{"id":600,"date":"2021-06-10T14:21:02","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T14:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/?post_type=furman-update&p=600"},"modified":"2021-07-07T17:49:06","modified_gmt":"2021-07-07T17:49:06","slug":"news-release-second-statewide-class-graduates-from-the-riley-institutes-award-winning-diversity-program","status":"publish","type":"furman-update","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/news\/news-release-second-statewide-class-graduates-from-the-riley-institutes-award-winning-diversity-program\/","title":{"rendered":"News release: Second statewide class graduates from Diversity Leaders Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR INFORMATION:
\n<\/strong>Katie Quine
\nMarketing and Communications Manager
\nThe Riley Institute at Furman University
\n864.294.3368; katie.quine@furman.edu<\/p>\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<\/p>\n

SECOND STATEWIDE CLASS GRADUATES FROM THE RILEY INSTITUTE\u2019S AWARD-WINNING DIVERSITY PROGRAM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Class participants join a network of more than<\/em> 2,300 Riley Fellows across South Carolina. <\/em><\/p>\n

GREENVILLE, S.C. \u2014 Forty-four leaders from across the state have new tools and perspectives to help leverage diversity to improve organizational outcomes and drive social and economic progress in South Carolina, gained through their participation in the Riley Institute\u2019s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI).<\/p>\n

These leaders, who graduated from DLI\u2019s second statewide class on June 10, took part in intensive discussions and scenario analyses that allowed them to openly examine sensitive issues related to diversity and inclusion with fellow leaders, explore \u201cblind spots,\u201d and gain tools to develop diversity strategies within their own organizations. Since its inception 18 years ago, DLI has become a cornerstone of Furman University\u2019s Riley Institute. More than 2,300 leaders from across the state have graduated from the program.<\/p>\n

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

Classes are typically organized by region, taking place in the Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry, but the need to transition to virtual programming as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic created the opportunity for broader convenings unrestrained by geography.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur newest Riley Fellows have set a remarkable example of the good we can achieve when we rise as one South Carolina \u2014 even from a distance \u2014 to meet the challenges our communities face,\u201d said Dr. Donald Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute. \u201cAs the pandemic recedes, I look forward to seeing how they continue to drive positive change in their workplaces and communities with the tools they\u2019ve gained in DLI.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Participants are selected through a rigorous application and interview process after being nominated by existing Riley Fellows. They are accepted based on their capacity to create impact within their organizations and communities. Each class is crafted to reflect the diverse demographics in South Carolina.<\/p>\n

As part of the statewide class, participants worked together to develop awareness campaigns for five South Carolina-based nonprofits: Charleston Promise Neighborhood, Homeless Period Project, Medical Legal Partnership, Homeless No More, and Fostering Great Ideas.<\/p>\n

The full roster of Riley Fellows is available online at riley.furman.edu<\/a>. These are the graduates of the spring 2021 DLI class:<\/p>\n

Jorge Aceves<\/strong>
\nCBS\/F Americas TZ Director
\nMichelin
\nGreenville<\/p>\n

Jimmy Alexander<\/strong>
\nSection Manager
\nBMW Manufacturing Co., LLC
\nGreer<\/p>\n

Mark Arnold<\/strong>
\nChief of Police
\nMount Pleasant Police Department
\nMt. Pleasant<\/p>\n

Renee Bacon<\/strong>
\nInclusion Partner
\nPrisma Health
\nGreenville<\/p>\n

Fabien Bernadot<\/strong>
\nR&D Quality Director
\nMichelin
\nGreenville<\/p>\n

Barbara Blain-Bellamy<\/strong>
\nMayor
\nCity of Conway
\nConway<\/p>\n

Cody Butts<\/strong>
\nPresident
\nCherokee Medical Center
\nGaffney<\/p>\n

Stephane Cocard<\/strong>
\nDirector of Development of Industry Materials
\nMichelin
\nGreenville<\/p>\n

Larry Cunningham<\/strong>
\nDean
\nCharleston School of Law
\nCharleston<\/p>\n

Dawn Deck<\/strong>
\nInvestment and Grants Manager
\nSouth Carolina Community Loan Fund
\nSpartanburg<\/p>\n

Lydia Dobyns<\/strong>
\nPresident and CEO
\nNew Tech Network
\nNapa, CA<\/p>\n

Monica Dongre<\/strong>
\nEmployment Counsel
\nRTI International
\nCharlotte, NC<\/p>\n

Ben Duncan<\/strong>
\nDirector, SC Disaster Recovery, South Carolina Office of Resilience
\nOffice of the Governor
\nColumbia<\/p>\n

Gerard Edwards<\/strong>
\nDistrict ADEPT, Induction & Mentoring Coordinator
\nLee County School District
\nBishopville<\/p>\n

