The face of Carolina is changing. As large numbers of faculty retire and new faculty representing the spectrum of disciplines join the ranks, the pool of expert sources for reporters will expand. To help reporters get to know our faculty, we will highlight several faculty members each week. Create a file or visit the USC News Web site (http://uscnews.sc.edu) for additional experts and news items.

Meet three USC faculty members in African-American studies:

Mark Smith, Carolina Distinguished Professor of History, teaches American social and cultural history with emphasis on the American South. Smith's research and writing has focused on slavery and the antebellum South. He is noted among historians for his research in the field of sensory history, a vibrant area that explores the roles of the human senses -- smell, hearing, touch and taste -- and how they have shaped the past. This month, UNC Press released his latest book, "How Race is Made: Slavery, Segregation, and the Senses." His other works include "Mastered by the Clock: Time, Slavery, and Freedom in the American South," "Debating Slavery: Economy and Society in the Antebellum American South" and "Listening to Nineteenth-Century America."

Rheeda Walker, assistant professor of psychology. Walker's research focuses on two understudied areas of psychology: black mental health and suicide. Her work specifically has focused on developing a culturally relevant framework for assessing suicide risk in African Americans and addressing lay beliefs and stigma that is associated with suicidal behavior and depression across ethnic groups. Given that suicide is a major public health concern nationally, Walker studies suicide at the individual and community level for risk and protective factors. Her work has been published in the journals "Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior," the "Archives of Suicide Research " and the "Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology."

Todd Shaw, assistant professor of political science and African American studies. Shaw's research and teaching are in the areas of African-American politics, racial and ethnic politics, urban politics and public policy and social movements. He currently is researching political, sociological and ideological ramifications of changes in the post-Civil Rights Movement African-American community. He is writing the book, "Now is the Time! Detroit Black Politics and Opportunities for Grassroots Activism," which explores the dynamics between black grassroots housing activism and the responsiveness of black elected officials in Detroit, Mich., and related cities. Shaw's work has been published in the Journal of Politics and the National Political Science Review.

And don't forget these recent USC faculty spotlights ...