University
Review
The
The George Dean
Johnson, Jr.
College of Business
and Economics at
USC Upstate Makes
Spartanburg a Place
to Live, Work and
Prosper
SPRING 2008
University
Review
The
Spring 2008
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Business
Editor: Tammy E. Whaley
Designer: Bridget Kirkland
Photography: Les Duggins
Associate Editor: Heather Engelbrecht
Contributors: Claire Sachse
The University Review is published three times a year.
Editorial Office
Office of University Communications
800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Phone: 864-503-5210, Fax: 864-503-5072
E-mail: [email protected]
George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business Administration and
Economics to locate downtown, making Spartanburg A Place to Live,
Work and Prosper. By Tammy E. Whaley
Class News
USC Upstate Alumni Association
800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Phone: 864-503-5235, Fax: 864-503-5264
E-mail: [email protected]
Spartans Athletics
University of South Carolina Upstate
John C. Stockwell, Ph.D., Chancellor of USC Upstate
Andrew A. Sorensen, Ph.D., President of USC
From a farm in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya to the world of NCAA
Division I Track and Cross Country competition, Emily Tangwar is Running
for Peace, Racing for Opportunities. By Claire Sachse
Arts and Sciences
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts recently donated 152 of the
artist’s photographs to USC Upstate, Bringing the Pop Icon’s Influence
to the University’s Permanent Collection. By Tammy E. Whaley
From Vietnam to The Pill, from fraternity parties to Existentialism, CX[c%'
0dcW^a4g_[^aTb8bbdTb^UcWT%b By Tammy E. Whaley
Nursing
A partnership between the Mary Black School of Nursing and Mobile
Meals of Spartanburg allows nursing students to Bring Care and
Compassion to the Homebound. By Heather Alexander-Engelbrecht
Education
The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees
Mark Sanford, Governor
Herbert C. Adams, Chairman
Miles Loadholt, Vice Chairman
Arthur S. Bahnmuller, William L. Bethea Jr., James Bradley, Mark W. Buyck
Jr., John W. Fields, C. Edward Floyd, M.D., Samuel R. Foster II, William
C. Hubbard, William W. Jones Jr., Toney J. Lister, Darla D. Moore, Michael
J. Mungo, James H. Rex, M. Wayne Staton, John C. von Lehe Jr., Eugene
P. Warr Jr., Mack I. Whittle Jr., Othniel H. Wienges Jr., Thomas L. Stepp,
Secretary
Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education
James R. Smith, Chair
Milton A. Smith Jr., Vice-Chair
Charles H. Babb, Secretary-Treasurer
C. Dan Adams, J. Eugene Adams, Esq., Sheila S. Breitweiser, Ed.D., Susan
G. Clary, William R. Cobb, Katherine A. Dunleavy, Harold E. Fleming, M.D.,
MBA, Audrey T. Grant, Ph.D., John S. Poole, Albert V. Smith, Esq., John B.
Travers, L. Andrew Westbrook III, Emerson F. Wolfe, Jr., Thomas R. Young III
Ex-Officio: Toney J. Lister, Esq., Jim O. Ray
Emeritus Members: John L. Cobb, Cleveland S. Harley, G.B. Hodge, M.D.,
emeritus chair
The daily agenda of 23 area ninth graders earning college credits in USC
Upstate’s Scholars Academy includes The University by Morning and
High School by Afternoon. By Claire Sachse
Board of Advisors
Terry Cash, Chair
Community Outreach and Philanthropy
Johnson College of Business: Barney Gosnell, Ben Haskew, Kathleen
McKinney, Marion McMillan, Jr., Stewart Spinks
Job satisfaction for Nonprofit Administration majors is More Than a
Paycheck. By Heather Alexander-Engelbrecht
School of Education: Kim Ashby, Glen Carson, Scott Mercer, Patricia S.
Paul, Scott Turner, Ed.D.
Leaving the cold long winters of Indiana behind, Michael E. Irvin has been
Tapped to Lead Development Efforts as the University’s new Vice
Chancellor for Advancement. By Tammy E. Whaley
Founders’ Day Celebration Honors Loyal Supporters with awards for
dedicated and distinguished service to the University. By Tammy E. Whaley
Special Features
15
The USC Upstate campus was busy with presidential campaign activity
in the run-up to the South Carolina primary, so Could USC Upstate be a
Stepping Stone to the Presidency? By Claire Sachse
16
Log on to the University Web site for a range of Web Highlights including
photos, video, newsletters, class notes and more. By Heather AlexanderEngelbrecht
17
CWTD]XeTabXchATeXTf}B_aX]V!'
40 Alumni for 40 Years: USC Upstate’s alumni have great stories to
tell about their lives after leaving campus – their ambitions, career paths,
volunteer work and families – as well as some interesting remembrances
of their years on campus. Take a peek! By Stephanie Bingham (’07),
Heather Alexander-Engelbrecht and Claire Sachse
Athletics: Frank Allgood, Wendy Fleming-Bailey, Eric Grubbs, David Miller,
Neil Willis
Mary Black School of Nursing: Jane Bottsford, RN, Susan Duggar, MSN,
RN, Jo Ann McMillan, Larry Warr, M.D.
At-Large: Ingo Angermeier, Vic C. Bailey, Jr., William Barnet III, Philip B.
Belcher, Glenn Breed, Rosemary H. Byerly, Jerry L. Calvert, Ruth L. Cate,
Esq., Foster Chapman, H. Howell Clyborne Jr., David Cordeau, John H.
Dargan, Frederick B. Dent, Jr., John T. Gramling II, Marianna B. Habisreutinger, P. Kathryn Hicks, Phil Lane, Zerno B. Martin, Jr., Max K. Metcalf,
Gary W. Poliakoff, Princess C. Porter, David O. Roberts, Mark Scott, Rev.
Benjamin D. Snoddy, L. Cody Sossamon, Jr., Dan L. Terhune, Ph.D., Nick A.
Theodore, Rev. Dr. Clay H. Turner, William J. Whitener, Col. USA Ret.
Carolina Piedmont Foundation
Thomas R. Young III, President John S. Poole, V.P. for Finance
David B. Dedmon, D.M.D., V.P. Nancy S. Riehle, V.P. for Development
Mike Irvin, Executive Director
for Administration
Jane G. Bottsford, Raymond H. Brandt, CPA, Robert A. Brannon, Karen
J. Calhoun, Terry L. Cash, David L. Church, William R. Cobb, Robert A.
Coleman, Timothy L. Drummond, Elizabeth B. Fleming, Steven B. Ford,
Barney G. Gosnell, CPA, George Wm. Gramling, Kerin L. Hannah, P.
Kathryn Hicks, Timothy R. Justice, Charles W. Lowe Jr., Julie W. Lowry, Don
L. Martin, Cathy H. McCabe, Esq., John D. Montgomery, Russell R. Raines,
Thomas L. Robinson, Albert V. Smith, Esq., David Jeffrey Smith, James R.
Smith, James W. Terry, Irvine T. Welling
Ex-Officio: Susan U. Holland, John F. Perry, Shane W. Rogers, Esq., Jack
A. Turner, Ph.D., John C. Stockwell, Ph.D.
2 University Review
Emeritus: Bruce H. Carlson, Katie A. Hodge, Susan C. Jacobs
D
uring the 2007-08 academic year, the
University of South Carolina Upstate celebrated forty years of growth.
Susu and George Dean Johnson, Jr. at the
December Press Conference.
A member of the Patriot Guard leads the
motorcycle escort for The Wall That Heals.
A Disabled American Veteran salutes
wreaths in memory of his fellow soldiers.
Rotarian presidents and Dr. Stockwell at
the Rotary Peace Park Dedication.
We all know the stories…starting with
a two-year nursing program in the basement of Spartanburg General, acquiring
campus properties piecemeal, building
the Administration Building and moving
to four-year degrees and a thousand
students within four years; hiring a great
core faculty, offices in a motel, a national
basketball championship, more buildings…Dr. Hodge and the Commission
fighting with governors, the State Commission and others for our very survival.
Frieda Davison, dean of the Library, led
a committee that assembled a cluster of
celebratory events throughout this year.
We recognized and engaged emeriti,
alumni, faculty, staff, friends and neighbors; and we connected lectures and
presentations related to the historic period of our founding in 1967, the period,
by the way, during which many of the
nation’s metropolitan universities were
founded.
One of our most important connections
was with the era of Vietnam. The University hosted the traveling Wall That
Heals, a half-size replica of the Vietnam
Wall Memorial in Washington, D.C. Over
17,754 people visited the Wall while it
was on campus, including an unbelievable phalanx of 1,300 motorcyclists who
escorted the Wall on the last leg of its
journey to the campus. It was a moving
week of ceremony, visitations and remembrance.
During that same mid-April week, the
University dedicated The Rotary Peace
Park installed on six acres at the entrance to the campus, a park supported
by the generosity of Spartanburg’s Rotary Clubs and the dedicated effort of
Rotarian Elizabeth Belenchia. With its
hundreds of newly planted trees and its
benches, walkways, amphitheatre, bridges, lake and fountain, the University’s
Rotary Peace Park, together with other
Rotary Peace parks around the world,
will serve as a continuing reminder of the
work of peace.
Who could have anticipated in 1967
what USC Upstate would become…a
residential campus with 5,000 students,
300 acres, 17,000 living alumni and
1,000 graduates a year and climbing?
And even as recently as last year, who
could have imagined not only the residential campus, but a new downtown
professional campus for the University’s
fastest growing programs in business
and economics? Who could have imagined the partnership with the City of
Spartanburg making possible the downtown property and a major new parking
facility?
Most importantly, who could have imagined the significant personal financial
commitments that would have made
possible the construction and endowment of this new downtown campus?
And who could have imagined the name:
The George Dean Johnson, Jr. College
of Business and Economics?
This issue of The University Review begins to tell the even more exciting story
of the second forty years.
Dr. John C. Stockwell, Chancellor
and Prosper
A Place To Live,Work
B Y TA M M Y E . W H A L E Y
His hometown, once prosperous
from peach orchards and textile
mills, now fights to recruit
white collar jobs that will entice
generations of young leaders to
stay in the community. He believes
that education is the answer to
recruiting these jobs to the area,
bringing with them a higher per
capita income and increase in the
quality of living.
It is this belief that led George
Dean Johnson, Jr. to explore
ways in which he could help the
Spartanburg community, now and
for generations to come, to prosper
as others from his hometown once
prospered.
The George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of
Business and Economics at USC Upstate
currently enrolls nearly 850 majors and is the
fastest growing unit in the University. It is fully
accredited by the Association for the Advancement
of Collegiate Schools of Business, one of 41
institutions worldwide with undergraduate only
programs that are accredited. Few business
schools in the nation with a predominantly
undergraduate mission are accredited by this
prestigious international association. In addition
to its major programs in business administration,
finance, marketing, management, accounting and
economics, the College will offer USC’s PMBA
degree on-site.
4 University Review
While Johnson is as well-known
for his business acumen as he
is for the philanthropic efforts he
and his wife, Susu, have made to
education and the arts, he is adding
a new dimension to his legacy. The
University of South Carolina Upstate
announced in December the naming
of the George Dean Johnson, Jr.
