Dr. Don Gordon served as the Riley Institute’s executive director from the institute’s beginning in the fall of 1999 until June 2024.

Under his direction, the Riley Institute worked to advance social and economic progress in South Carolina and beyond, to advantage Furman students through high quality programs and experiences, and to create better educational outcomes for public school students across South Carolina and the country.

During his tenure the Riley Institute grew from a part-time, one-person initiative to become one of the nation’s foremost liberal arts university institutes. With three centers focusing on diversity leadership, public education, and critical issues confronting South Carolina and the country the Riley Institute grew to 18 staff and over 30 programs.

As a member of Furman’s Political Science Department, Dr. Gordon specialized in African and Middle Eastern politics. He created the urban studies program and major, led the national award-winning Organization for African Unity Team for 20 years, created the Africa study away program, and led over a dozen study away programs to Africa and the Middle East.

For almost 25 years, "Understanding Contemporary Africa," the textbook written and edited by Dr. April Gordon and Dr. Don Gordon, was among the nation’s most frequently chosen textbooks about the continent. Translated into multiple languages, the book was used in over 100 universities in the United States and abroad.

On leave from Furman, Dr. Gordon served as a chief of staff and committee counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He holds undergraduate degrees in political science and psychology from the University of South Florida, a master’s degree and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Florida.

Honors

• Dr. Gordon is a multiple winner of the Maiden Award for Diversity Support
• Recipient of the Alester G. and Janie Earle Furman Meritorius Teaching Award
• Selected to be a member of Quarternion
• Recipient of Furman University’s Honorary Alumni Award
• Recipient of the Washington Center’s Award for Leadership

Education

• Ph.D., University of Florida
• M.A., University of Florida
• B.A./B.S., University of South Florida