{"id":2423,"date":"2024-08-23T16:30:25","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T16:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/?post_type=furman-update&p=2423"},"modified":"2024-08-23T16:44:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T16:44:15","slug":"42-upstate-leaders-selected-to-become-riley-fellows","status":"publish","type":"furman-update","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/news\/42-upstate-leaders-selected-to-become-riley-fellows\/","title":{"rendered":"42 Upstate leaders selected to become Riley Fellows"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR INFORMATION:
\n<\/strong>Claudia Winkler
\nDirector, Marketing and Communications
\nThe Riley Institute at Furman University
\n864.294.3368;\u00a0claudia.winkler@furman.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AUGUST 23, 2024 \u2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<\/p>\n

Participants will take part in the Riley Institute\u2019s award-winning Diversity Leaders Initiative<\/em> before joining a network of more than 2,800 graduates across the state. <\/em><\/p>\n

GREENVILLE, S.C. \u2014 Forty-two leaders from across the Upstate will participate in the Riley Institute\u2019s intensive 5-month Diversity Leaders Initiative<\/a> (DLI), learning the skills and perspectives necessary to leverage diversity in their organizations in ways that drive social and economic progress in South Carolina.<\/p>\n

Participants of DLI\u2019s 36th Upstate class were selected through a rigorous application and interview process after being nominated by DLI alumni. They are accepted based on a variety of factors, including their interest in and commitment to the program and their capacity to create impact within their organizations and communities. Each class is crafted to reflect South Carolina\u2019s demographic makeup.<\/p>\n

DLI classes are facilitated by expert Juan Johnson, an independent consultant who was The Coca-Cola Company\u2019s first-ever vice president for diversity strategy.<\/p>\n

Throughout the fall, the class will engage in intensive discussions and scenario analyses that allow them to openly examine sensitive issues related to diversity and inclusion with fellow leaders, explore \u201cblind spots,\u201d and gain tools to develop strategies within their own organizations.<\/p>\n

Class members also work together to develop capstone projects<\/a>, partnering with nonprofit organizations to respond to real challenges and opportunities in their communities.<\/p>\n

Graduates of DLI become Riley Fellows, members of a powerful cross-sector network of over 2,800 South Carolinians that includes corporate CEOs, legislators, superintendents, religious and nonprofit heads, and business and community leaders.<\/p>\n

Listed below are the participants of the fall 2024 Upstate DLI class. The full roster<\/a> of program graduates can be found online.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sharon Beckett<\/strong><\/p>\n

Manager, Human Resources<\/p>\n

BMW Manufacturing<\/p>\n

Greer<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shawn Bell<\/strong><\/p>\n

City Administrator<\/p>\n

City of Fountain Inn<\/p>\n

Fountain Inn<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tor Bennstrom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Executive Director – Wealth & Investment Management<\/p>\n

Wells Fargo Advisors<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keisha Bentley<\/strong><\/p>\n

STEM Education Specialist<\/p>\n

Clemson University<\/p>\n

Anderson<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jay Boyd<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Vice President for Strategy & Engagement<\/p>\n

Connie Maxwell Children\u2019s Ministries<\/p>\n

Greenwood<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stephanie Boyd<\/strong><\/p>\n

Associate Dean of Student Success and Wellbeing<\/p>\n

Furman University<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Julian Brockman<\/strong><\/p>\n

Section Manager<\/p>\n

BMW Manufacturing Company<\/p>\n

Greer<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael Burgess<\/strong><\/p>\n

Director \u2013 African American Male Scholars Initiative<\/p>\n

Greenville Technical College<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd Chumley<\/strong><\/p>\n

Section Manager<\/p>\n

BMW Manufacturing<\/p>\n

Greer<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wallace Cobbs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Principal<\/p>\n

Greenville County Schools<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ginny Cockerill<\/strong><\/p>\n

Director of Institutional Quality<\/p>\n

Greenville Technical College<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yolanda Crittendon-Jones<\/strong><\/p>\n

Community Advocacy and Government Affairs Coordinator<\/p>\n

Public Education Partners<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bryant Davis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chief Diversity Officer<\/p>\n

City of Greenville<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charlene Doctor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Director of Educator Effectiveness and Organizational Culture<\/p>\n