College of Business and Economics
and the promise of a new downtown
location that will assist in economic
development, aid in pre-start-up
and incubation support of small
business, and introduce thousands
of business majors over the years to
the opportunities for investment in
the City.
“The University is greatly honored
by the identification of its business
school with Mr. Johnson. And
locating the George Dean
Johnson, Jr. College of Business
and Economics in the center
of Renaissance Park will be a
tremendous asset not only to
downtown
development
but,
because of the naming, to the
reputation of the University,” said
Dr. John Stockwell, chancellor of
USC Upstate.
Johnson is a man of immense
talent and versatility — former
practicing attorney, legislator, State
Development Board chairman and
State Chamber of Commerce
president — and one of the nation’s
most successful entrepreneurs. He
is founder, former Chief Executive
Officer and a former Director
of Extended Stay America, Inc.
Johnson is a former President of
the domestic consumer division
of Blockbuster Entertainment, a
division of Viacom, Inc. He was
formerly the managing general
partner of WJB Video, the largest
Blockbuster franchisee, which
developed over 200 video stores
prior to a merger with Blockbuster
in 1993. Since 1985, Johnson
has been the managing general
partner of American Storage
Limited Partnership, a chain of
28 self-storage facilities located
in the Carolinas and Georgia. His
real estate development company,
Johnson Development Associates,
Inc., has developed and manages
in excess of 6 million square feet of
retail space, industrial space, office
space and apartments.
Stockwell adds that the new facility
will be located along Saint John
Street adjacent to the Chapman
Cultural Center. The facility will be
a three-story, 44,000 square foot
building. The University expects to
break ground in late fall 2008 and
anticipates that construction will be
completed in December 2009.
“Our future is tied to education
and I believe that this project will
help us all in ways that we can’t
yet imagine,” said Johnson. “This
is an investment in the University
of South Carolina Upstate and
in the College of Business and
Economics but more importantly, it
is an investment in the community.
It is setting the stage for economic
development, the creation of
entrepreneurs and for life-long
learning. It is an investment in
Spartanburg — one that I hope
will give people’s children and
grandchildren a place to live, work
and prosper.”
our community forward and that
can benefit the next generation as
we had hoped to do,” said Barnet.
“This is a dream for the City. Dream
with me of the 850 college students
and all the potential they will bring,
a distinguished faculty that will be
housed in the center of our city,
the potential for our entrepreneurial
talents, the possibilities for
internships, and the promise for
retail and housing. This community
can and will be all that it should be.”
Johnson has become wellacquainted
with
educational
statistics and can quote those as
easily as he can explain investment
returns. He talks of how only 66
percent of high school students
in Spartanburg County actually
receive a high school diploma and The City of Spartanburg is
only 33 percent of those students partnering with USC Upstate to
seek further education. Johnson make this new $26 million facility
has great concerns that only 18 a reality. The City’s provision of
percent of Spartanburg residents land (approximately one acre) is
have
a
college
degree, making it
I see this as an investment in USC Upstate,
harder to build a
an investment in the College of Business,
knowledge-based
and more importantly an investment in
economy which is
the way of the future.
our community. It is an investment in
He cites that our per
Spartanburg—one that I hope will give
capita income, which
people’s children and grandchildren a place
is the measure of our
economic and social
to live, work and prosper. —Johnson
health, is lower than
the state average.
valued at $650,000 and the City
will partner with the University in
“With this bold move to locate the
the construction of a new 780College of Business downtown,
space parking garage at a cost of
it is one step in having a vibrant
$11 million with a minimum of 250
downtown,”
said
Johnson.
parking spaces provided for USC
“Spartanburg County cannot
Upstate. The City will also provide
be successful unless the City is
infrastructure to include sidewalks,
dynamic and vital because we
streets and landscaping.
cannot recruit knowledge-based
jobs. The road out of poverty In addition to the City’s financial
runs directly by the school house commitment, more than $10 million
door. If we have the boldness and in private contributions, including
the confidence to invest in USC $2 million to endow the College,
Upstate we will be successful as was raised in less than 30 days. The
a community and our per capita University will contribute $5 million
income will grow.”
toward the project. The capital
project will be developed and
Mayor Bill Barnet agrees and says
managed by the Carolina Piedmont
that bringing the Johnson College
Foundation Properties II, LLC.
of Business and Economics
to downtown Spartanburg will “The Johnson College of Business
create a new energy, untapped and Economics is a gift to this
opportunities, and an enthusiastic community in many ways,” said City
commitment to education.
Manager Mark Scott. “The St. John
Street address should be among
“We spawn another great project
the best in the entire Upstate and
that will move the momentum of
our Downtown Master Plan singles
“
”
Dr. John Sto
ckwell, Dr. D
iane Vecchi
George Dea
o, Susu and
n Johnson,
Jr. and May
or Bill Barne
t
Stewart
Johnson
, Sr.
Ned Johnson
Valerie a
n
d Bill Ba
Susu and Geor
rnet
ge Dean John
son, Jr.
University Review 5
orge Dean Johnson, Jr.
Dr. John Stockwell, Ge
Rob Chapman
Lenna Fulmer
Roger Milliken an
d Katie Hodge
and Dr. Darrell Parker
George Dean
Johnson, Jr. an
d
Cantey Heath
out the Renaissance P
Parkk area
as key to our future downtown
development. The Johnson College
of Business and Economics will
stimulate
pedestrian
activity,
generate professional level job
creation in the area, bring meetings
and tourism to the Marriott Hotel,
and perhaps best of all, it will
expose thousands of future
business leaders to the joys of
living and working in downtown
Spartanburg. It would be hard to
find a better fit for the goals the
Master Plan presents.”
Dr. Stockwell acknowledged that
“this project would not be possible
without the private financial
resources of very committed donors
and the leadership of Mayor Barnet,
the City Council, City Manager Mark
Scott and the City planning team.”
With the announcement of the
new name and architectural and
construction plans currently in
progress, it has been hard to
contain the enthusiasm and
excitement of Dr. Darrell Parker,
dean of the Johnson College of
Business and Economics.
“First priorities for the College
are modern facilities with current
technology,
shared
space
for executive and continuing
education opportunities, and a
“Class A” office environment that
welcomes and serves the business
community,” said Parker. “This new
facility will relieve pressures on
restricted space for teaching and
learning through the creation of
sufficient classrooms and offices
6 University Review
for future growth. In addition, it
will permit the development of
specialized instructional space
including dedicated computer
labs with business software, a
stock market trading room for
finance classes, and classrooms
with computers to permit students
to individually run educational
software during class. It will also
support executive education and
other academic outreach activities,
enabling expanded services for
small businesses and connecting
business leaders with the University
and its students.”
The magnitude of this new facility
and having Johnson’s name
attached to it is certainly not lost
on Jim Smith, a 1972 graduate of
USC Upstate and chairman of the
Spartanburg County Commission
for Higher Education. “In 1967
we stood at the threshold of
tremendous opportunity with the
opening of USC Upstate with 177
students and big dreams. Today
we likewise stand at the threshold
of a tremendous opportunity. This
is a benchmark in the life of the
University and in our City. It takes
the University a tremendous step
forward toward becoming the
preeminent metropolitan institution
in the Southeast which we aspire
to be. George Dean Johnson, Jr.
has set a standard of citizenship
and stewardship of which every
business person and every citizen
in Spartanburg should hold in the
highest regard.”
RUNNING For Peace
RACINGFor Opportunities
BY C LAI R E SAC H S E
For Emily Cheptoo Tangwar, distance running has been part of her daily routine for her entire life. As an elementary school
student in Eldoret, Kenya, Emily ran back and forth to school from her home on a farm, an average of eight miles a day.
Now, this petite 5-foot-2-inch, 97-pound USC Upstate freshman runs for her school, on USC Upstate’s first cross country
team fielded since the Spartans joined NCAA Division I in the Atlantic Sun Conference and on the inaugural track and field
team.
Emily competes in the 800 meters, one mile, 3,000 meters and 5K events, but her race of preference is the 5K. In fact,
in all of the six cross country meets held last fall, she finished in the top five. For her efforts last season she was named
Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year, All-Conference and All-Freshman. But she proves equally versatile in the shorter races.
So far into the 2008 track and field season, she is ranked number one in the conference for the 3,000 meters and is in the
top three for the mile and 800 meters. At the recent A-Sun Indoor Track & Field Championships, Emily won three individual
championships–3,000 meter, 5,000 meter, 1 mile–and was named the Atlantic Sun Most Outstanding Runner and Most
Outstanding Freshman.
“Emily is very kind, very humble, but fearless once she steps on the track,” says Ed Schlichter, assistant track and field coach.
“She preys on her competition as she patiently waits for the right moment to surge past.”
One of nine children growing up on a farm in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya, Emily knew her chances for a college education
would be dependent on her running ability. She had planned to attend college after graduating from Loreto High School,
but the death of her father in 2003 derailed those plans for a time. In 2006, another opportunity came along for her, and she
briefly attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she realized “it was just too cold.” She was able to transfer to USC
Upstate in the fall of 2007 on a full athletic scholarship.
Being so far from home and family has not been easy for Emily, especially since the recent election violence that erupted in
Kenya after the December 2007 elections. She now knows that her family, while near areas where violence broke out, is safe.
Electric power has been intermittent, making cell phone conversations and e-mail communication erratic.
“I am affected mentally,” says Emily, “and of course I worry about their safety, but Kenya is such a nice country, a peaceful
country.” Emily adds that she has “high hopes” for a United Nations brokered peace deal between the tribes of the opposition
leader and the sitting president as she sees some normalcy returning to her country.
“What has happened in her homeland has definitely taken a toll on her,” says Schlichter, who, along with the other coaches,
teammates, teachers and friends, surrounded her with support during the worst periods. “But with her support system and things
starting to calm down a bit in Kenya, Emily has really begun to take off.”
Head coach Jimmy Stephens observed Emily during the months of unrest in Kenya and says that while
the uncertainty did affect her training, she has now “turned it into motivation to run and train faster.”
“I will get to go home in December this year,” says Emily who has not seen her family since 2006. When she returns to USC
Upstate after the winter break, she will begin courses in the Mary Black School of Nursing. After she graduates, Emily plans
to return to her native Kenya to begin a nursing career.
“My focus is on general health issues,” she says. Emily adds that she will be equipped to handle the medical, technical
and equipment advances that will come to Kenya in the future because of her education in the United States here at USC
Upstate. She also states that she is very thankful to the United States government for allowing her to study in America.
“Emily’s number one strength is her character,” says Coach Stephens. Coach Schlichter echoes Stephens’ comments, adding
that Emily “is a tremendous person and athlete, and what she does and how she does it should be an inspiration to everyone.”
University Review 7
Andy Warhol
Photos
Bring Pop Icon’s Influence To
University’s Permanent Collection
B Y TA M M Y E . W H A L E Y
Andy Warhol is an artist of many mediums—
painting, film, books and photography
—who is often remembered as much
for his art as for his influence on pop
culture. After all, he did take common
American products such as Campbell’s
Soup cans and Coca-Cola and turn
them into art in the 1960s.
unprecedented opportunity for a
university of our age and size,” said Jane
Nodine, professor of art and director of
the University Gallery. “We look forward
to promoting and making public the
collection through exhibition and
research venues in the near future.”
