COLUMBIA, SC (courtesy benedict.edu) — Benedict College is pleased to announce that Ceeon Quiett Smith, PhD is one of 20 senior college administrators selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in the year-long Presidential Vocation and Institutional Mission program for prospective college and university presidents. The seminar-based program is designed to help individuals with the potential to serve as college and university presidents to clarify the alignment between their personal and professional values and goals and the missions of institutions that they might lead in the future. With a wave of retirements of university presidents on the horizon, it is especially important that individuals who become new presidents are well suited to the culture of the institution. The program aims to produce presidencies that are highly effective, long lasting, and satisfying to both the individual and the institution.

Participants, including Quiett Smith, will engage in two seminars, participate in consultations with experienced facilitators, and undertake a series of readings about the vocation of college presidents and the role of vision and mission in institutional leadership.

“The alignment of personal vocation and institutional mission emphasized in this program addresses a common pitfall of presidencies,” said CIC President Richard Ekman. “The program aims to help participants achieve great things for their institutions and to avoid being ‘the right person in the wrong place.’”

Smith has a unique combination of private and public executive experience coupled with academic leadership experience. Her research area involves a mixed method approach to investigating federal policies and new technology applications in crisis and risk matters. She has juried papers and conference presentations in crisis communication and framing narratives. Smith has taught courses in Homeland Security, Emergency Management and Crisis Communication. Smith is the first African American to earn a PhD from the Walter Cronkite School of Mass Communication at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona. She has served executive leadership experience in the City of Detroit and City of New Orleans (response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita); liaison for the U.S. State Department during the U.S. Donor Infrastructure Conference (Haiti earthquakes); and consultant to BP during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. As Chief of Staff for Benedict College, her portfolio includes Facilities Management, HR, IT, Communications and the Business Development Center.

“Dr. Smith is an integral part of Benedict’s executive leadership team. Her knowledge, skill and experience make her an ideal candidate for this development opportunity and I am confident that when the time is right, a higher education institution will be very fortunate to have her as its President or Chancellor.” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO, Benedict College.

The CIC program’s approach to the preparation of new presidents has proven highly successful in the period that the program has been operating. Since 2005, 60 program participants (33 percent) have been named to college presidencies—a very high rate of advancement among leadership development programs.

The program is directed by Frederik Ohles, Nebraska Wesleyan University president and CIC senior advisor. For more information about the Presidential Vocation and Institutional Mission program, which is generously funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., visit www.cic.edu/VocationMission.

GREENVILLE, SC (courtesy furman.edu) — Furman University is among 27 academic institutions that will receive funding from PepsiCo Recycling for campus sustainability efforts.

Now in its third year, PepsiCo’s Zero Impact Fund (ZIF) allows representatives of eligible colleges or universities to submit proposals to create or strengthen green initiatives on campus. A panel of judges then votes on the most impactful projects, with winners receiving up to $10,000 toward making those ideas a reality. Furman was the only school in South Carolina chosen to participation in the 2018-19 ZIF program.

Furman’s proposal, which addresses food waste and food insecurity, was recognized as one of the most unique projects among the winning group this year.

Furman’s project will assess the extent of food insecurity across campus among students and staff; look to limit over-ordering and over-production of food for catered events; develop and pilot a text notification system to redistribute excess food from catered events, particularly to those who are food insecure; expand and enhance a food recovery system for remaining foods from catered events to be distributed to a food pantry; and calls for composting any remaining food waste at Furman’s organic farm.

Wes Dripps, executive director of Furman’s David E. Shi Center for Sustainability, commented on the collaborative project between the Shi Center for Sustainability, Bon Appétit Management Company, The Furman Farm, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. “Food waste and food insecurity – two issues that appear to be at odds with each other – are growing problems on college campuses. National studies estimate that 22 million pounds of food are wasted each year on U.S. college campuses, yet 20 percent of students at four-year institutions report low food security. This project will take a comprehensive systems approach to addressing both of these issues at Furman,” he said.

“At PepsiCo, we believe that building a circular economy is the key to a sustainable future,” said Tom Mooradian, manager of environmental sustainability. “This year’s winning projects are largely focused on implementing circular economies on a small scale within college communities, demonstrating their impact in a highly tangible way. Projects of this scale within closed campus environments can create precedent and then build toward a model for implementation in wider society.”

PepsiCo Recycling aims to help colleges and universities pursue projects that will have long-term impacts on their communities, with the ultimate goal of closing the loop between environmental sustainability and economic stability.