Julia Fuchs<\/strong>
\nSection Manager
\nBMW Manufacturing Co., LLC
\nGreer<\/p>\n

Judi Gatson<\/strong>
\nNews Anchor
\nWIS-TV
\nColumbia<\/p>\n

Lynette Gibson<\/strong>
\nProfessor and Director of Research in Nursing
\nUSC Upstate, Mary Black School of Nursing
\nSpartanburg<\/p>\n

Jeremy Gilbert<\/strong>
\nWyss Smart State Endowed Chair and Professor
\nClemson University
\nCharleston<\/p>\n

Shirene Hansotia<\/strong>
\nACLU Senior Criminal Justice Policy Counsel
\nACLU of South Caroilna
\nCharleston<\/p>\n

Yendelela Neely Holston<\/strong>
\nPartner, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
\nKilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LLP
\nAtlanta, GA<\/p>\n

Dawn Hyde<\/strong>
\nPastor
\nDowntown Church
\nColumbia<\/p>\n

Eric Hyyppa<\/strong>
\nPresident
\nNational Educational Telecommunications Association
\nColumbia<\/p>\n

David Kirkpatrick<\/strong>
\nManaging Director
\nSouth State Bank
\nColumbia<\/p>\n

Rich LaVecchia<\/strong>
\nVice President, Corporate Planning & Strategic Solutions
\nBlueCross BlueShield of SC
\nColumbia<\/p>\n

Rhett Mabry<\/strong>
\nPresident
\nThe Duke Endowment
\nCharlotte, NC<\/p>\n

Lucy Grey McIver<\/strong>
\nAVP and Deputy General Counsel
\nBlueCross BlueShield of SC
\nColumbia<\/p>\n

David Merhib<\/strong>
\nPresident and CEO
\nGreater Greer Chamber of Commerce
\nGreer<\/p>\n

Cortney Nick<\/strong>
\nAVP, Store Manager
\nTD Bank
\nColumbia<\/p>\n

Kathryn Norwood<\/strong>
\nBoard Chair; Board of Managers Chair
\nJasmine Road; Jasmine Kitchen
\nGreenville<\/p>\n

Catherine Perry<\/strong>
\nTalent Acquisition Manager
\nBlueCross BlueShield of SC
\nColumbia<\/p>\n

Autumn Phillips<\/strong>
\nManaging Editor
\nThe Post and Courier
\nCharleston<\/p>\n

Lance Radford<\/strong>
\nSuperintendent
\nSpartanburg School District Two
\nChesnee<\/p>\n

Jaquetta Ross<\/strong>
\nDirector of Campus Life
\nGreenville Technical College
\nGreenville<\/p>\n

Roshella Smalls<\/strong>
\nAssistant General Counsel
\nFluor Corporation
\nGreenville<\/p>\n

Alexis Stoner<\/strong>
\nDiscipline Chair for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Associate Professor
\nEdward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Carolinas Campus
\nSpartanburg<\/p>\n

Carolyn Swinton<\/strong>
\nChief Nursing Officer
\nPrisma Health
\nGreenville<\/p>\n

Bob Teachey<\/strong>
\nSenior Project Manager
\nBrownstone Construction Group
\nColumbia<\/p>\n

Jason Terrell<\/strong>
\nProgram Officer
\nWalton Family Foundation
\nCharlotte<\/p>\n

Chloe Tonney<\/strong>
\nPresident and CEO
\nTrident United Way
\nNorth Charleston<\/p>\n

Dan Weidenbenner<\/strong>
\nExecutive Director
\nMill Community Ministries
\nGreenville<\/p>\n

Derrick Williams<\/strong>
\nAttorney
\nMickle & Bass, LLC
\nColumbia<\/p>\n

Matthew Wilson<\/strong>
\nProfessor of Opthalmology
\nUniversity of Tennessee Health Science Center \/ University Clinical Health
\nMemphis, TN<\/p>\n

Abby Woods<\/strong>
\nDirector of Internal Consulting
\nCharleston County School District
\nNorth Charleston<\/p>\n

Susan Ybarra<\/strong>
\nExecutive Director
\nIACH at Furman University
\nGreenville<\/p>\n

#####<\/p>\n

About the Riley Institute at Furman University
\nFurman University\u2019s Richard W. Riley Institute broadens student and community perspectives about issues critical to South Carolina\u2019s progress. It builds and engages present and future leaders, creates and shares data-supported information about the state\u2019s core challenges, and links the leadership body to sustainable solutions. It is committed to nonpartisanship in all it does and to a rhetoric-free, facts-based approach to change. Learn more at riley.furman.edu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Forty-four leaders from across the state have new tools and perspectives to help leverage diversity to improve organizational outcomes and drive social and economic progress in South Carolina.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":601,"template":"","update-categories":[11,18],"class_list":["post-600","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\/600","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":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/600\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"furman-update-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/update-categories?post=600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}