The intent of donating Warhol’s
photographs is to provide greater
access to his artwork and process, and
to enable a wide range of people from
communities across the country to view
and study this important yet relatively
unknown body of Warhol’s work. The
program offers institutions that do
not have the means to acquire works
by Warhol the opportunity to bring a
significant number of photographs into
their permanent collections.
As the debate of Warhol’s art and
influence remains popular in the art
world, the Andy Warhol Foundation
for the Visual Arts recently celebrated
its 20th anniversary. To commemorate
the anniversary, the Andy Warhol
Photographic
Legacy
Program
was established and made an
unprecedented gift of 28,543 original
Warhol photographs to 183 college
and university art museums across the
U.S., an overall gift valued in excess of “It’s one thing to read about Andy
$28 million.
Warhol and his art work in class, but
USC Upstate was fortunate to be to actually have a sample of his work
selected as one of the recipients and here on campus is very special,” said
recently took possession of 152 original Laura Buchanan, a senior from Lyman.
Warhol photographs, original Polaroid “Having the Andy Warhol photographs
on campus gives every student the
photographs and gelatin silver prints.
chance to see work from famous artists
“Andy Warhol is recognized as a pop
without having to travel to New York or
artist icon and having his original
Europe.”
work in the permanent collection
at USC Upstate is an exciting and Dr. Rachel Snow, assistant professor
8 University Review
of art history, notes that her History of
Photography and Twentieth Century Art
classes will be able to conduct research
on original Warhol photographs. For
example, art education majors can use
the photographs to write unique lesson
plans that allow students to think about
how popular culture relates to fine art
culture. Art studio majors can use these
images to think about how to organize
and design art exhibitions and how to
research and write educational materials
that will help the public get the most out
of such an exhibition.
In addition to opening up a variety of
independent study opportunities to
students, including the opportunity
to help catalog, research and write
about art using primary sources,
these photographs will bring more
attention to USC Upstate’s already
outstanding collection of original
artwork, which includes a number of
valuable Jerry Uelsmann photographs
and a substantial number of paintings
by the well-known and respected artist
Beatrice Riese.
“Unlike photographs that have negatives
that allow them to be reproduced in
great quantities, these Polaroids are
unique images that are made and
developed in the camera, they have no negative from
which other copies can be made,” said Snow. “These
truly are one-of-a-kind photographs.”
Snow referenced Polaroid’s recent announcement
that the company will discontinue producing the
kinds of cameras and supplies Warhol used to
produce these images.
“Although we have all seen and are familiar with
Polaroid instant photographs, one or two generations
from now, these once ubiquitous images will seem
as unfamiliar and curious to viewers as other, now
defunct modes of making photographs (such as
Daguerreotypes) seem to us now, ” said Snow.
Warhol would often shoot a person or event with
both cameras, cropping one in Polaroid color as a
“photograph” and snapping the other in black and
white as a “picture.” By presenting both kinds of
images side by side, viewers can move back and
forth between moments of Warhol’s “art,” “work” and
“life” —inseparable parts of a fascinating whole.
“A wealth of information about Warhol’s process
and his interactions with his sitters is revealed
in these images,” said Jenny Moore, curator of
the Photographic Legacy Program. “Through his
rigorous—though almost unconscious—consistency
in shooting, the true idiosyncrasies of his subjects
were revealed.”
Warhol displays a
self-portrait.
Andy Warhol
Visual arts students Alexis Rogers, Keith Ball and
Tyler Greenlee, along with Professor Jane Nodine,
get a first glance at the Andy Warhol photographs.
Nodine is holding a 1980s black and white photo of
Lauren Hutton.
Nodine is currently working on exhibit space for the
Warhol Collection and expects to have an opening
in fall 2008.
University Review 9
Bringing
CareandCompassion
Homebound
to the
Nursing student Heather Chapman
enjoys interacting with patients such as
Mrs. Lewis as part of her placement with
the Mobile Meals nursing ministry.
B Y H E AT H E R A L E X A N D E R - E N G E L B R E C H T
It is one thing to sit in a classroom, or even in a laboratory, and
learn the ins and outs of one’s desired profession. It is quite
another to put that knowledge into action. But that is just what
a partnership between Mobile Meals of Spartanburg and the
Mary Black School of Nursing at USC Upstate is doing for
today’s nursing students.
Course coordinator Charlene Walton, EdD, RN, and Jenny
Holmes, MSN, RN, select eight senior nursing students per
semester to work with nurses from Mobile Meals nursing
ministry in conducting in-home visits to meal recipients. During
these visits the students, who work in pairs, initially conduct a
health history and family assessment to identify the healthcare
needs of each client. Based on that information, the students
then develop a teaching/learning plan and over the course
of the next five weeks, implement that plan. These plans can
cover anything from vascular disease and nutritional education
to proper medication management and home safety.
Since 1977, Mobile Meals has been delivering meals and
compassion to the frail and homebound in the Spartanburg
area. After seeing that many of the neediest people in the
county had no access to healthcare, Mobile Meals president
and CEO Jayne McQueen led the effort to secure $288,000
in seed money from the Mary Black Foundation, and in 2002,
with the help of Wylene Bailey, RN, and Janet Shaw, both
former Mobile Meals board members, the organization’s
Nursing Ministry began serving patients.
While no one can quite remember just how this partnership
between Mobile Meals and the University’s nursing students
developed, everyone involved agrees that it is an invaluable
learning experience for future nurses and a great asset to one
of Spartanburg’s vital community agencies. “Anytime you can
partner with others in the community it helps to further your
own [organization’s] mission,” says Bailey. Dr. Marsha Dowell,
dean of the Mary Black School of Nursing, agrees. “Whenever
an academic unit can partner with someone in the community
to augment and enhance a program while students learn is
beneficial to everyone. Our students help vulnerable members
of the community and learn to apply both theories and caring
in an environment that is incredibly supportive of them.”
10 University Review
During the five-week community nursing rotation, students
have an opportunity to experience first-hand the challenges and
rewards that come from working with patients who often fall
through the cracks of traditional medical services. “Community
health allows you to remember this is a whole person,” says
Shaw. “In clinical settings, people are often categorized by the
disease [they have], but community nurses see them in their
homes and it gives them a broader picture of the person.” In
addition to taking vital signs and helping the patients with their
healthcare needs, often what the patient needs most is just a
visitor to listen to their thoughts and concerns. “The greatest
need for many of our patients is loneliness,” says Bailey. “They
love the youthful energy the students bring when they visit.”
Heather Chapman, a senior nursing student, has found her
placement with the Mobile Meals nursing ministry to be a
perfect match. “I would recommend this experience 100% to
other nursing students. This experience humbles you as you
visit so many different types of homes,” says Chapman. “Just
because you think you know what people are going through,
you see a whole different perspective when you go into their
environment.”
As Mrs. Lewis opens the door, her face lights up at the sight of
the students who have come to visit her. Mobile Meals began
visiting Mrs. Lewis and her husband of 54 years when he got
sick with Parkinson’s disease. Now that he is in a nursing
home, Mrs. Lewis says it does get lonely but she appreciates
the nursing ministry’s visits. Bailey, one of the two full-time
nurses who staff the nursing ministry, stops by regularly to see
how she is doing and to just listen. Mrs. Lewis also enjoys
the students’ visits. “The students are so nice. I had my 81st
birthday and Heather brought me a birthday card. It was the
sweetest thing,” she said. “It means so much to me. They’re so
loving and kind.”
As they sit and talk about how she’s feeling and her recent
visit to her husband, it is obvious Mrs. Lewis has had just as
much of an impact on Chapman. “Mrs. Lewis has given me
more than I could have ever imagined. She is an absolute joy
to work with.”
University by Morning and
High School by Afternoon
Area Ninth Graders Earn College Credits in Scholars Academy
BY C LAI R E SAC H S E
Imagine being 14-years old with college
credits already under your belt! For a
select group of Spartanburg County ninth
graders, this scenario is a reality, thanks to a
$2.6 million U.S. Department of Education
funded grant program called the Scholars
Academy.
The University of South Carolina Upstate,
in coordination with educators in seven
Spartanburg County school districts,
implemented this competitive program
which allows academically advanced ninth
graders to take courses on the college
campus during their high school years,
starting in the 2007-2008 school year. By
the time they graduate from high school,
they will have 45 – 60 college credit hours
to their name, giving them a jump on their
college careers and saving their parents
thousands in college tuition.
Dalton Fowler, Forrest Rossi and
Kortney Schumann take notes
during a government class.
Hilary Martin listens intently to a
lecture by Professor Tim Dale.
Students in the first Scholars
Academy class hail from:
Boiling Springs High School
Broome High School
Byrnes High School
Chapman High School
Chesnee High School
Dorman Freshman Campus
Landrum High School
Twenty-three students from various high
schools spent half their day on the USC
Upstate campus during the 2007-08
academic year. They arrived by bus from
their home high schools at 8:30 a.m.,
attended core classes together until noon,
had lunch in the Campus Life Center
Cafeteria, and returned by bus to their
respective high schools to complete their
day and attend extracurricular events.
Core classes include English, American
history, math, government, physical
science and wellness/fitness. First year
math and advanced English are taught by
certified high school teachers and the rest
of their classes are taught by University
professors. As the students advance to
their sophomore, junior and senior years of
high school, they will be blended gradually
into classes with college students.
“They are official college students,” says
Melissa Deloach, director of the program.
“They have a college transcript after one
semester and they are able to do all on
campus that normal students do.” They
are provided USC Upstate student e-
mail accounts, and they have access to
Blackboard, the electronic forum for course
information, assignments and studentprofessor communication.
But Deloach, who has been a teacher for
19 years and an assistant principal at the
Dorman Freshman Campus, knows that
even though they are on a college campus,
the Scholars Academy students are still
“kids.” Like a mother hen, she supervises
the students while they are on campus and
is careful to ensure they stay together and
have the necessary adult supervision at all
times.
“We want to keep the kids together for
security and maturity reasons for the first
two years,” she says, adding that by their
junior and senior years “they’ll have a lot
more freedom to take what they want.”
Even though the students are considered
academically advanced, they are still new to
college study habits. Professor Paul Grady,
who taught American history over the fall
semester, says that many of his students
were surprised to receive C’s and lower
on tests at the start of the semester. “But
as the semester progressed and as they
realized they had to put more effort into
studying for college level classes than they
were used to, the students quickly shifted
into gear, and finished the semester quite
well.”
Entrance to the Academy is competitive, as
the students must complete an interview
process, which includes their parents
and professors. A ratings system is also
used, which includes the students’ grades
to date. There is no charge for students
to participate in Scholars Academy. For
further information about the program,
contact Melissa Deloach by calling (864)
503-5506 or e-mail her at mdeloach@
uscupstate.edu or visit the Scholars
Academy Web site www.uscupstate.edu/
academics/education/scholars_academy.
University Review 11
USC Upstate alumna Carolyn Turner ‘07
organized the tax preparation clinic at
the Middle Tyger Community Center to
help low income and elderly community
members file their taxes online.
