Riley Institute names Midlands DLI Fellows

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The Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative has selected its 8th class of fellows from the Midlands.

Forty leaders from the Midlands have been selected to participate in the Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI). They will join more than 1,400 Riley Fellows from across the state.

Says Don Gordon, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Riley Institute, “DLI and the Riley Fellows have matured into a potent force to help move South Carolina forward. The members of this class will add considerably to the conversations and lasting partnerships that form among Riley Fellows, and it is the strength of these bonds that truly produces progress across the state.”

Class members meet over the course of five months in a format driven by timely, relevant case studies and other experiential learning tools designed to maximize interactions and productive relationships among program participants.

DLI is facilitated by Juan Johnson, an independent consultant and former Coca-Cola Vice President. He says, “DLI is unique among South Carolina’s leadership programs. In addition to the opportunity to develop new relationships and take part in positive action in their communities, participants gain deep knowledge of how to effectively manage and lead increasingly diverse workers, clients and constituents.”

As part of the program, leaders also work in cross-sector groups to respond to real issues and opportunities in their communities through capstone service projects.

Chosen by nomination and application, participants reflect South Carolina’s demographics and represent corporate, nonprofit, education, faith-based and government sectors. “The frames of reference and skills that DLI graduates share provide a remarkable platform for working together to help South Carolina compete in the 21st century,” says Dr. Gordon.

The Riley Fellows for Midlands Class 8 are:

Amanda Adler
Staff Attorney, Education
SC Appleseed
Columbia

Beryl Bachus-Keith
Medical Director
HopeHealth, Inc., HopeHealth Pediatrics-Manning
Manning

Danny Black
President and CEO
Southern Carolina Regional Alliance, Inc.
Barnwell

John Busch
Trustee
College of Charleston
Chapin

Kelly Callahan
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
United Way Association of South Carolina
Columbia

Alvin Caughman
Chief Communications Officer
South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Columbia

Curtis Chow
Attorney
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart P.C.
Columbia

Carter Clark
President and CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of Midlands
Columbia

Shenequa Coles
Principal
Richland School District One
Columbia High School
Columbia

Stephanie Cooper-Lewter
Senior Research Director
Sisters of Charity Foundation
Columbia

Marvin Davis
Executive VP, R&D Facilities
SCRA
Columbia

Rich Fletcher
President and CEO
I-77 Alliance
Richburg

Ana Gallego
Program Director, SC Health Coordinating Council
SC Hospital Association
Columbia

Vincent Goggins
Lieutenant
Richland County Sheriff’s Office
Columbia

Scott Graves
President and COO
BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina
Columbia

Lindsay Hawkins
Area Personnel Manager
Michelin North America
Lexington

Stephen Hefner
Superintendent
School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties
Irmo

Tina Herbert
Director, Office of Business Opportunities
City of Columbia
Columbia

Jennifer Hollingsworth
Attorney
Nexsen Pruet LLC
Columbia

Sam Johnson
Special Assistant to the Mayor
City of Columbia
Columbia

Thornton Kirby
President and CEO
South Carolina Hospital Assocation
Columbia

Roy Laney
Attorney
Riley Pope and Laney, LLC
Columbia

Amelia McKie
Principal/President
Nfusion, LLC
Columbia

Michael Mikota
Executive Director
Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments
Sumter

Mark Moore
Member, Business Litigation/Governmental Investigations Practice Group
Nexsen Pruet LLC
Columbia

Gail Morrison
Deputy Director & Director of Academic Affairs and Licensing (ret.)
SC Commission on Higher Education
Columbia

Tammy Pawloski
Professor of Education; Director, Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty
Francis Marion University
Florence

Lucia Pirisi-Creek
Professor
University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Columbia

Uvette Pope-Rogers
Chief Financial Officer
The Children’s Trust of South Carolina
Columbia

Al Reid
Plant Manager
PPG Industries, Fiber Glass Products, Inc.
Chester

Tricia Richardson
Executive Director
SC Thrive
Columbia

Tabitha Safdi
Digital Media Manager/Producer
South Carolina Educational Television
Columbia

Sarah Sherwood
Mayor; Community Relations Liasion
City of Abbeville; Hospice Care of South Carolina
Abbeville

Kevin Smith
Partner
Riggs Partners
West Columbia

Ann Timberlake
Executive Director
Conservation Voters of South Carolina
Columbia

Breon Walker
Attorney
Gallivan, White & Boyd, P.A.
Columbia

Craig Washington
Principal
Southside Middle School/Florence School District One
Florence

Kelvin Washington
Councilmember
Richland County Council
Columbia

Isvara Wilson
Vice President & General Counsel
AgFirst Farm Credit Bank
Columbia

Herman Yoos
Bishop of the SC Synod of the ELCA
The SC Synod
Columbia

Learn more about the Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative. Or contact Megan Dodgens, Manager of Diversity Leadership Programs at (864) 294-3253, or megan.dodgens@furman.edu.