The most crucial turning point in Ari Perez’s life was joining the University of South Carolina’s Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing. Born and raised in Honduras, Perez had already earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. But he wanted more — more expertise, more opportunity, more of a challenge. That pursuit led him to the University of South Carolina (USC).
“It led me to the institution that would furnish me with everything I needed to build a complete and fulfilling life in a new country,” he says.
Today, Perez holds a from the Molinaroli College He now serves as the sole geotechnical engineering faculty member at a university in Connecticut, leading curriculum design and delivery in a high-responsibility, high-impact role. It’s a position that demands deep technical skill, leadership, and adaptability, and Perez credits USC for equipping him with all three.
“Ernest Hemingway wrote that ‘if you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast,’” he says. “That is the closest that anybody, including me, has been able to describe the love and affection I carry for USC, the university that built me.”
At the USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Ari Perez pursued a cutting-edge education shaped for the 21st century. Source: University of South Carolina
USC is ranked among the top 100 engineering schools in the US and offers a full suite of bachelor’s and graduate programmes — from aerospace engineering to artificial intelligence (AI). Every programme is backed by research-savvy faculty, cutting-edge labs, and opportunities for internships, study abroad, and hands-on learning. However, it was the university’s emphasis on mentorship that shaped Perez’s professional trajectory.
“USC gave me an excellent education — the professional training necessary to find success, a wonderful mentor in ,” he says.
At the Molinaroli College, civil engineering students can specialise in one of six distinct tracks. For Perez, this flexibility allowed him to tailor his graduate studies to match his ambitions. Small class sizes ensured deeper engagement, and one-on-one coaching from Pierce — an associate professor and inaugural faculty director of USC’s reimagined Engineering and Computing Community — added another layer of support.
Pierce is one of many world-class experts shaping industries and lives at the Molinroli College. Carolina Distinguished Professor Asif Khan, a pioneer in III-nitride semiconductors, was recently selected as the first recipient of the Isamu Akasaki Memorial Award by the International Conference on Nitride Semiconductors. His work is powering electric vehicles, energy-efficient chargers and more. Ahmed Alshareef, assistant professor in biomedical engineering, is uncovering what happens in the brain during concussive events. His research is funded by the National Institutes of Health with broad implications for sports safety and neurological health.
At the Molinaroli College, faculty like Khan, Alshareef and Pierce take training tomorrow’s innovators very seriously. For Perez, that made all the difference.
The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing’s hands-on opportunities are offered in the vibrant city of Columbia, South Carolina. Source: University of South Carolina
Thanks to expert guidance and a top-tier research ecosystem, Perez had the chance to pursue his own research interests, drawing support not just from his home department, but also from USC’s Department of Geology and the SC Institute for Archaeology and Anthropology.
This kind of cross-campus collaboration is the norm at the Molinaroli College. USC brought in US$69 million last year in sponsored faculty research — and that funding fuels wide-ranging opportunities for students to contribute to real-world solutions. Whether it’s through the interdisciplinary Centre for Electrochemical Engineering or partnerships with private and public sector leaders, students are solving problems in manufacturing, healthcare, AI, and beyond.
This is just part of the reason why Perez sees USC as less of a launchpad and more of a lifelong anchor. His life beyond the classroom was equally crucial in shaping who he is today.
“Coming here gave me a second home in Columbia that I love as much as my home in Honduras and that I return to as often as possible; innumerable close friendships,” says Perez. “Being a Gamecock is now a fundamental part of my identity and of my family’s day-to-day life.”
That connection runs deep. Today, Perez is one of more than 20,000 Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing alumni making a mark around the world — but his heart is still with USC. He’s passed that passion on to his son. For them, fall means football Saturdays. Winter and spring are for cheering on the women’s basketball team.
“The University of South Carolina was the right choice for me and my future,” he says. “It gave me academic, professional, and personal growth. And it is a feast that continues to this day — as a proud alumnus.”
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