USCBe Informed: News & Happenings

The University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) is proud to announce that Dr. Mollie Barnes has been named the inaugural Dr. Lawrence S. Rowland Endowed Professor—the first professorship of its kind at the university.

Barnes is an associate professor of English who has worked at USCB for 12 years and specializes in 19th-century U.S. literature. Her scholarship on nineteenth-century Lowcountry writers and their historical impact exemplifies Dr. Rowland's enduring legacy as a renowned historian and scholar of the South Carolina Lowcountry.  

"I am beyond honored," Barnes said. "Everyone reads Dr. Rowland's books and respects him, so this feels very special."

Barnes's recently published book, "Paper Heroines: Women Writers in Conversation and Community Across the Sea Islands, 1838–1902," expands on a dynamic scholarly agenda that uncovers voices and narratives that shaped the Lowcountry. Her work brings attention to women writers whose contributions have often been overlooked, offering fresh insights into the intellectual and cultural identity of the Sea Islands.

Through the endowed professorship, Barnes will receive continued support for her ongoing research while continuing to teach a full load of classes. She plans to involve her students in her current project — she's editing the diaries of Laura Towne, who founded the Penn School for formerly enslaved people in 1862. Towne was a key figure in the Port Royal Experiment, spending 40 years educating and providing medical care to the Gullah community. 

“Dr. Barnes’ work embodies the spirit of inquiry and dedication that defines Dr. Rowland's work and USCB,” said Interim Provost Dr. Kimberly Dudas. “We are honored to recognize her as the inaugural holder of this distinguished professorship.”