2023-24 Board of Directors
Officers
To contact a member of our Board of Directors, please email alumni@cofc.edu.
Elizabeth Colbert-Busch ’79
President
Mount Pleasant, SC
AA Board Service: 2015-present
BA, Fine Arts, College of Charleston
Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters, College of Charleston
Elizabeth Colbert-Busch is the Managing Partner of Colbert Busch LLC, a consulting firm that focuses on the nexus of academia and the business world. She is currently working for the SC Aeronautical Training Center at Trident Technical College. Ms. Colbert-Busch previously served as the Executive Director of Business Development and Community Engagement for the Clemson University Office of Academic Affairs in the Charleston area. From 2008-16, she was Director of Business Development for the Clemson University Restoration Institute, also in Charleston. In 2013, she took a leave of absence to run in the special election for the SC 1st Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before her tenure with Clemson University, she spent a 20-year career with Orient Overseas Container Line Incorporated where she progressed from Customer Service Representative to North America Regional Sales Director.
She has served on more than a dozen boards and community organizations and has earned numerous awards and special recognitions throughout her career. Most recently, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from the College of Charleston. Since running for Congress, Elizabeth has become a prolific public speaker, addressing audiences throughout the Palmetto State and around the Southeast.
Affiliations: SC Aquarium Board of Directors; American Technical Education Association Board of Directors; Increasing H.O.P.E. Women’s Business Center Advisory Board; School of Arts Advisory Council; Chi Omega; Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board of Directors; SC Association for Community Economic Development Board of Directors; Charleston School of Law Maritime Institute’s Board of Directors; Lowcountry STEM Collaborative Planning Group; Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors; DOE Southeast Regional Wind Resource Center; S.C. Regulatory Task Force Committee for Offshore Wind; Charleston Regional Development Alliance Stakeholder Committee; Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Action Fund’s Offshore Wind Awareness and Advocacy team; Former Chairman, S.C. Maritime Association; South Carolina International Trade Conference; and College of Charleston’s Intermodal Transportation and Logistics Management Program Advisory Committee.
Derrick L. Williams ’99
Past President
Columbia, SC
AA Board Service: 2014-present
BA, English, College of Charleston
Juris Doctor, University of South Carolina
As a founding partner with Williams & Roche, Derrick’s practice is devoted to representing injured workers and serving as a mediator for all civil litigation matters. Derrick is a member of the National Academy Distinguished Neutrals; he is also a certified mediator. Mr. Williams is a former Commissioner on the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission and was one of the youngest to ever serve in that capacity. He and his wife, Alana, live in Columbia, and they have two daughters, Regan and Deana.
Affiliations: College of Charleston Honors College Advisory Board; College of Charleston Foundation Board; Central Carolina Community Foundation Board member; John Belton O’Neall American Inn of Court; Past President, Riverbanks Zoo Society; South Carolina Board of Law Examiners; Richland County Bar Association Executive Committee Member; former member, College of Charleston Attorney Assistance Program; former CofC Cross Country and Track Team Captain.
Laurie Minges ’83
President-Elect
Mount Pleasant, SC
AA Board Service: 1997-2001, 2020-Present
BA, French, College of Charleston
A longtime member of the Charleston residential real estate community, Laurie Minges is a Broker for Dunes Properties. Over her 25+ years in the business, Ms. Minges was instrumental in the growth of Mt. Pleasant’s I’On neighborhood, and owned Places Real Estate from 2005-2016. She and her partners merged Places with Dunes Properties in 2016, and Ms. Minges continues to represent buyers and sellers in the Charleston area.
While at the College, Ms. Minges was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She worked in the Admissions and Alumni offices and served as a Student Alumni Ambassador. Ms. Minges has volunteered for the College in various roles over the years and remains eternally enthusiastic about her Alma Mater.
A native of Camden, SC, Ms. Minges has lived in the Charleston area for nearly three decades. She currently resides in Mount Pleasant with her daughter, Lucy.
Affiliations: Delta Delta Delta Charleston Alumni (Past President, House Corporation Board Member); Ashley Hall School; Grace Episcopal Cathedral; the Junior League of Charleston; Gibbes Museum of Art Women’s Council; and The Carolina Assembly.
Linda Swain Crabbe ’78
Vice President
Sumter, SC
AA Board Service: 2018-present
BS, Biology, College of Charleston
Doctor of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina
Pediatric Residency, USAF Keesler Medical Center, MS
Developmental Pediatric Fellowship, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, OH
Dr. Crabbe has lived in Sumter for 30 years and currently practices medicine at Tandem Health. Her patients are children with special needs, developmental disabilities, learning, and behavioral problems. Her husband, Mark, a 1977 graduate of The Citadel, practices surgery at Prisma Health Tuomey. They love living in a small town and have enjoyed raising their four daughters and now spending time with their ten grandchildren.
Affiliations: 1770 Society, Chi Omega, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Sumter Clarendon and Lee Medical Society, Sumter Junior Welfare League, YMCA Board, Covenant Place Board, High School Track Coach and past recipient of the DHEC Physician of the Year Award.
Catherine Sandlin Dority ’99
Vice President
Charleston, SC
AA Board Service: 2019-present
BA, Communication, College of Charleston
Masters of Tourism Management, Temple University
Ms. Dority is the Director of Marketing for Explore Charleston, also known as the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, where she has worked for more than 20 years. She is responsible for the coordination and implementation of their advertising and marketing plan to attract leisure and group businesses to the Charleston area. Ms. Dority and her husband, Roland Dority ’91, reside in Charleston with their daughter, Simmons. The Dority family are members of Grace Church Cathedral in downtown Charleston.
