ORANGEBURG, S.C. (courtesy claflin.edu) — Claflin University Board of Trustee Member Rev. Dr. Robin Dease, ‘92, was elected a Bishop of the United Methodist Church during the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, on Thursday, November 3, 2022. She will be assigned to an episcopal area by the SEJ Episcopal committee effective January 1, 2023. Dease is the fourth Claflin alum to be elected a Bishop and she is a former chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Claflin University.

Rev. Dr. Robin Dease, senior pastor of St. Andrew By-The-Sea UMC in Hilton Head Island, was elected Thursday as a bishop of The United Methodist Church by delegates to the 2022 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.

Dease, who served as superintendent of the Hartsville District for eight years before her appointment as senior pastor of St. Andrew By-The-Sea, was born in Brooklyn, New York. After moving to South Carolina, she graduated from Claflin University in 1992. She earned a master of divinity degree and a doctor of ministry degree in stewardship from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Dease joined the South Carolina Conference in 1992, became a full-time local pastor in 1998, and was ordained an elder in 2001. Her pastorates include Wesley UMC in Johns Island (1998-2008), John Wesley UMC in Greenville (2008-2012), and St. Andrew By-The-Sea UMC in Hilton Head (2021-present). She also has served as superintendent of the Hartsville District (2013-2021), and in 2012, was interim chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Claflin University in Orangeburg.

Her appointment as senior pastor at St. Andrew By-The-Sea made her the first African-American woman to serve as lead pastor of a historically white United Methodist church in South Carolina.

Dease has been involved in numerous denominational and conference boards and committees, and has been active in other organizations in the communities where she has served (Ministerial Alliance, Chamber of Commerce, United Way Faith-Based Committee).

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (courtesy coker.edu) — Traditionally recognized within STEM fields, research has played a significant role in academic pursuits for students at colleges and universities. However, Coker University wanted to ensure all students had research opportunities in their field and recently created a new position dedicated to seeing that vision through.

Joseph Flaherty, a Coker biology faculty member since 2005, has helped pave the way for student research by obtaining multiple funding sources that allowed for new equipment, scholarships, paid summer internships, and additional opportunities for science students to explore the unknown. In his new role as Director of Research and Strategic Initiatives, Flaherty will continue helping to broaden opportunities for all students to engage in a mentored research experience during their time at Coker. He credits his experiences as an undergraduate student, where he had the opportunity to be mentored by faculty which led to a path to becoming a teacher-scholar. This lasting impression has led to a vision at Coker where all students have opportunities to engage with our faculty in a mentored investigation that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge, helping students prepare for future careers or graduate study.

Additionally, Flaherty will establish an Office of Research and Strategic Initiatives (ORSI) to support the bold research and mentorship strategy. This centralized leadership will raise awareness of new and existing support structures. These efforts will further promote faculty and staff commitment to research initiatives – leading to a high investment return.

Coker’s dedication to helping all students discover their leadership potential is critical in developing this research program. Coker President Dr. Natalie Harder shares, “many of the characteristics of strong leaders are replicated in completing credible research. One needs to be disciplined, thorough, thoughtful, unbiased, reflective, curious, and often patient.” Leadership isn’t optional at Coker – no matter where students find themselves during their four years, they will have many opportunities to define leadership for themselves.

DUE WEST, S.C. (courtesy erskine.edu) — Five Erskine College students attended this year’s fall session of the South Carolina Student Legislature Oct. 19-21. “It was a wonderful experience,” says sophomore Annaleah Gilreath of Aynor, S.C., a member of the Erskine delegation.

Traveling to Columbia, S.C., along with Gilreath were sophomore Katherine Andersen of Grayson, Ga.; senior Tome Filkov of Buffalo, N.Y.; senior Andrew Gaines of Honea Path, S.C.; and senior Derek Gill of Spring, Texas.

Three of the five delegates presented bills at the session. Andersen’s bill proposed capping the cost of degrees at public colleges and universities; Gill’s bill would require that those receiving unemployment benefits pass a drug test in order to collect them; and Gilreath’s bill would raise the minimum age for entering into a valid marriage.

Filkov served as president pro tempore throughout the session, and Gilreath was selected and presided as chief justice for the Moot SC Supreme Court case.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (courtesy allenuniversity.edu) — Allen University’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Lisa E. Long, is the 2022 recipient of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Chief Academic Officer Award. The award recognizes the significant support she extends to colleagues at independent colleges and universities.

Long has been active in many CIC-sponsored programs since 2015, including the annual Institute for Chief Academic Officers, the Executive Leadership Academy, and the Diversity, Civility, and the Liberal Arts Institute. As a member of CIC’s Chief Academic Officer Task Force, she has helped to focus attention on important topics such as leadership development for faculty and staff members, the role of HCBUs in the contemporary higher education landscape, civic engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

CIC now serves 690 independent colleges and universities, including liberal arts, comprehensive, four-year, two-year, and international institutions. In addition, more than 40 national, state, and regional organizations are Affiliate Members, and 26 state associations are State Council Members.