Best and Brightest: Hannah Feeley

Hannah Feeley

Communications Manager

PalmettoPride

Columbia

Age 29

Although I’m based in Columbia, my connection to the Lowcountry began as a student in Berkeley County Public Schools before later attending the University of South Carolina, where I studied marine science and developed a passion for translating environmental topics into language everyday people can understand.

At USC, I researched how the flooding caused by Hurricane Joaquin in 2015 affected Columbia’s renter population, deepening my commitment to advancing equitable solutions to environmental challenges. While working for Richland County, I created the Seed Sanctuary program, which has since distributed more than 40,000 seed packets to support home gardening, food access, and pollinator habitat.

Since joining PalmettoPride in 2022, I’ve worked alongside Keep South Carolina Beautiful affiliates across the Lowcountry and beyond to lead the launch of the SC Sweep in 2025. In just two years, the initiative has mobilized volunteers in all 46 counties and helped remove more than 600,000 pounds of litter across the state.

I also proudly serve on the board of the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina. I believe people care for places they feel connected to, and my goal is to help everyone become a steward of our environment.

Favorite Quote and Why: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou. Environmental challenges can feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to believe that one person can’t make a difference. But real change comes from progress, not perfection. Small actions truly do add up, and when individuals, communities, and organizations all commit to doing a little better each day, that’s when the magic happens.

Definition of a Successful Leader: To me, successful leadership starts with empathy and ends with people feeling valued and supported to do their best work.

Advice to 18-Year-Old Self: You don’t have to have everything figured out. Don’t waste time doing the what-if paperwork for things that may never happen — I’ve learned far more by taking the first step and figuring it out along the way than by trying to plan for every possibility.