Amy Keely joins Riley Institute as director for South Carolina afterschool initiative

FOR INFORMATION:
Katie Quine
Marketing and Communications Manager
The Riley Institute at Furman University
864.294.3368; katie.quine@furman.edu

JANUARY 31, 2022 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

AMY KEELY JOINS FURMAN’S RILEY INSTITUTE AS DIRECTOR FOR SOUTH CAROLINA AFTERSCHOOL INITIATIVE

GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Riley Institute at Furman University has appointed a new staff member to direct South Carolina Afterschool Leaders Empowered (SCALE), a new initiative that equips afterschool and summer learning leaders from across the state with tools to expand and improve their programs.

Amy Keely joined the Riley Institute in November. She brings 26 years of experience to the role, having most recently worked at Communities In Schools of South Carolina, serving high-need youth and their families with a focus on their academic, social, and emotional wellbeing.

“Amy has already accomplished a lot on a very ambitious timeline, including recruiting a highly qualified inaugural cohort of SCALE participants from across the state,” said Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute. “She is absolutely the right person to ensure this work helps move the needle on afterschool and summer learning in South Carolina.”

That cohort begins its 10-month fellowship in February with a week-long immersive learning experience on Furman’s campus.

Keely will direct all efforts related to SCALE, which is offered in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Education and funded by a $1.3 million grant from the agency as part of the monies it received from the American Rescue Plan. She will also oversee the Institute’s Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award and Clearinghouse, which highlight outstanding evidenced-based programs that are positively impacting public education in South Carolina.

Named for former U.S. Secretary of Education and former South Carolina Governor Dick Riley, the Riley Institute advances social and economic progress in South Carolina and beyond by building leadership for a diverse society, hosting expert speakers to broaden perspectives on critical issues, supporting public education, and creating knowledge through community solutions-focused research. It is committed to nonpartisanship in all it does and to a rhetoric-free, facts-based approach to change.

For more information, visit furman.edu/riley or contact Katie Quine, marketing and communications manager at the Riley Institute, at katie.quine@furman.edu or 864.294.3368.

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