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’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI).
The leaders, who graduated from DLI’s 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 “blind spots,” 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’s Riley Institute. More than 2,300 leaders from across the state have graduated from the program.
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.
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.
“Our newest Riley Fellows have set a remarkable example of the good we can achieve when we rise as one South Carolina — even from a distance — to meet the challenges our communities face,” said Dr. Donald Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute. “As the pandemic recedes, I look forward to seeing how they continue to drive positive change in their workplaces and communities with the tools they’ve gained in DLI.”
DLI is facilitated by expert Juan Johnson, who was The Coca-Cola Company’s first-ever vice president for diversity strategy.
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.
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.
The full roster of Riley Fellows is available online at riley.furman.edu. These are the graduates of the spring 2021 DLI class:
Jorge Aceves
CBS/F Americas TZ Director
Michelin
Greenville
Jimmy Alexander
Section Manager
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC
Greer
Mark Arnold
Chief of Police
Mount Pleasant Police Department
Mt. Pleasant
Renee Bacon
Inclusion Partner
Prisma Health
Greenville
Fabien Bernadot
R&D Quality Director
Michelin
Greenville
Barbara Blain-Bellamy
Mayor
City of Conway
Conway
Cody Butts
President
Cherokee Medical Center
Gaffney
Stephane Cocard
Director of Development of Industry Materials
Michelin
Greenville
Larry Cunningham
Dean
Charleston School of Law
Charleston
Dawn Deck
Investment and Grants Manager
South Carolina Community Loan Fund
Spartanburg
Lydia Dobyns
President and CEO
New Tech Network
Napa, CA
Monica Dongre
Employment Counsel
RTI International
Charlotte, NC
Ben Duncan
Director, SC Disaster Recovery, South Carolina Office of Resilience
Office of the Governor
Columbia
Gerard Edwards
District ADEPT, Induction & Mentoring Coordinator
Lee County School District
Bishopville
Julia Fuchs
Section Manager
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC
Greer
Judi Gatson
News Anchor
WIS-TV
Columbia
Lynette Gibson
Professor and Director of Research in Nursing
USC Upstate, Mary Black School of Nursing
Spartanburg
Jeremy Gilbert
Wyss Smart State Endowed Chair and Professor
Clemson University
Charleston
Shirene Hansotia
ACLU Senior Criminal Justice Policy Counsel
ACLU of South Caroilna
Charleston
Yendelela Neely Holston
Partner, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LLP
Atlanta, GA
Dawn Hyde
Pastor
Downtown Church
Columbia
Eric Hyyppa
President
National Educational Telecommunications Association
Columbia
David Kirkpatrick
Managing Director
South State Bank
Columbia
Rich LaVecchia
Vice President, Corporate Planning & Strategic Solutions
BlueCross BlueShield of SC
Columbia
Rhett Ma y
President
The Duke Endowment
Charlotte, NC
Lucy Grey McIver
AVP and Deputy General Counsel
BlueCross BlueShield of SC
Columbia
David Merhib
President and CEO
Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce
Greer
Cortney Nick
AVP, Store Manager
TD Bank
Columbia
Kathryn Norwood
Board Chair; Board of Managers Chair Jasmine Road; Jasmine Kitchen
Greenville
Catherine Perry
Talent Acquisition Manager
BlueCross BlueShield of SC
Columbia
Autumn Phillips
Managing Editor
The Post and Courier
Charleston
Lance Radford
Superintendent
Spartanburg School District Two
Chesnee
Jaquetta Ross
Director of Campus Life
Greenville Technical College
Greenville
Roshella Smalls
Assistant General Counsel
Fluor Corporation
Greenville
Alexis Stoner
Discipline Chair for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Associate Professor Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Carolinas Campus
Spartanburg
Carolyn Swinton
Chief Nursing Officer
Prisma Health
Greenville
Bob Teachey
Senior Project Manager
Brownstone Construction Group
Columbia
Jason Terrell
Program Officer
Walton Family Foundation
Charlotte
Chloe Tonney
President and CEO
Trident United Way
North Charleston
Dan Weidenbenner
Executive Director
Mill Community Ministries
Greenville
Derrick Williams
Attorney
Mickle & Bass, LLC
Columbia
Matthew Wilson
Professor of Opthalmology
University of Tennessee Health Science Center / University Clinical Health
Memphis, TN
Abby Woods
Director of Internal Consulting
Charleston County School District
North Charleston
Susan Ybarra
Executive Director
IACH at Furman University
Greenville
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