More Than a Paycheck
B Y H E AT H E R A L E X A N D E R - E N G E L B R E C H T
For a relatively small program that has
only 40 majors, USC Upstate’s Nonprofit Administration students and professors logged more than 5,636 hours
in 2007 volunteering or interning with
nonprofit organizations to help make
our community a better place to live,
work and play. The Nonprofit Administration program, offered by the Center for Nonprofit Leadership as both a
major and a minor, prepares graduates
for careers in management and administrative positions within a wide variety
of nonprofit organizations such as social services, youth activities, health, the
environment and the arts. Basic leadership and management principles are
key components of the curriculum.
Students also gain real-world experience through the required internships
and service learning projects with local
nonprofits and have a chance to see
if a career in the nonprofit sector is a
good fit for them. “We’re able to connect academic majors with practical experience,” says Dr. Theresa Ricke-Kiely,
director of the Center. “Often an organization will mentor the student during
the internship and create a position for
them after they graduate.”
And more often than not, the hard work
and energy the students bring to their
internships continues to flow into the
community after graduation as most
nonprofit leadership graduates find
full-time jobs with nonprofits in the
Upstate. At one such organization,
12 University Review
the United Way of the Piedmont, several recent USC Upstate graduates are
working in the community through the
AmeriCorps*VISTA program, a national
service program that places volunteers
with other agencies in communities
to alleviate poverty by building capacity and programs to sustain their missions.
Rochelle Ladson ’07 is working with
Bethlehem Center in Spartanburg, providing public relations assistance and
volunteer recruitment and has made it
a personal goal to help keep the food
pantry stocked. She joined the VISTA
program “because I wasn’t done giving
back.” Ladson graduated from Upstate
with a degree in interdisciplinary studies and credits her experience with the
nonprofit leadership program as shaping her as a person. “Nonprofit leadership is a good fit for people who aren’t
just looking for a paycheck,” she says.
Lakisha Spears ’07 agrees and says
all students should take at least one
class in nonprofit leadership. During her senior seminar, Chris Steed,
vice president of community impact at
United Way, gave a presentation about
the VISTA program and she liked what
she saw. “I was the first person to sign
up!” Spears is working at SAFE Homes
Rape Crisis Coalition in Spartanburg
providing domestic violence and sexual
assault education in an age-appropriate
manner to K-2 students. The outreach
program she is helping to develop will
eventually be used in all schools in
Spartanburg and Cherokee counties.
Spears will soon begin a new position
with the Girl Scouts of South Carolina
Mountains to Midlands as a development and marketing assistant. Her advice to students? “Join AmeriCorps. It is
a great learning experience,” she says.
As a nonprofit administration intern
with the United Way last spring, Carolyn Turner ’07 helped Chris Steed write
the grant that now funds the VISTA
program at the United Way. She is
now a VISTA member herself, working with the Middle Tyger Community
Center where she is researching parenting among adolescents, creating a
volunteer training manual and writing
a report on programs to address teen
pregnancy. Turner says working with
the center “makes you very appreciative of all you have.”
“The agencies we work with have
had great experiences with VISTA
members,” says Callie Hammond, director of Volunteer Connections &
AmeriCorps*VISTA at United Way.
She adds that the nonprofit leadership
graduates “have a clear understanding
of the structure of nonprofit agencies;
however I think they have really learned
a lot from actually working in nonprofits. They all have been extremely grateful for their experiences. What you learn
in a book can often be a lot different in
reality.”
Founders’ Day Celebration
Honors Loyal Supporters
B Y TA M M Y E . W H A L E Y
Toney J. Lister
J. Eugene (Gene) Adams
H. Spencer King
Each February the University holds its Founders’ Day
Celebration to honor friends and supporters of USC
Upstate who have been instrumental in the development of
the institution. This year was exceptionally special as we are
celebrating the institution’s 40th anniversary.
careers of service to the University. Nancy Bailey, who
retired as budget director and financial planner after a 27year career, and Howard “Buddy” Nance, who retired from
the facilities department after a 32-year career, received this
award.
“As we look at today’s campus and reflect on our humble
beginnings, the sheer magnitude of our accomplishments is
sometimes hard to fathom,” said Chancellor John Stockwell
at the February 19 reception. “We owe our thanks to
dedicated individuals, such as those we celebrate tonight,
for believing in USC Upstate and leading the way for this
University to become a driving force in the Upstate.”
“The careers of Nancy and Buddy are both characterized by
exceptional dedication, exceptional work ethic and persistent
commitment to quality,” said Jim Smith ‘72, chairman of the
Commission.
Both the Spartanburg County Commission for Higher
Education and the Carolina Piedmont Foundation presented
awards at Founders’ Day.
The Commission bestows its prestigious Founders’ Day
Distinguished Service Award to friends and supporters
of the University who have made special and important
contributions to USC Upstate and to the community the
University serves. Receiving the 2008 Distinguished Service
Award were Joel Eugene (Gene) Adams, H. Spencer King
and Toney J. Lister.
The Commission also presented two Awards for
Distinguished Service in honor of long and distinguished
The Carolina Piedmont Foundation, the fundraising entity of
the University, presented two awards at Founders’ Day. The
Service Award, given to the individual who represents the
very ideals of volunteerism and commitment, was presented
to Karen Calhoun. The Foundation Award, given to the
individual or organization that has provided exceptional
philanthropic support, was presented to The JM Smith
Foundation.
“The Foundation and the University are indeed blessed to
have generous and supportive friends, such as Karen and The
JM Smith Foundation, who work to ensure that our students
have access to scholarships, facilities and technology,” said
Mike Irvin, vice chancellor for advancement and executive
director of the Carolina Piedmont Foundation.
University Review 13
Freedom, Civil Rights, Vietnam and Drugs:
Tilt 68 Author Explores Issues of the ‘60s
B Y TA M M Y E . W H A L E Y
Sarah Colton, author of Tilt 68, shares some of her challenges as a writer with
Professor of English Dr. Thomas McConnell.
From Vietnam to The Pill, from fraternity parties to
Existentialism, the novel Tilt 68 brings the late 1960s to life
through the profound changes experienced by one Southern
woman who dares to look at her own life with open eyes.
Sarah Colton, author of Tilt 68, shared her stories with the
USC Upstate campus this Spring when she spoke to several
classes and gave an author lecture.
“USC Upstate students don’t often have the opportunity to
meet a living writer in the flesh, so it was a great delight for
them to have one on campus,” said Dr. Thomas McConnell,
associate professor of English. “The chance to pitch your
questions to someone who’s already been through and
conquered the challenges you’re facing as a young writer is
a real privilege. Luckily, we had the benefit of Sarah Colton’s
wisdom.”
Colton says she always knew she would write a novel.
Following her graduation from UNC Chapel Hill in 1971, she
worked as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill for one year
before cashing in all her savings, and moving to Europe with
nothing but a small canvas suitcase stuffed with dreams of
adventure. What she didn’t realize was that the novel would
be 20 years in the making.
“I began writing a series of essays centered around a
burning question which had troubled me for more than two
14 University Review
decades: ‘What happened to me during my first two years of
college (the years 1967 to 1969)?’ Somehow, it seems that
I had entered them as one person and emerged as someone
fundamentally different. So did most of my friends. What
happened to us? How could we and an entire society have
changed so drastically in such a short time?” asked Colton.
Tilt 68 is a novel grounded in the energy and icons of the
1960s and tells the story of Louisa Ellington, an 18-year old
freshman at a Southern women’s college. Louisa is a coed when the sudden and widespread availability of The Pill
thrusts unprecedented freedom on an entire generation of
women—all within the context of the Civil Rights movement,
the Vietnam War and the arrival of drugs on campus.
“Tilt 68 will speak to any reader who has ever challenged
authority and wrestled with the conflicting doubts and
convictions unleashed by power shifts along the elemental
fault-lines of life: sex, politics, race, religion and war,” said
Colton.
A native of North Carolina, Colton now divides her time
between Asheville and Paris. Although Tilt 68 is Colton’s first
novel, her articles and fiction have appeared in publications
such as Glamour and Redbook and the short-story anthology
They Only Laughed Later.
USC Upstate a Stepping Stone
to the Presidency?
BY C LAI R E SAC H S E
The campaign trail swings through campus
Presidential campaigns were a
frequent occurrence on the campus
of USC Upstate this past fall. As the
South Carolina primaries drew near in
January, the candidates increased their
presence in the Upstate by attending
a variety of local events and visiting
numerous local venues, including the
USC Upstate campus.
In its 40-year history, USC Upstate
has never hosted a U.S. president or
former president, that is, until October
29, 2007, when former President Bill
Clinton visited campus to rally support
for his wife, Hillary Clinton, who is
running on the Democratic ticket.
Greeted by a cheering crowd of about
1,400 supporters, spotlighted by
national media crews, and surrounded
by his Secret Service detail, Clinton
spoke passionately, yet in his trademark
conversational style, about the hot
button issues of the 2008 campaign,
including the environment, the economy,
health care and the war in Iraq.
Xavier Pearson, president of the
USC Upstate Student Government
Association, was selected by the
campaign and the University to deliver
opening remarks at the event.
“I don’t know many people, Republican,
Democrat or independent, who are
not somehow inspired by President
Clinton,” Pearson says. A political
science major with future political
ambitions, Pearson says that the
election has dominated the discussions
in many of his courses, as well as
outside the classroom.
“While he was here, Clinton said that
maybe I will be president one day. I
don’t know about all that, but we’ll see,”
says Pearson.
Clinton’s campaign stop to the Hodge
Gym also included a private meeting
with African American religious leaders
from Spartanburg area congregations.
Other notable campaign visits have
included Senator John McCain (RAriz.) who arrived aboard the “Straight
Talk Express” tour bus on October 18.
After a tour of the Mary Black School of
Nursing, McCain delivered his remarks
in the nursing auditorium to a standingroom-only crowd.
McCain focused his remarks on health
care issues but also included his views
on his opponents, the war in Iraq and
U.S. foreign policy. Students and
faculty also engaged him in a lively
question and answer session.
Hollywood actress Kathleen Turner,
serving as an ambassador for Barack
Obama’s campaign, paid a visit to USC
Upstate on August 30. Speaking to
theatre and nursing students, the star of
Romancing the Stone and When Peggy
Sue Got Married discussed women’s
health issues and women’s rights,
issues she says are close to her heart
and the Obama campaign. Additionally
she dispensed acting advice to many
aspiring theatre students.
And just days before the democratic
primary, actress Kerry Washington, who
starred in the movie Ray as the wife of
Ray Charles, and actor/comedian Chris
Tucker, from Rush Hour fame, spoke to
a lunchtime gathering of students on
behalf of the Obama campaign in the
Campus Life Center. On the eve of
the primary, Chelsea Clinton dropped
in on behalf of her mother’s campaign,
and spoke at length in private, casual
discussions with students at the
Campus Life Center.
“It is exciting that candidates are
choosing USC Upstate for visits,” says
political science Professor Tim Dale.
“It makes sense for several reasons:
Upstate South Carolina includes many
undecided voters to whom candidates
need to speak; the issues facing
Spartanburg and the surrounding
area are typical for the key issues
in this race (economy, environment,
employment, education); USC Upstate
is one of the larger institutions of higher
education in the Upstate, and we are
in a higher population metropolitan
area; and candidates demonstrate
support for higher education by visiting
college campuses, especially public
institutions.”
Photo galleries of Bill Clinton and John
McCain campaign stops are on the
Web at www.uscupstate.edu/images.
