$75 million donation from Bonnie and Peter McCausland renames college of Arts and Sciences
The University of South Carolina will rename the College of Arts and Sciences for a prominent USC alumnus after receiving the largest gift in the school’s history: $75 million.
Peter McCausland, a 1971 USC graduate and founder of Airgas Inc., donated the money, along with his wife, Bonnie. Airgas is one of the largest industrial and medical gas companies in the world.
McCausland, who studied history while at USC and was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, got involved at his alma mater about 25 years ago, and he served on former university President John Palms’ advisory council and the College of Arts and Sciences’ Board of Visitors.
He spoke fondly of his college days.
“I know that this university helped me to develop the curiosity, the critical thinking skills, and the confidence that enabled me to take advantage of opportunities that presented themselves over the years,” McCausland said at a ceremony on Wednesday, holding back tears. “For that I am grateful.”
His and his family’s generosity created the McCausland Center for Brain Imaging, which has attracted nearly $50 million in research grants since its establishment in 2006. USC’s McCausland Faculty Fellowship also receives ongoing support from the McCausland Foundation, which recognizes extraordinary tenure-track faculty.
McCausland said he and his wife are “determined” to make USC a “beacon of hope and inspiration.”
“Our success will be measured by the minds we inspire and the lives we touch,” he said. “May we continue to nurture the dreamers, thinkers and innovators who will shape the future of our world for the better”- said McCausland.
His gift will fund career development programs for students in the liberal arts and sciences, including up to 150 internship stipends. It will also be invested in the college’s neuroscience major — the university’s fastest-growing academic program —and brain health research. It will continue to support the existing McCausland Faculty Fellowship, which recognizes excellence in teaching and research.
“It’s amazing how this university has progressed over the last 20 or 30 years,” McCausland said. “It hasn’t been without bumps in the road, we all know that, but nothing grows straight to the sky. I’m very proud of it, and it’s my honor to be able to support it.”
USC President Michael Amiridis, USC Board Chair Thad Westbrook and Arts and Sciences Dean Joel Samuels thanked McCausland.
“This type of investment is historical, not only for the University of South Carolina, but for the type of investment and commitment to public flagship universities in the country,” Westbrook told McCausland.
“This is truly transformational, and you do not know how much this really means to us.”
The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences is the largest college at USC, with more than 10,000 students across 38 undergraduate and 36 graduate programs. It encompasses the arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and natural sciences.
The college is the fifth USC school named for a donor, the third in the last year and half. In November 2023, the Joseph F. Rice School of Law was named for lawyer and alumnus Joe Rice. Months later, the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing was named for Alex Molinaroli, the former CEO of building technology at Johnson Controls, and his family.
Both Rice and Molinaroli each donated $30 million to the university.
The Arnold School of Public Health was named in 2000 for business leader Norman J. Arnold.
The Darla Moore School of Business was named in 1998 after financial investor and alumna Darla Moore.