduate Studies Hooding Ceremony on August 14, 2026. To follow is Emme’s speech. Good evening and welcome. My name is Emme Buzhardt, and I am so humbled...Read more -
Mapping the way Towards Sustainability – City of Travelers Rest Planning Fellow
This summer, I began seeing maps in my dreams. As part of my fellowship with the City of Travelers Rest, I dove headfirst into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to process, analyze, and visualize data. Even in my sleep, I drew measurements, tinkered with basemaps, and configured coordinates. Read more -
Clearly Furman raises $505.5 million to propel university into its third century
When Furman University President Elizabeth Davis announced the public launch of Clearly Furman, the Campaign for Our Third Century, she said “This is Furman’s moment.” “Our moment to come together, to propel our university into its third century with clear vision and the resources to meet our enormous potential,”...Read more -
Not Just an Elective: MSIL’s Practicum Course
Among the many opportunities available to M.S. in Innovation and Leadership (MSIL) students, the practicum course stands out as one of the program’s most transformative learning experiences. It’s an elective that gives hands-on experience in innovation and leadership. The course has become a defining part of the...Read more -
Beyond the Art Room: Matt’s Growth Through Literacy
As a veteran elementary art educator, I would never have expected to be on the cusp of earning my master’s degree in literacy from Furman University. Art education impacts a variety of content areas such as having students draw and label cells in science class, create a...Read more -
Your Brain Wasn’t Built for AI—But It Can Adapt
As a stress physiologist, I’ve spent my career studying how the human brain reacts to perceived threats. Right now, AI is registering as one of the biggest threats in the modern workplace, and most companies are budgeting for thewrong problem.Read more -
Anna Cass Connects Medicine With Humanity
Every Monday morning, Anna Cass ’00 volunteers at Place of Hope, a day shelter for those experiencing homelessness. She sees it as a way to get to know her neighbors and better understand the barriers they face....Read more -
Growing as an Educator and Literacy Leader: Amanda’s Experience
I originally began the Master of Education with a concentration in Literacy program at Furman University in 2021 after taking a break from teaching in order to stay home with my daughter. Before becoming a mother, I taught 7th and 8th grade ELA and Social Studies at...Read more -
Corporate Entrepreneurship: The Skills Your Company Needs
Corporate entrepreneurship is often misunderstood as “being a start-up inside a big company.” The reality is simpler and more valuable: solving real organizational problems with creative thinking and a willingness to iterate.Read more -
IACH explains key components of outreach programs
Furman’s Institute for the Advancement of Community Health (IACH) has posted explainers on its community health education programs and the Upstate Medical Legal Partnership. In “Health Happens Here,” IACH articulates the multiple ways the group is laying a foundation for wellness across the community. The group hosts “Community Health...Read more -
Real Leadership Starts With Knowing Yourself First
Just because someone earns a promotion doesn’t mean they automatically have the skills to lead and manage others. Employees are often promoted because they excel in their roles and demonstrate strong technical expertise. Yet many step into leadership positions without receiving training in how to be an effective leader. It’s...Read more -
Leadership Through Serving Others at Sustaining Way
Have you truly thought about the definition of sustainability? The UN World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainability as “…development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustaining Way digs deeper, stating that sustainability starts with solidarity and mutuality....Read more -
Where Health and Justice Meet: Expanding the Impact of the Medical-Legal Partnership
Across the United States, millions of families face challenges that threaten both their health and well-being. Around 13.3% of South Carolina’s population live in poverty, including 18.3% of children under the age of 18 and 12.2% of adults over the age of 65. Many of these underserved populations face obstacles...Read more -
Summer Along the Reedy River
Many people would say that the heart of Greenville is downtown, especially Falls Park. After spending this summer with Friends of the Reedy River, though, I came to see it differently. The true heart of Greenville isn’t a building or a landmark. It’s the Reedy River. From Furman University, where I study, to Travelers Rest,...Read more