Kathleen Turner’s discussion is also
posted to the Web as a podcast, at
www.uscupstate.edu/podcasts.
Bill Clinton,
John McCain
and Chelsea
Clinton
engaged
the campus
community in
lively political
discussions.
University Review 15
Irvin Tapped To Lead
Development Efforts
B Y TA M M Y E . W H A L E Y
Michael E. Irvin was
recently named vice
chancellor for advancement and executive director of
the Carolina Piedmont Foundation.
Prior to coming to
USC Upstate, Irvin
was the director of
advancement
for
Purdue Agriculture
at Purdue University where he successfully led a campaign
in exceeding a $146 million goal as part of a seven-year
$1.7 billion campaign.
“We are fortunate to have recruited someone of Mike’s caliber for this very critical position at USC Upstate,” said Dr.
John Stockwell, chancellor. “As USC Upstate moves toward
fulfilling its mission of becoming one of the Southeast’s
leading metropolitan universities, Mike’s development experience will be key.”
“As president of the Carolina Piedmont Foundation, I am extremely happy and proud that Mike has joined our Foundation and look forward to his leadership,” said Tommy Young.
“We hope to see the Foundation grow in the amount of
funds it brings in and in its role of advancing the mission of
the University.”
In previous years, Irvin has served as president of the Chamber of Commerce in Danville, Illinois; as director of annual
giving and major gifts for Habitat for Humanity International
in Americus, Georgia; and as executive director of the Danville Area Community College Foundation in Danville, Illinois.
Irvin earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Illinois.
“Opportunities like this generally come along only once in
a person’s career, so I am honored and humbled to be offered this position,” said Irvin. “My wife, Diana, and I are truly
excited to be joining the USC Upstate family and the Spartanburg community.”
Irvin can be reached at (864) 503-5217 or [email protected].
Web Highlights
Have you visited the USC Upstate
Web site lately? If not, here are a few
things you’ll want to see:
The University Review is now
online. Go to www.uscupstate.edu/
UniversityReview/ to view the entire
magazine online, print copies of stories,
or e-mail your friends a link to a story.
Special “Web Exclusive” content for
each issue is available online as well
as an archive of past issues. And while
you’re there, don’t forget to submit your
Class Notes!
Speaking of Class Notes, you might
have noticed there are no Class
Notes in this print edition. Instead,
we’ve included 40 alumni profiles in
celebration of the University’s 40th
Anniversary. To coincide with the
launch of the new Web site, we’ve
included Class Notes as this issue’s
Web Exclusive content. Go to www.
uscupstate.edu/UniversityReview/
16 University Review
classnotes/ to find out what your
Upstate friends have been up to.
The Office of Alumni Affairs has
partnered with Harris Connect, a
third party technology company, to
offer e-mail blasts, alumni newsletters,
online communities and online giving.
This is a great way to communicate
with our graduates and keep them
abreast of all University activities. Each
alum will create their own password
and user name for access to the
online community. Any alumni with a
valid e-mail address will be invited to
join. Go to uscupstate.edu/alumni/
for details.
The Wall that Heals, a replica of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Washington, D.C., made a stop on
campus that brought over 17,000
visitors to campus. Go to www.
uscupstate.edu/40/wall/ for more
information and photos.
Progress on the construction of the
Health Education Complex can be
viewed via the Web cam and photo
archives at www.uscupstate.edu/hec/. A
fall completion date is expected on this
facility, which will house the Mary Black
School of Nursing, School of Education,
Bookstore, Enrollment Services and a
Wellness/Fitness Center.
The latest issue of the Parent
Newsletter is now online and
includes important information about
fall student housing options and the
Global Discovery Program. Go to www.
uscupstate.edu/parents/ and click on the
Parent Newsletter link.
The Department of History, Political
Science, Philosophy and American
Generally
Studies’
newsletter,
Speaking, can be found online at
www.uscupstate.edu/academics/arts_
sciences/history/.
1971
1
JJoy McGaha
Jo was a member of one of
Joy
tthe first classes to graduate
from then-USCS, with an
fr
aassociate degree in nursing.
She remembers feeling like
S
““a part of history” on her first
day of registration because
news media were everywhere due to the fact
that construction of the Administration Building fronting
I-585 had just been completed and the building was
open for business. Joy has been a nurse for her entire
professional career, starting out as a staff RN, and
working her way up to the position she has held since
1989 as director of health services for the District
5 School system. In this position, she is responsible
for coordinating comprehensive health services for
over 6,800 students, supervising nine full-time nurses
throughout the schools, and ensuring that everyone has
access to emergency care as well as routine daily care.
“My nursing degree,” she says, “gave me a wonderful
foundation for my career…my instructors taught me to
be a true professional.” Currently residing in Duncan, this
Spartanburg County native is married to her husband of
38 years, Chuck, and they have a grown son, Ryan. She
is an active member of Cudd Memorial Baptist Church
and has served on various boards including Healthy
Smiles and Middle Tyger Community Center.
(&!
Chuck Lowe
C
O
Originally
from Boiling Springs,
tthis dean’s list student says
he was well prepared for the
h
workforce after he finished his
w
degree back in the days when
d
tthe University was a two-year
institution. At Upstate, he
majored in bu
business administration which
readied him for the demands of the real estate and
development business, and he met his future business
partner, Jim Smith, with whom he has embarked upon
a successful real estate development company, Smith
and Lowe Development. As a real estate developer, he
feels his biggest accomplishment was the development
of the Lake Adger community in Polk County, N.C.
He has two children and in his spare time he enjoys
boating and skiing with them. In addition to being on
the Carolina Piedmont Foundation board of directors,
he also serves on the board of realtors for Spartanburg,
South Carolina, and Polk County. He has many fond
memories of USC Upstate, and has kept up friendships
and business relationships with many fellow graduates.
1975
1
Nick Small
N
N
Nick
was a student at USC
Upstate when the campus
U
was transitioning from a
w
ttwo-year associate degree
campus to a four-year degree
c
program. After he completed
p
two years in Spartanburg
with an aassociate degree in science,
he transferred to the USC College of Pharmacy,
where he obtained his bachelor of science degree in
pharmacy. Nick says that the small classes and the oneon-one relationships with professors were very helpful
in preparation for his career. Although several faculty
members left lasting impressions on him, Dr. Tom Davis
was a stand-out because no matter how busy he was, “he
always made time for me with any concerns that I had.”
Currently, Nick is employed as the assistant pharmacy
manager at Publix Pharmacy at Hillcrest Shopping Center
where he fills prescriptions and counsels patients about
their medications. Married for 25 years to Maria, also an
Upstate graduate (’85), Nick has two children, Andrew
and Despina. He spends much of his spare time at his
church and with his elderly parents. Whenever possible,
he tries to squeeze in golf.
1976
1
Mary Lou Hodge
M
M Lou was a non-traditional
Mary
sstudent with a husband
aand two children when she
aattended USC Upstate. She
obtained her ADN in 1976
o
aand her BSN degree in
1982. “I now know the entire
experience of college was a building
experience and at the end I began to realize how my
University Review 17
Alumni Profiles
USC Upstate’s alumni have great stories to tell about
their lives after leaving campus – their ambitions, career
paths, volunteer work and families – as well as some
interesting remembrances of their years on campus. In
celebration of the University’s 40th anniversary, these
40 alumni highlighted on the next 12 pages, tell a varied
and rich story about the power of their USC Upstate
degree, and the influence of the institution on their
daily lives. We salute these and all of the University’s
17,000 graduates!
Alumni Profiles
college experience shaped my life. I think differently and
am able to view the world in a more mature and confident
manner,” says Mary Lou. Immediately after graduation,
Mary Lou worked at the Spartanburg Regional Medical
Center. In 1982, she joined USC Upstate’s nursing
faculty, but left in 1992 to work at Gardner-Webb
University. Eventually, Mary found her way back to USC
Upstate in 2002, working full time. She is a member
of the American Nurses Association, the USC Upstate
Alumni Board of Directors, and coordinates a living
window for Spartanburg’s holiday celebration, Dickens
of a Christmas. In Mary Lou’s free time she loves to be
with her family, read and cook at family gatherings.
1979
1
Rita Vinson
R
R was a little older than the
Rita
typical college student when
ty
sshe began attending classes
aat USC Upstate, and even
tthough people asked her “Do
yyou know how old you will be
when you graduate?” she was
w
undaunted by the challenge. As she
undaunte
walked out of her last exam on the last day of her college
career, she realized that she was the same age that day
as she would have been if she hadn’t pursued her dream.
After graduating with honors with a degree in business
administration with an accounting concentration, she
worked for the IRS and then passed the CPA exam.
In 1985 she opened her own accounting firm, where
she still practices, at the Woodland Executive Center in
Spartanburg. The small firm handles payrolls, financial
statements, and tax returns for individuals, corporations,
estates, partnerships and other entities. “My education
at USC Upstate was a great investment for my future,”
she says, adding that she feels she received a very
good education for a reasonable tuition rate. A member
of the R&B Shag Club, Rita resides in Inman with her
husband, Gene, who also loves to shag. She has three
grandchildren whom she loves to spoil, she says.
1979
1
Freddie Wilson
F
A
Although
she planned to
graduate from USC Upstate
g
aand pursue a career using
her business administration
h
degree, and in fact was part
d
owner of three pharmacies
o
which were sold to Rite Aid in
w
1980, life took an unexpected turn for
18 University Review
Freddie Wilson. Her husband Jesse became sick with
a long-term illness so she never had the opportunity
to develop a career. She did, however, make room for
numerous volunteer activities, including serving a threeyear term as state president of the South Carolina
Congress of Parents & Teachers, a title which she refers
to as her biggest accomplishment. Additionally, she was
awarded the Order of the Palmetto in 2004 by Rep.
Lanny Littlejohn. Her other civic engagements include
judging flower shows and pursuing gardening initiatives
on the local and state level. She is also on the board
of the Mountain View Nursing Home. This native of
Charleston was one of eight children, has two children
and one grandchild, and is very proud of all their
accomplishments.
ac
('
Madora Holder
M
M
Madora
is now retired after
a twenty year career in
nursing that included jobs at
n
Doctor’s Memorial Hospital
D
in Spartanburg; Providence
Hospital in Columbia; Blue
Cross Blue Shield in Columbia and
Greenville; Kanawha Insurance Company in Lancaster;
and DHEC Home Health. A licensed practical nurse
for 20 years, she came to Upstate to get her RN degree
and graduated in 1981. Looking back on her education
at Upstate, two professors stand out in her mind:
“Nancy Babb, RN, and Juanita Thackston, RN, left
lasting impressions on me because they were excellent
teachers and good role models,” says Madora. In her free
time, Madora volunteers as the congregational nurse at
her church, Ben Avon United Methodist in Spartanburg,
and she enjoys exploring genealogy. She is a member
of the Daughters of the American Revolution, United
Daughters of the Confederacy and the Colonial Dames
organizations.
('
Teresa Hough
T
“I think I was an excellent
teacher,” says Teresa Hough
te
proudly. “I was Teacher of the
p
Year three times, Wal-Mart
Y
Teacher of the Year and in the
T
Who’s Who among Teachers
W
aand Educators,” she says.
