Our Staff
Our dedicated staff enables SCICU to serve successfully South Carolina's independent colleges and universities. They are here to assist members, students and families, and the general public in all matters related to higher education.
Mike LeFever
President and CEO
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Mike LeFever was named President and CEO of SCICU on January 2, 2008. Prior to assuming his current position, Mike was a principal in MG&C Consulting Services, LLC, a governmental relations firm representing businesses, non-profits, and professional associations before the South Carolina General Assembly.
He has been the director of four different state agencies including thirteen years at the Workers’ Compensation Commission. Mike also served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Executive Office Programs and Cabinet Affairs in the administration of Governor Jim Hodges. A cum laude graduate of Presbyterian College (Clinton, SC), LeFever holds a masters degree in public administration from the University of South Carolina. He is the recipient of PC’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, a past president of the Alumni Association, and a former member of the Presbyterian College Board of Trustees.
Mike LeFever has served his profession and community in a number of leadership positions including president of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions and the International Workers’ Compensation Foundation, president of the South Carolina Agency Directors Organization, chair of the National Youth Work Alliance, and chair of the Center for Cancer Treatment and Research (Richland Memorial Hospital). The South Carolina Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration named him Public Administrator of the Year in 1986 and again in 2003.
He is married to Malissa Burnette, and the couple has one daughter, Grant, a student at Presbyterian College.
Eddie Shannon
Executive Vice President
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Eddie Shannon was named Executive Vice President of SCICU on October 1, 2008. Prior to assuming his current position, he was Executive Director of the South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission in Columbia, SC, since 1980. Under his leadership, the Tuition Grants Commission, a state agency that awards need-based grants to SC students attending in-state independent colleges, grew from a $9 million state appropriation in 1980 to over $35 million in 2008. Eddie’s previous work experience includes the SC Student Loan Corporation as a Guaranteed Loan Administrator and Coker College (Hartsville, SC), where he served in the Admissions and Student Financial Aid offices. Eddie is a 1975 graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. A 1994 graduate of the SC Executive Institute, he also completed the USC Moore Business School Executive Leadership Program offered by the State of South Carolina.
Brenda S. Torrence
Vice President for Business Affairs
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Brenda joined the SCICU staff in January of 1988, serving as an Administrative Assistant, then as Office Manager. Currently, as Vice President for Business Affairs, she manages all the accounting and financial functions of the organization, including the disbursements of scholarship and grant monies. Brenda also serves as the SCICU Secretary and Treasurer for the Board of Trustees and oversees other events and projects for the organization. Prior to joining the organization, she was Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager at First Union National Bank with responsibility for several Columbia branch locations. Brenda and her husband, Andy, reside in West Columbia, SC and have one son.
Tess Miller
Administrative Assistant
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Tess joined the SCICU staff in July 2011 as a part-time Administrative Assistant. As such, Tess assists the entire staff with yearly events and projects. Tess is a full-time student at the University of South Carolina majoring in Cardiovascular Technology. She is involved in the Guardian at Litem program in Lexington County, has been offered a position as a camp counselor for Camp Caglewood and loves serving her community. Tess resides in Columbia, South Carolina.