Learn more about PepsiCo Recycling. For more information about Furman’s project, contact Wes Dripps at Furman’s David E. Shi Center for Sustainability at 864-294-3392, and weston.dripps@furman.edu.

ORANGEBURG, SC (courtesy claflin.edu) — For the third year, Claflin University is collaborating with Youth Service America and Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation to support Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 Filling Station through the Packin’ and Snackin’ program. The program helps to provide students in OCSD5, who struggle with finding meals on the weekends, with individual “snack packs” containing prepackaged foods.

“Believe it or not, a large percentage of students go home from District 5 with nothing to eat over the weekend,” said Carolyn Snell, assistant to the vice president of student development and director of career development at Claflin University. “A number of these students are dealing with a hunger issue, then they can’t perform well, and most of these students are students of color.”

Claflin students, faculty and staff donated food for the cause. The food donated for the snack packs consisted of canned goods, ramen noodles, fruit snacks, and other foods that do not require the students to use a stove to heat them.

Once all the food has been collected and weighed, it will be delivered to OCSD5’s warehouse and divided into the packs that are given out each Friday.

Program Coordinator for Service Learning and Community Service at Claflin University, Jabian Cooper said the university’s goal was to donate at least 900 pounds of food; however, with the support of the Claflin University family, 1,321.51 pounds of food (1,797 items) were collected instead. Cooper, Kendall McCleod, project leader; and Tonyetta McDaniel, assistant program coordinator and administrative assistant, organized this year’s collection of donations. There were 202 student and six faculty volunteers.

SPARTANBURG, SC (courtesy wofford.edu) -– Wofford College is among 25 institutions that will participate in the inaugural cohort of Humanities Research for the Public Good, an initiative to promote student research, to address issues of public significance and to showcase the rich archival, library and museum collections held by participating institutions.

The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) awarded the grant to support Wofford’s student-centered project, “Acknowledging Our Past: Race, Landscape and History.” The project allows for two student researchers to be trained in archival research, spending a semester researching the archives and special collections at Wofford’s Sandor Teszler Library and the college’s community partnering organization in the project, the Spartanburg County Public Libraries. Student researchers also will learn from and work directly with members of the Spartanburg community during their research. The project will culminate in a public exhibit designed and led by students to showcase their research in May 2020.

The project team includes: Dr. Rhiannon Leebrick, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology; Luke Meagher, special collections librarian in the Sandor Teszler Library; Brad Steinecke, assistant director of local history at the Spartanburg County Public Libraries; Dr. Phillip Stone, Wofford College archivist; and Jessalyn Story, director of Wofford’s Center for Community-Based Learning.

Wofford was selected to participate in the CIC initiative through a highly competitive application process, with nearly four applications for each available spot in the program. Each institution will partner with a community-based organizations to engage members of the public on a topic of local importance.

In announcing the Humanities Research for the Public Good initiative, CIC president Richard Ekman said, “Independent colleges are stronger when they share their resources with their communities – and so are their communities. These resources often include significant archival or library collections that can illuminate issues of real public importance. The institutions selected for the initiative, including Wofford College, will have much to share with their communities.”

Humanities Research for the Public Good is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

NEWBERRY, SC (courtesy newberry.edu) — Newberry College has promoted Dr. Sidney Parrish, Jr., to serve as Vice President for Academic Affairs, a role in which he has served on an interim capacity since July 2018. Parrish, a resident of Chapin, S.C., will assume the permanent appointment effective immediately.

“I want to thank the VPAA search committee for their time, commitment and expert analysis,” said Newberry College President Dr. Maurice Scherrens. “We had a significant number of highly qualified candidates and the committee served the College well in assisting me in making this most important selection.”

In his role as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Parrish will provide leadership and administrative oversight for all instructional programs and related academic support services provided by the College.

“Dr. Parrish has worked hard to provide the consensus-building leadership this position requires,” said Philosophy and Religion professor Dr. Mike Beggs, who chaired the VPAA search committee. “Throughout the evaluation of 75 applicants, Dr. Parrish’s efforts and accomplishments set him apart among the very best candidates. His knowledge of the history and values of the College, combined with his understanding of the president’s vision for Newberry, made him an excellent choice. I am eager to share in the benefits of his new role and to witness his personal and our communal growth as we continue this journey together.”

Parrish will provide leadership for faculty that encourages outstanding teaching and development of a curriculum focused on student academic and career outcomes. Parrish will oversee classroom technology initiatives that enhance student learning. He also will provide strategic leadership for Newberry’s focus on student retention and persistence.