Now retired, Teresa can look
N
back and appreciat
appreciate the difference she made in
apprecia
the lives of her students. “My greatest accomplishment
('
Bill Weathers
B
B was one of those students
Bill
who had a lot of fun during his
w
college years. A self-described
c
““average student,” after four
yyears of basketball — including
tthe first basketball district
championship—and two years
of Epsilon L
Lambda fraternity fun, he says
he was “thankful to graduate.” Dr. Earl Gordon, Dr. Olin
Sansbury and Dr. Tom Davis all provided significant
guidance, support and encouragement throughout his
USC Upstate career. Since graduating with a degree in
business administration with emphasis on information
management systems, Bill’s entire professional career
has been in the information technology field, either in
sales support or a sales executive role. He is currently
employed as a senior sales executive, responsible for
sales and account management, with SAS Institute, a
leader in business intelligence and predictive analytics
software. Bill lives in Alpharetta, Ga., with his wife Beth
and their 16 year old son. An outdoorsman in his spare
time, Bill enjoys lacrosse, basketball and tennis, and
even calls himself a “weekend gentleman farmer.”
('!
Sandra Faulkner
S
S
Sandra
has held one job since
graduating with a degree in
g
education with honors from USC
e
Upstate, and she has held that
U
ssame job for 25 years, teaching
ffrom 130 to 175 children every
yyear at Wren High School in
Anderson District
Dis
1 just outside Greenville.
When she graduated from the School of Education,
she was well prepared to “write lesson plans, deal with
administration, work with parents, help coach softball,
serve as newspaper advisor, yearbook advisor and stage
manager, attend staff meetings, perform hall duty…and
oh, yes, teach my subjects!” she quips. Sandra is very
proud of both her children: Todd served in the Navy and
is married to a teacher and has two sons, and Shannon,
who famously challenged The Citadel in 1995 for the
right to attend the all-male institution. Married for 44
years, Sandra is active in Bethesda United Methodist
Church, and has become a certified lay minister. As a
charter member of the Greenville Chapter of the Red
Hat Organization she is “devoted to fun” and “meeting
other women who will not let age change our outlook on
having fun and acting young, even if the calendar makes
mistakes.”
('"
Kathleen Elam
K
K
Kathlen
Elam came to
Upstate from New Orleans,
U
La., as a non-traditional
L
sstudent with three children in
high school. She remembers
h
being a determined student
b
who graduated with a 3.6
w
GPA and a BA in ele
elementary education. Kathleen
worked as an elementary school teacher for more than
22 years, and is now retired. In 1994, she was one of
the first six teachers in South Carolina to receive the
National Board of Professional Teaching Standards
Certification. Kathleen’s fondest memory of Upstate was
when she and another student were given an assignment
to portray themselves to the public as students with
special disabilities. She says she will never forget how
the public responded to them. “This realistic happening
gave me insights that remained all during my career as
an educator,” she adds. Two of Kathleen’s three children
are also graduates of USC Upstate.
Alumni Profiles
is knowing that I affected so many precious children in
my lifetime,” she says. Teresa appreciates her education
at Upstate and remembers Dr. Leo Bonner and his
amazing support and kindness he showed his students.
In her retirement, Teresa is teaching drama classes at the
Spartanburg Youth Theatre and when she is not teaching
or spending time with her family, she enjoys riding horses,
writing scripts and gardening.
('"
Claus Foerster
C
O
Originally
from Bobingen,
Germany, Claus Foerster
G
rreceived his BS in biology from
USC Upstate. Claus credits
U
Dr. Jack Turner, professor of
D
biology, with leaving a lasting
impression on him. He also
appreciates
pp ec at s “being encouraged to solve
problems on my own and being held accountable for
the decisions I made” during his time at Upstate. “While
I’m not using my degree in my career, the experience did
help me gain confidence and make a smoother transition
from academics to the real world,” said Claus. After
graduation, Claus worked as the regional supervisor for
a rental company for five years before moving into the
investment and financial planning industry. He handled
University Review 19
Alumni Profiles
the financial affairs for a group of families and private
foundations in the Southeast - first with J.C. Bradford
and then with Smith Barney. Claus recently became vice
president of Morgan Keegan, another financial planning
firm with offices in Greenville. But even as a successful
businessman, he counts his biggest accomplishment as
helping his wife, Laura, raise their two daughters. Claus
enjoys spending his free time fishing and hunting at the
family’s house in Seabrook.
('"
Patrick McLaughlin
P
A a member of the cross-country
As
team Patrick McLaughlin learned
te
tthat teamwork, consistency,
discipline and confidence were
d
kkeys to succeeding in life. “I still
use those invaluable principles
ttoday as a navy officer and
author,” said McLaughlin. “USC Upstate
allowed me to be a student-athlete and learn lessons
in both areas.” When asked about his fondest memory
of USC Upstate, McLaughlin said, “Easy! The people —
whether it was students or my teammates. In the early
1980s USC Upstate was smaller and the student body
was fairly close knit. It was a fun place to be as a student.”
Coming in a close second was his memory of setting the
USC Upstate course record in cross-country (25:43 for
five miles), making the all-district team and representing
the school in the NAIA national championships in 1982.
Having received a master’s in divinity and a master’s of
sacred theology, McLaughlin is currently a commander in
the Navy and the Second Marine Logistics Group Forward
Chaplain where he supervises 20 chaplains and religious
program specialists on three bases forward deployed in
the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. He also embarked upon
a career as an author with his first book, No Atheists
in Foxholes, was recently released by Thomas Nelson
Publishing.
('$
Danny Duncan
D
Landrum
L
native Danny Duncan,
who
w
graduated with a degree
in computer science, started
his
h own computer services and
consulting
c
company, Respect
Technology,
T
Inc. in November
2007. After spending 20 years
with Hamrick’s
Ham
and ASI, respectively,
performing various functions ranging from programmer
and customer trainer to hardware and software installer,
20 University Review
program writer and information services director,
his new company is offering computer services and
consulting, “from IBM iSeries to pc’s to networking
and anything in between.” Computers are not only how
he earns a living – they occupy his spare time as well.
In his free time as a student he enjoyed being in the
computer club, and today he spends his spare time
learning new computer programming languages and
techniques. Danny is married to Tammy and he has a
13-year old stepson. He stays involved with Five Forks
Baptist Church in Simpsonville and enjoys playing and
watching football with his son.
(''
Kelly Bryson
K
A
According to Kelly, she was
a typical student. “I always
rread ahead on the syllabus to
ssee how long I could put off
w
writing the required papers
aas it was my least favorite
academic task but overall, I
enjoyed the classes and interactions
with the classmates,” says Kelly who earned her BA in
early childhood education in 1998 and her M.Ed. in early
childhood education in 1997. “P.O.E.T.S. Days,” or Put
Off Everything ‘Till Saturday Days, are a fond memory
for Kelly, who says that the campus community would
get together on the Quad for these Friday afternoon
events. The late Dr. Bryan “Doc” Lindsay left a lasting
impression with Kelly who says that “he dared us to think
beyond our capabilities, face challenges, try new things,
think about other people’s perspectives in relation to
our own and to value ourselves and others.” For the
past 18 years, Kelly has worked at Burrough’s Child
Development Center, located on Upstate’s campus,
where she is responsible for supervising clinical
students, student teachers and supervising the center
when the director is absent. She says she feels a sense
of pride seeing young children learn and grow, and
seeing parents being able to complete their education
at Upstate while their children are attending the CDC.
In her leisure time she enjoys photography and painting.
“I like the challenge of recreating the images on canvas
and combining elements of my favorite photographs,”
says Kelly. This Little Chicago, S.C. native currently lives
in Inman, with her husband and their two dogs.
('(
Traci Farrington
Working as a pitching instructor, raising two children
and being a wife, Traci Farrington stays very busy. Since
('(
Rusty Williams
R
L
Listed
in the Wall Street Journal
aas one of the top 200 real estate
aagents in the nation for closed
ttransactions, and as a member
of the RE/MAX 2007 Hall of
o
Fame, Rusty credits his business
F
management degree from USC
Upstate as the “perfect match for working
in today’s real estate market and for operating a real
estate office that specializes in foreclosures and bank
owned properties.” Now a licensed realtor and broker
for RE/MAX in Spartanburg, this Spartanburg native
focuses on marketing, maintaining and disposing of
foreclosed bank assets in the Upstate as well as parts
of North Carolina. Rusty has six full-time assistants and
three work crews. Offshore boating and travel abroad
are his leisure-time hobbies, and he is involved with
Spartanburg Children’s Shelter, the Peace Center for
the Performing Arts, Hatcher Gardens and with USC
Upstate’s own Susan Jacobs Arboretum.
((
Victor Austin
V
It been a busy 18 years since
It’s
graduation for Greenville native
g
Victor Austin, who left USC
V
Upstate with a bachelor of
U
sscience in marketing. He has
worked for Fed Ex, Met Life, and
w
owned a Port City Java Coffee
o
House. He g
got married along the way and
has three children. Currently, he owns Palmetto Home
Care Upstate, a company that provides in-home care
to individuals who want to maintain an independent
lifestyle. Victor has served the Boy Scouts of America
on the board of directors and as district commissioner.
He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and
served two years as president of the African American
Association while a student and says that his years
at Upstate were marked by active and involved
participation.
((
Tracey Jackson
T
M
Many
USC Upstate students
have found that professors
h
can be a great connection for
c
fifinding summer internships
or research opportunities
o
aand even landing that first
jjob. Tracey Jackson is one
ssuch alumnae who launched
her successful career with the help of an Upstate
professor. A cum laude graduate in political science,
Jackson credits Dr. Ron Romine with helping her find
her first job as a campaign coordinator for the Harris for
House campaign. Tracey is now the executive director of
Piedmont Care, Inc. Located in Spartanburg, Piedmont
Care is a nonprofit organization providing HIV and AIDS
care, prevention and advocacy. Piedmont Care provides
outpatient medical care, medication, transportation,
nutrition, housing, insurance assistance and other
services to local community members living with HIV/
AIDS. Tracey considers the growth of Piedmont Care
as one of her greatest accomplishments. Under her
vision and leadership, Piedmont Care grew from a
volunteer-run clinic that was only open one day a week
to a full-time clinic with eight staff members. In addition
to her busy professional life, Tracey maintains an active
civic life, serving as treasurer of The Snail’s Pace, on
the family selection and support committee for Habitat
for Humanity, as a volunteer and member of Fernwood
Baptist Church, and as a member of the Board of
Advisors for USC Upstate’s Center for Women’s and
Gender Studies.
Alumni Profiles
he graduation from Upstate
her
with a BS in physical education,
w
sshe has worked as a physical
education teacher for all grade
e
levels, a back rehabilitation
le
sspecialist, and as a pitching
coach assistant for Upstate. Traci
c
currently works at Southeast
c
Region Fastpitch. She believes
her bigges
biggest accomplishments are being a
wife and mother, and influencing young people through
sports and making a difference at Upstate. She is
heavily involved in her community, but when she is not
working, volunteering or spending time with her family
she like to SCUBA dive.
((
David Miller
D
Banking is David Miller’s life
B
passion. While a student
p
aat Upstate, he founded
tthe University Business
Society with guidance from
S
Dr. Lilly Lancaster. After
D
graduating with a BS in
business admini
busines
administration with a concentration in
administr
University Review 21
Alumni Profiles
management, he worked fifteen years for four different
banks, going through the ups and downs of mergers
and acquisitions, management and culture changes.
