David H. Wilkins Legislative Leadership Program

Wilkins

David Wilkins has had an extraordinary career as a state legislator, as Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives, and as a public servant. Over the last 25 years, he has left an indelible mark on the political landscape of South Carolina. A man of pristine integrity and courageous vision, David Wilkins has worked tirelessly with legislators of both parties to enhance the state's quality of life. His widely acclaimed leadership and commitment to public service has become a national standard for statesmanship. He was elected president of the National Speakers Association and, in 2004, was awarded the National Conference of State Legislatures Award for Excellence in State Legislative Leadership.

To honor and sustain his efforts to improve the quality of legislative activity in his home state, the Riley Institute plans to create the following programs:

Annual Wilkins Forum and Awards Dinner

This annual event, held in Columbia, will consist of three components: (1) a Forum on an emerging major state issue bringing together experts and legislators; (2) a large banquet with a nationally acclaimed speaker, and (3) the presentation of the David Wilkins Award for Excellence in Legislative Leadership in South Carolina.

The presentation of the Wilkins Award for Excellence in Legislative Leadership in South Carolina will be presented to the legislator (House or Senate) who best embodies the highest principles of leadership, integrity, compassion, vision and courage. The recipient will be selected by a non-partisan/bi-partisan panel of distinguished scholars and leaders from the public and private sectors. The panel will be co-chaired by David Wilkins and Richard Riley.

Wilkins Fellowships in South Carolina Legislative Affairs

The Wilkins Fellowships in State Legislative Affairs provides 12 to 15 Furman students with the opportunity to work in the South Carolina General Assembly or with an interest group or agency associated with the legislature. Wilkins Fellows live in Columbia and work Tuesday-Thursday for a twelve-week period while the legislature is in session. In this immersion experience, students meet South Carolina elected officials, listen to presentations made by legislative staff, agency personnel, and lobbyists, and attend receptions. They also enroll in courses taught by Dr. Glen A. Halva-Neubauer, a state politics specialist, which focus on state politics, legislative politics, and South Carolina public policy. Wilkins Fellows gain a sophisticated and nuanced understanding of the legislative process that comes from integrating theory and practice. For more information on the program, see the Wilkins Fellows site, click here. To view the 2008 Wilkins Fellows in South Carolina Legislative Affairs "Frequently Asked Questions" document, click here.

David H. Wilkins Chair in South Carolina Politics

This endowed professorship will enable Furman to offer more courses in state and local politics and provide a leading scholar as a resource for the development of legislative initiatives in South Carolina.