“As we continue to build bridges between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, I look forward to working with Dr. Parrish to provide the best student experience both inside and outside the classroom,” said Dr. Sandra Rouse, Dean of Students.

Parrish earned both his Ph.D., and Master of Science degrees in Physical Chemistry from the University of Florida and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Furman University. He brings 19 years of experience in higher education to the position.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve our students, faculty and staff in this new role,” Parrish said. “I look forward to continuing our collaboration as we discover new opportunities, tackle new challenges and identify new programs and partnerships that will help the College remain competitive and create the best outcomes for our students.”

Parrish began his teaching career as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Midland Lutheran College (2000-2005) in Fremont, Neb., moving to a position of the same rank at North Carolina Wesleyan College (2005-2006) in Rocky Mount, S.C.

Parrish joined the Newberry College faculty in 2006, serving as full-time faculty, earning tenure and achieving the rank of associate professor. Parrish joined the administration in 2012 as the Executive Director for Institutional Effectiveness. He has served the College as both Faculty Athletic Representative and Title IX Coordinator. In 2015, Parrish was promoted to Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives and continued to teach part-time through 2016.

“Dr. Parrish has been forthright in his work with the Board of Trustees’ Academic Affairs Committee on important issues from the faculty and student perspective,” said Board member Dr. Lenna Young. “I have no doubt that his strong commitment to the College’s talented and dedicated faculty and students will continue to effectively lead the positive direction of Newberry College.”

During the past five years, Parrish has played an integral role as the SACSCOC accreditation liaison and assisting the Board of Trustees in their annual review and update of the College’s strategic plan. He will continue to serve as the Administration’s point person to the Board’s Strategic Planning committee. Parrish also has been instrumental in developing and refining a financial aid matrix that has facilitated student enrollment growth over the past seven years.

“Sid is an excellent choice for this critical leadership position,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Robert Best. “His results have been noteworthy to the Board and we look forward to his continued contributions.”

TIGERVILLE, SC (courtesy ngu.edu) — It’s official: Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr., has wrapped up his first year as president at North Greenville University!

Wondering what NGU’s been up to since he arrived? Here are the highlights.

125th Anniversary Celebration and Presidential Inauguration – Fant took office on June 1, 2017, just as the 125th Anniversary Celebration at NGU was beginning, which included a slew of special events that culminated in his official inauguration on April 13, 2018. Among the nearly 1,000 attendees at the inauguration were Fant’s relatives and friends, NGU family, and delegates from more than 22 fellow universities.

Unit G Renovation – Last fall, NGU’s Campus Enhancements team did a total remodel of Unit G, a residence hall for male students that now boasts new electrical, heating and air, flooring, LED lighting, roofing, furniture, and more. NGU hopes this will be the first of many residence hall remodels as funding becomes available.

Dillard Field – Ashmore Park is underway, a project that will add a new 700-seat athletic stadium, residential options, and recreational spaces to NGU’s Tigerville campus. Phase one included a complete reworking of the newly named Dillard Field, where NGU hosted its first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II regional baseball tournament in May.

Martin Timothy Brashier Graduate Scholars Program – Made possible by a gift from the T. Walter Brashier family, Fant has introduced the Martin Timothy Brashier Graduate Scholars Program to provide scholarships to residents of Upstate South Carolina and NGU alumni who are enrolled in one of NGU’s online undergraduate or graduate programs.

Mary Black School of Nursing Partnership – Through a new partnership with the Mary Black School of Nursing at the University of South Carolina Upstate, NGU biology majors can now earn a dual degree in nursing within just five years. NGU’s new biology and nursing degree is intended to meet the growing demand for nurses in the state.

Campus Safety – Fant has also worked to improve campus safety at NGU by adding additional lighting throughout campus, better vehicles and training for Campus Security officers, and new safety measures such as Nightlock devices for faculty and staff to use during emergency situations.

Red Carpet Gala – The NGU family gathered last October at the Poinsett Club in downtown Greenville, SC, for a Red Carpet Gala to celebrate the community that has nurtured the institution for the past several decades. At the event, the university recognized donors who have shown exemplary service, commitment, and a lifetime of giving to NGU.

Chick-fil-A Restaurant – Under Fant’s leadership, NGU has opened a brand new Chick-fil-A at its Tigerville campus. The restaurant officially opened on Aug. 15, 2018 — just in time for the start of the 2018-19 academic year.