He realized that along the way he had made excellent
connections and customer relationships that would
benefit from a bank with a simple motto: “The customer
comes first.” So, with partner Allan Ducker, Miller opened
CommunitySouth Bank & Trust, a bank with $340
million in assets that covers the Spartanburg, Greenville,
Greer, Anderson, Easley and Mauldin markets. With
85 employees and expansion plans on the table, the
president of this successful startup bank still has time
for his wife of 15 years, Sharon, their two children,
the Rotary and Sertoma clubs, as well as golfing and
SCUBA diving.
1991
1
JJayne Case
A
non-traditional
student
graduating with a 3.7 GPA,
g
JJayne Case claims that she
owes half her degree to her
o
husband because he took care
h
of the house and their two
o
children while she attended
USC Upstate to get her nursing degree. “I was
a Mary Black Memorial Hospital Scholarship recipient
for all three years so I had to keep grades high to retain
the scholarship,” says Jayne. She credits Professor Jim
Ferrell for his “gentle demeanor the helped students
to learn with less intimidation.” After graduation, Jayne
worked at the Mary Black Memorial Hospital. In 1996,
she began teaching at Spartanburg Community College.
Recently, Jayne received her master’s degree from
Clemson and is currently serving as the department’s
interim department head. She is very proud of her
two sons, Will and Nathan, and believes that raising
them to be successful men has truly been the biggest
accomplishment of her life.
1991
1
JJohn Feith
A a psychology major, John
As
Feith learned early on in his time
F
aat USC Upstate “that to ‘get
aalong and get ahead’ in the
workplace you have to be very
w
perceptive of what goes on
p
around you because there are
all sorts of formal and informal networks
in the workplace…and anywhere, really.” While many
psychology concepts make sense in the academic
setting, John’s professors were quick to point out that
22 University Review
applying those concepts to the workplace is not as cut
and dry. “They made me understand that the better I
understood these concepts, the better prepared I would
be in the workforce, managing a workforce and managing
workforce behaviors,” he said. John and his family live in
Dyersburg, Tenn., where he is CEO of a string of medical
clinics across West Tennessee. He uses the lessons
learned as a student daily in two of his most important
roles: hiring employees who can lead and work well in
teams, and staying accessible to his workforce. When
asked if any faculty left a lasting impression on him, John
says that he owes a great debt of gratitude to Dr. Jan
Griffin. “As a child, I had always struggled with school and
I was perfectly content to do the absolute minimum to get
by,” he says. “But when I met Dr. Griffin, she wouldn’t
let me slide by. After my first test in her class she pulled
me aside, looked me straight in the eye and basically
told me that she wouldn’t accept mediocre work from
someone who could do much better. If Dr. Griffin had
not intervened and persevered with me, I’m certain that
I would still be struggling for direction and living a much
different outcome.”
1991
1
Eric Hunter
E
F
Farming
was not the career
choice Eric Hunter had planned
c
while a student and baseball
w
player at USC Upstate.
p
But he did always have the
B
entrepreneurial spirit, even
e
while working post-graduation
w
management jobs in retail
m
and rest
restaurants. After he and his wife,
Kristi Ulmer, also a USC Upstate graduate, adopted
a son Ryan, now 11, Eric struck out in the strawberry
growing business on acreage near Easley in 1997 as a
part-time venture that would allow his wife to be a stayat-home mother. But when the “Hunter Farms” business
took off, he became a farmer full-time. A pumpkin crop
was added as well as the greenhouse business where he
grows bedding plants, and a corn maze soon followed.
While he began farming “with absolutely no experience
whatsoever – I had never in my life grown anything,” the
farm grew into a family affair with his wife and mother
employed full-time, and 15 – 20 part-timers employed at
the peak of the season. Always an athlete, Eric uses his
spare time to compete in triathlons both on the South
Carolina level, where he finished the year ranked ninth
for his age group, and on the international “Ironman” level
where he competed in Cancun, Mexico, and Clearwater,
Fla., last year. On Sundays, you can find Eric at Set Free
Christian Fellowship in Powdersville where he is a care
pastor and a teacher in the children’s ministry.
Michael Moton
M
A the jobs Michael has held
All
ssince graduating with a degree
in business administration with
a concentration in accounting
have been in the accounting
h
ssectors as a bookkeeper,
business analyst and financial
aaccountant. Recently, however,
he made
h
d a career switch
i h and is now employed by USC
Union as a transfer/career counselor where he advises
students with career choices and transfer opportunities.
Originally from McCormick County and currently residing
in Inman, Michael says that the “leadership opportunities
at Upstate gave me the practice and confidence to
meet most challenges” and that his service in student
organizations improved his interpersonal skills and
helped him meet his job expectations. He fondly recalls
Drs. Carson, Wiles, Drucker, Martino, Rector, Butler and
Clary and says that “overall, I enjoyed all my professors,
the staff and classes.” Other memorable moments
include seeing (and blushing at) the French Quarter
while in New Orleans for a Gamma Beta Phi convention,
winning the Earl Gordon Medal, and walking across the
stage to graduate. Married to Nikki, Michael is raising
a son, Shaquielle, now in the ninth grade. In his leisure
time, he enjoys listening to NPR, reading and “tinkering”
with his Web site muatas-quest.com.
1994
1
Shelly Butterfield
S
2
2005
was a momentous
yyear for Spartanburg native
Shelly Butterfield. She gave
S
birth to twins Beth Anne and
b
Zachary, and she opened her
Z
own business, a CPA firm
o
specializing in small business
ttax accounting. As the owner
of a growing Greenville firm that integrates accounting
and tax preparation and planning for entrepreneurs,
Shelly is in charge of “networking, human resources,
administration and sometimes washing dishes!” A nontraditional student who says that she was more serious
about college after her first attempt, Shelly credits Dr.
Diana Clary and Dr. Meyer Drucker for encouraging her
to succeed giving her practical advice to jump into her
career. Shelly has been married to Marc for 12 years,
and she is active in various civic groups including Dining
For Women, Downtown Sertoma Club and the YWCA.
1995
1
Carolyn Farr Smith
C
A
As
a
communications/
journalism major, “working on
jo
deadline” is a familiar phrase to
d
newspaper and TV journalist
n
Carolyn Farr Smith, who
C
graduated with newspaper
g
experience already under her
belt from working on the student-run
newspaper, The Carolinian. Her Carolinian experience,
in addition to Dr. Ray Merlock and Dr. Nancy Moore’s
friendship and advice, taught her the importance of
deadlines, “which has served me well in my career.” After
stints at The Union Daily Times as lifestyles editor and
the Spartanburg Herald-Journal as features editor, she
made a career switch to TV. As the assignment editor
at Fox Carolina news, she gathers and assigns news
stories to the reporters and photographers, monitors
various news sites for possible news stories, and talks
with members of the community about upcoming events,
possible story ideas and important issues to viewers.
Married with a two-year-old son, this Greenville native
also serves as chair of Piedmont Media Professionals,
president of Media Women of South Carolina, and on
the USC Upstate alumni board.
1996, 1997
1
S
Stacey
and Jackie
M
Mills
S
Stacey
and Jackie Mills
fifirst met in the Dean of
Students’ office where Jackie
S
was working as a student
w
aassistant. Married for ten
yyears with three children,
Stac
Stacey
is now a senior minister
at Mountain View Baptist Church in Greenville and a
teacher at Woodmont High School while Jackie teaches
biology at Eastside High School in Greenville. During
their time at USC Upstate, the couple was very active
in student life activities on campus, each serving as
president of student organizations and participating in
leadership development sessions. “We were exposed to
community and human service organizations which gave
us opportunities to work in the trenches with everyday
people who struggle to make life work for them,” they
said. “Those experiences, coupled with the faculty
and staff who pushed us to succeed, have given us a
sincere desire to give back to our community in many
ways.” In addition to the obvious highpoint of meeting
each other, the Mills’ count their involvement with the
search committee that brought Chancellor Stockwell to
Alumni Profiles
(("
University Review 23
Alumni Profiles
campus as one of their fondest memories. “That was a
historic event for USC Upstate and we were involved
with the search committees and the inauguration,” they
said. “It was an incredible time.” Stacey and Jackie
consider their work with young people in the community
to be one of their biggest accomplishments thus far.
“Our family backgrounds and personal experiences
have given us insight into potential obstacles that
keep people from achieving their goals,” they said.
“We partnered with Greenville Technical College at
our church last spring to offer a GED program in the
community. Twenty-two people enrolled in the class,
ranging in ages from 18 to 75. Watching those who
thought they couldn’t do it, prepare and take the GED
test was definitely rewarding.”
1997
1
school, worked 25 hours a week at his father’s business
and interned at Merrill Lynch for 10 hours a week for
two years, Hines feels that his degree in business
administration with a concentration in economics from
USC Upstate has helped him tremendously in the
financial planning and wealth management career field.
He worked his way up at Merrill Lynch from intern to
client associate to financial advisor, and then left in
2004 to help build the wealth management firm, Global
View, LLC, a company that now manages $130 million
for its clients. As a certified financial planner, he works
with individuals and business owners on retirement
plans, education funding, estate planning and asset
protection. Hines resides in Greenville with his wife and
when he has leisure time he enjoys reading, hunting
and fishing. He also serves on the USC Upstate alumni
advisory board.
Tim Drummond
T
T
Tim
Drummond was a nontraditional student in more ways
tr
tthan one. Drummond actually
sstarted his first business
before graduating. Currently
b
aan executive recruiter at his
company, Drum Up Personnel
c
located in S
Simpsonville, his experience at
USC Upstate was instrumental in laying the groundwork
for his successful career. “I wasn’t an excellent student,
but I understood the value of a quality education and
how it would benefit my career,” says Drummond. “I
was taught the necessary skills needed to become a
better business leader, a better manager, and better at
building sound business relationships.” During his time
at USC Upstate, Leon Wiles left an indelible impression
on Drummond. “Leon Wiles is very passionate about
helping students accomplish their goals. He always had
a positive attitude and a way of encouraging students to
do their best. He was definitely a role model,” Drummond
says. Drummond’s biggest accomplishment to date has
been obtaining his BS and MBA degrees. “It is very
important for me to be a role model for my two sons,” he
says.
1997
1
JJoey Hines
E
Every
college student likes
ttheir pizza and beer, but
when you use them to help
w
explain economic principles,
e
aas Dr. Duncan Bailey did for
Hines, “it allowed me to put
H
economics to use in real life
situations.” A nontradition
situations”
nontraditional student who commuted to
24 University Review
1999
1
Frank Allgood
F
F
Frank
Allgood may have been,
in his words “an average
[[high school] student with
aaverage grades,” but this
Earl Gordon Medal recipient
E
proved himself anything but
p
aaverage in his time at USC
Upstate.