Spartanburg School District Seven<\/p>\n

Spartanburg<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jim Ford<\/strong><\/p>\n

Technical Director – Tweel Technologies<\/p>\n

Michelin North America<\/p>\n

Piedmont<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Corey Gheesling<\/strong><\/p>\n

Workforce Development Manager<\/p>\n

SC Commission on Higher Education<\/p>\n

Columbia<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael Hammett<\/strong><\/p>\n

Police Lieutenant<\/p>\n

Greenville Police Department<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bennie Harris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chancellor<\/p>\n

University of South Carolina Upstate<\/p>\n

Spartanburg<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martine Helou-Allen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Executive Director<\/p>\n

RIZE Prevention, Inc.<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matt Irwin<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Business Development Manager<\/p>\n

Messer Construction Co.<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kristin Isgett<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mission Integration Manager<\/p>\n

Goodwill Industries of Upstate\/Midlands SC<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wendell Jones<\/strong><\/p>\n

State Representative<\/p>\n

State of South Carolina, House of Representatives<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blair Landreneau<\/strong><\/p>\n

Development Partner<\/p>\n

Michelin North America<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stephen Love<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clergy\/Pastor<\/p>\n

The United Methodist Church South<\/p>\n

Carolina Annual Conference<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beth McMillan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Deputy General Counsel<\/p>\n

Nelson Mullins<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shelly McMillan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Director of Nursing Operations<\/p>\n

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System<\/p>\n

Spartanburg<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Brett Meredith<\/strong><\/p>\n

Material Development and Industrialization Director, North America<\/p>\n

Michelin<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Julie Meredith<\/strong><\/p>\n

Director, Center for Critical Issues<\/p>\n

The Riley Institute, Furman University<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jamika Nedwards<\/strong><\/p>\n

Director of Mission Impact<\/p>\n

United Ministries<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marilyn Nguyen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Equity and Inclusion Officer<\/p>\n

City of Spartanburg<\/p>\n

Spartanburg<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

LaTonya Phillips<\/strong><\/p>\n

President<\/p>\n

Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Erin Predmore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Executive Director<\/p>\n

Greenville Connects<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jeannine Rogers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Program Manager<\/p>\n

SCRA<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kerry Sease<\/strong><\/p>\n

Executive Director<\/p>\n

Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, Furman University<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michelle Seaver<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regional President<\/p>\n

United Community Bank<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Betsy Sikma<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Director, Brand and Communications<\/p>\n

Milliken & Company<\/p>\n

Spartanburg<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sophia Simmons<\/strong><\/p>\n

Section Manager<\/p>\n

BMW Manufacturing<\/p>\n

Greer<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amanda Taylor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regional Director<\/p>\n

AT&T<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scott Weiskittel<\/strong><\/p>\n

EVP\/COO<\/p>\n

AnMed<\/p>\n

Anderson<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

JD Whitt<\/strong><\/p>\n

Program Director, Camp Director<\/p>\n

Blue Ridge Council, Boy Scouts of America<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Claudia Winkler<\/strong><\/p>\n

Director, Marketing and Communications<\/p>\n

The Riley Institute, Furman University<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jason Wolf<\/strong><\/p>\n

Managing Partner<\/p>\n

P3 USA Inc.<\/p>\n

Greenville<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

About the Riley Institute at Furman University<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Riley Institute empowers emerging and established leaders\u2014across sectors and throughout society\u2014with the knowledge and tools to advance equity and drive social and economic progress in South Carolina and beyond. We work to strengthen public education; promote the power of diversity to help teams, organizations, and communities thrive; and elevate informed, evidence-based approaches to critical public issues. In all it does, the institute is committed to nonpartisanship and a bias-free path to change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Participants will take part in the Riley Institute\u2019s award-winning Diversity Leaders Initiative before joining a network of more than 2,800 graduates across the state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1958,"template":"","update-categories":[11,18],"class_list":["post-2423","furman-update","type-furman-update","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","furman-update-category-diversity-strategies","furman-update-category-news-release"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/2423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/furman-update"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/2423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2428,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/2423\/revisions\/2428"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"furman-update-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/update-categories?post=2423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}