U
t t After
Aft meeting
ti hi
his ffuture wife, Jeneane (formerly
Rekowski), during his senior year of high school, Frank
began taking education more seriously and became
very active in campus activities, University committees,
the Spartanburg community and the Pi Kappa Phi
Fraternity. “My experience was more than ink on paper
at the end of a four-year term,” said Frank. “I was taught
to be decisive, to be innovative, proactive and how to
be a team player. More than anything, I was taught how
to be a good leader.” Now the managing editor of GSA
Business, the bi-weekly business journal for Upstate
South Carolina, he credits his success in business with
the experience gained at Upstate. “Perhaps the greatest
challenge for most graduates is too many think in terms
of a job and not a career. And they are not prepared
to deal with corporate culture. My experience with
SGA, Pi Kappa Phi, other organizations and university
committees, as well as working as news editor for The
Carolinian, equipped me with the tools necessary to
succeed in business.”
1999
Kimberly Suber
While there have been plenty of changes in Kimberly’s
life since graduating from USC Upstate, such as
becoming a mom twice, earning a master’s degree in
!
!
Tonya Beaty
T
A teacher since graduating
iin 2000 with her master’s in
education, Tonya is currently
e
employed as a master teacher
e
at Houston Elementary School,
a 4K-6th
4K-6t grade school in the heart of
Spartanburg School District 7. Named Spartanburg
School District 7 Teacher of the Year in 2007-2008,
Tonya was surprised to receive the recognition for her
school and “totally floored” when she won for the entire
district. When Tonya came to Upstate for her graduate
degree she was working full-time as a teacher, and she
was a wife, mother and taking classes part-time. “I was
a hard worker. I could not afford to mess up, to fail any
classes, or to be slack about getting my post-graduate
degree because my family and career would suffer if
I took any longer than I did getting my degree,” says
Tonya. She credits Dr. Charles Love for contributing
to her success as a teacher because he “gave us
meaningful assignments that made us think on much
higher levels then we were used to…he was fun in
class but he was also serious about helping us become
better educators.” When she is not teaching, she is an
avid reader in her spare time. She also enjoys writing
poetry, and has recently written a teen novel that she is
lo
looking to publish.
!
!
Todd Hardy
T
In the eight years since
he
h graduated from USC
Upstate
U
with a bachelor of
science
s
in education, Todd
Hardy worked his way from
social
s
studies teacher up the
ranks to assistant
as
principal and is now
the principal of James F. Byrnes Freshman Academy in
Duncan. With a staff of 60, Todd is responsible for the
full operation of the school which is designed to provide
the “fundamental steps for successful transition into
high school” for students living in Spartanburg School
District 5. Todd remembers his time at USC Upstate
fondly, saying that Dr. Jim Charles was a mentor to
him along his non-traditional path through college, and
that he was well-prepared for his career due to the
“wonderful, practical knowledge” he gained here as a
student. Married for seven years, Todd has two children
and spends his free time enjoying his family, church,
reading and working out. Todd serves on the board
of directors for the Middle Tyger Community Center,
board of trustees for Piney Grove Baptist Church, and
was runner-up for the Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic
Leadership and Community
C
Change.
Alumni Profiles
te
teaching
school administration,
aand a move back to her home
town – she says that two
to
tthings have not changed. “At
USCS I was known for my
U
hair and shopping habits and
h
tthose habits have not changed
— I love shopping and being
ffabulous!” she says. Now
doctorate degree in education,
pursuing a doct
Kimberly is enjoying being the assistant principal at
Newberry High School, where she helps students “to
understand their purpose and once they understand
their purpose then they will know their possibilities.”
This former member of the USC Upstate Gospel Choir
proudly boasts that Newberry High has initiated its
own gospel choir, with students readying to travel to
New York for a competition. Dr. Warren Carson, who
directed Kimberly in the USC Upstate Choir, challenged
her to do more than just get by because “just enough
was not good enough.” Kimberly says that Dr. Carson’s
“confidence in my leadership skills and by sending me
to a leadership conference, inspired me to be who I
am today.” Kimberly graduated from USC Upstate in
1999 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a
concentration
in sociology and
co
criminal
justice.
cr
!"
!
Dan Collins
D
H
Having
attained the position of
director of global operations
d
ffor corporate security with
Fluor Corporation, Dan
F
Collins says that he had
C
much support along his
career
re path and
an ass a nontraditional
non
student at USC
Upstate. He attended classes year-round in the
evenings and worked full-time during the day, drawing
support from both Dr. Eb Barnes, professor of physics,
and his wife, Angie, who he says “was the sustaining
force of the family during those years of school.” The
scope of Dan’s job with Fluor, the world’s largest
publicly held engineering, procurement, construction
management and maintenance service providers, has
led him to travel abroad extensively, including trips to
Iraq and Afghanistan, to oversee security operations
for the company. But family comes first when he has
free time at home in Greer, where together they enjoy
University Review 25
Alumni Profiles
Gamecocks football games and boating. Dan received
a bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies.
!#
!
Cameron Haggerty
C
T
There
was no “getting one over”
on
o business professor Dr. Faruk
Tanyel,
T
Cameron remembers
fondly
f
about classes at Upstate.
“He
“
could see through a
bogus
b
presentation or sales
pitch like it was nothing and
he would not tolerate anything less
than a maximum effort. I remember thinking that he
was the worst thing that could ever happen to a soonto-be college grad!” says Cameron. But it was through
meeting the tough standards of his professors that led
this business administration major to accept and excel
at the challenges presented to him in the working world,
he feels. After working for Fairway Outdoor Advertising
as an account representative, he moved on to become a
sales rep for Signature Graphics, a company specializing
in production of large format graphics. He is based in
Alpharetta, Ga. Cameron grew up in Spartanburg but is
now enjoying all the cultural, sports and dining attractions,
as well as the numerous networking groups, available in
the Atlanta area.
!$
!
Travis Bryant
T
F Travis Bryant, two Upstate
For
faculty members made a
fa
lasting impression on him
la
iin his time at USC Upstate.
Laura Puckett-Boler, dean of
L
sstudents, “was there to give
me praise and encouragement
when need
needed,” he said. “Dean Boler
gave me an opportunity to make a big impact at USC
Upstate. It was great to have a faculty member that I
looked up to and received great advice from.” Dr. Tony
Pritchard, assistant professor of education, also made
an impact on Travis’ life. “He pushed me in every class
that I had with him. I was convinced that he was trying
to fail me,” he said. But, as it turned out, “the pushing
from Tony was exactly what I needed. I still hear his
voice in my head.” In addition to earning his degree in
physical education, Travis was very involved on campus
with a number of organizations and activities including
Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Orientation Leader, CAB and
Campus Recreation. Now an elementary physical
education teacher at Belleview Elementary School in
26 University Review
his home town of Rock Hill, S.C., Travis was recently
named the Elementary Beginning Teacher of the Year
for Rock Hill School District 3. In addition to teaching
kindergarten through fifth grade during the school day,
he also is the fifth grade teacher in the after school
program.
!$
!
April Dove
A
O
Originally
from southern
Virginia, April Dove moved to
V
Greenville with her husband
G
in 2003 and graduated from
USC Upstate two years
U
llater with a BA in sociology.
Now as a graduate student
working towards a Ph.D. in
w
sociology at USC Columbia,
Columb April feels her experience
at Upstate helped prepare her for the transition from
undergraduate to graduate work. While at Upstate, Dr.
Lizabeth Zack became April’s mentor and encouraged
her to pursue a graduate degree in sociology. April
remembers Dr. Zack’s classes as challenging the
students to be the best they can be. “I worked harder in
her classes than any others that I took,” said April. “She
was an excellent mentor. I’m glad to say that we are still
in contact and are very good friends.” In fact April and
Dr. Zack are working together on a research project they
began in her last year at USC Upstate and plan to send
the manuscript to a peer-reviewed sociology journal this
year. April also credits her husband, Nathan, for playing
an important role in her success. “He’s always been very
supportive of what I do and he is definitely one of the
driving forces behind my success so far. I appreciate
him more than I can say.”
!$
!
Laura Fowler
L
C
Currently
working at St. Louis
Children’s Hospital, named
C
tthe seventh best children’s
hospital in the country by
h
Child Magazine, nursing
C
graduate Laura Fowler is
g
extremely happy with her job.
““II slee
sleep well at night knowing that
I have made a difference in someone’s life,” says Laura.
Originally from Spartanburg, she found her calling in
Missouri at St. Louis Children’s Hospital where she
works with patients with congenital heart defects, or
who need heart and lung transplants. Laura looks back
on her education at Upstate and recalls a professor
who stood out from the rest: “Dr. Rush’s passion for
Upstate has made him a competent nurse, saying that
“USC Upstate helped me develop the skills necessary
to becoming a critical care nurse.” When he is not
working, a lot of his free time is spent in activities with
his five children. He also enjoys traveling, snow skiing
and hiking.
Compiled by Stephanie Bingham (‘07), Heather
Alexander-Engelbrecht and Claire Sachse
!$
!
B
Barbra
“Annie”
T
Trout
“ had a wonderful experience
“I
aat USC Upstate,” says this
Fountain Inn native who
F
graduated recently with a
g
bachelor of science degree in
nursing. The nursing program
was lilike a “close group of friends,
and it felt like my second family because we shared the
same interests and the same challenges,” she adds.
Upon graduation, Annie went to work part-time as a staff
nurse at Allen Bennett Memorial Hospital, which is part of
the Greenville Hospital System, on the medical/surgical
floor. A typical day for her could include everything
from a hysterectomy to a stroke patient to a total knee
replacement. Annie is also excited to be in the master’s
program at Clemson, having been encouraged by her
undergraduate nursing professors to pursue further
educational opportunities. She is also working part-time
as a clinical instructor at USC Upstate, where she takes
two groups of nursing students to Mary Black Hospital
to show them the fundamentals of nursing. Married with
three children ages 11, 9 and 18 months, Annie, who
now lives in Landrum, still finds time to exercise and stay
involved in the nursing ministry team at her church.
We want
to hear
fromYou!
In addition to sharing your news, births or marriages with us, we also want to hear about what
exceptional and interesting things our alumni are
doing. Please use the space provided for Alumni
News on the inserted envelope or e-mail information, updates and digital photos to: bwsmith@
uscupstate.edu.
Alumni Profiles
teaching was palpable, and her love of nursing was an
inspiration to many nursing students,” says Laura. Her
fondest memory of USC Upstate is being a work-study
student in the office of Alumni Affairs. Laura is currently
in graduate school working towards a master’s degree
in nursing education. She claims if she hadn’t had such
a “loving and supportive environment” from her family,
she would not be where she is today.
!%
!
Drew Fisher
D
D
Drew
excelled vastly while
obtaining his bachelor of
o
sscience degree in nursing
ffrom USC Upstate. He was
on the Dean’s list every year,
o
was selected president of the
w
Student Nurses’ Association,
S
aand received the School
of Nursing Leader
Leadership Award and the Dean’s
Award. After an eight-year stint in pharmaceutical sales,
he decided to change career paths and become a
nurse. He is currently working at the Greenville Hospital
as a nurse in the Coronary Care Unit. Drew believes that
University Review 27
Recent Events at USC Upstate
On the front cover: George Dean
an Johnson
Johnson, Jr
Jr. surveys the site on Saint JJohn
h St
Streett iin d
downtown
t
Spartanburg where ground will be broken this fall for the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College
of Business and Economics. The new facility will be located adjacent to the Chapman Cultural
Center in the Renaissance Park.
800 University Way
Spartanburg, SC 29303
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