Affiliations: Member of Board of Directors for the SC Restaurant and Lodging Association; former member of the National Board of Trustees of the Institute for Organizational Management of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; member of SC Association of Tourism Regions; member of the SC Travel and Tourism Coalition; member of the Southeast Tourism Society; former board member of the College of Charleston Cougar Club; former member of Governor Sanford’s Budget Task Force; and Delta Delta Delta Sorority.
Kirk E. Moore ’84
Vice President
Sewell, NJ
AA Board Service: 2018-present
BS, Business Administration, College of Charleston
Mr. Moore is President and Chief Executive Officer of TW Metals, Inc., a global full-line specialty metals distributor headquartered in Exton, PA. He has held the positions of Vice President, Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer at the company since joining it in 2002. He began his career in public accounting and transitioned to Manager of Financial Reporting for both MEDIQ and PCI. He became corporate controller for Owosso Corporation in 1997.
He has been married to Patty Fralinger ’84 for 32 years. They have three daughters and a son. Their oldest daughter, Caitlin, graduated from the College in 2010 and their second daughter, Allison, graduated in 2016.
Miwako “Mimi” A. Striplin ’14
Vice President
Charleston, SC
AA Board Service: 2018-present
BA, Communication, College of Charleston
Ms. Striplin is the owner of The Tiny Tassel, a jewelry, clothing, and accessories brand and retail store based in Charleston, SC. She is a former President of the Student Alumni Associates 2013-14, and former vice president of Omicron Delta Kappa 2013-14. Ms. Striplin is originally from Spartanburg, SC and has lived in Charleston for the past 10 years.
Affiliations: Student Alumni Associates; Omicron Delta Kappa; Leadership CofC; Charleston Visitors Bureau; and The Rising Tide Society Summerville co-leader.
Brianna Sabacinski ’16
Executive Secretary
North Charleston, SC
Committees: Executive Committee; Ex Officio Member of all committees
Bachelor of Arts – Communication
Affiliation: Kappa Alpha Theta
Board Members
Lancie A. Affonso ’96, ’08
Board Member
Charleston, SC
AA Board Service: 2020-present
BS, Business Administration, College of Charleston
MS, Computer Information Science, College of Charleston
Master of International Business (MIBS), University of South Carolina
Professor Affonso is a Senior Instructor with a joint appointment in Computer Science and Management and Marketing at the College of Charleston. He serves as the Director of the Data Science BS Program and as the Honors Faculty Fellow and director of the freshmen Honors Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community. He has two children, Malaika and Amani.
Affiliations: Honors College, International Club, Association of Computing Machinery
Morgan L. Best ’12
Board Member
Charlotte, NC
AA Board Service: 2020-present
BS, Psychology
MBA, The Citadel
Master of Health Administration, Medical University of South Carolina
Ms. Best currently resides in Charlotte, NC, where she serves as the Founder and Managing Consultant of M.L. Best Consulting. M.L. Best Consulting is a minority- and woman-owned and operated executive to mid-level leadership search and career development firm with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the core of its values.
She spent many years delivering top talent through seamless, client-focused service to companies within the Healthcare, Government, CPG, Technology, and Private Equity spaces. Prior to starting her own firm, Ms. Best served as the Healthcare practice leader responsible for client development and full cycle recruiting within an executive search firm and led recruitment and retention for a large health system.
She has a proven track record of building meaningful, long-lasting relationships with both candidates and clients by delivering high-quality service in an efficient manner to support her clients’ organizational strategy, mission, and vision. She is also the proud owner of IIXC Clothing Boutique which provides chic clothing and accessories for women.
Affiliations: National Association of Health Service Executives; American College of Healthcare Executives. While at the College of Charleston, Morgan was a member of groups that promoted recruitment, retention, and engagement of diverse students on campus.
Liz Boyer Caldwell ’85
Board Member
Fort Lauderdale, FL
AA Board Service: 2021-present
BS, Business Administration, College of Charleston
Over the course of a multi-decade career that has generated more than $1 billion in sales, Ms. Caldwell has earned her reputation as a top-tier real estate professional and leading voice in the industry for South Florida. She currently works at Compass Florida, LLC. Formerly with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, she was the top sales agent in the Weston office for four years, was named a member of the Presidential Advisory Council, and was honored with Coldwell Banker’s Premier. During her tenure with Esslinger Wooten Maxwell, a Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate, Ms. Caldwell was acknowledged as the top Broward County agent for 10 consecutive years. Starting in 2014, she received annual recognition as a Christie’s International Real Estate Luxury Specialist. She was recruited in 2015 by Premier Estate Properties, a Christie’s International affiliate that only sells properties with values exceeding $1 million. Ms. Caldwell is also a founding member of the Master Brokers Forum, serving on the Advisory Board as Membership Chair. Since 2010, she has hosted a local ABC 10 real estate news show about the South Florida market.
Affiliations: Delta Delta Delta; Resident Assistant; Broward County Chapter of the American Red Cross Board; Broward County’s Tiffany Circle of the American Red Cross (co-chair); Junior League of Greater Ft. Lauderdale (sustaining member); Junior Welfare Society; Jack Jill Friends Board, St. Thomas Aquinas High School Foundation Board; Executives Association of Fort Lauderdale; and Parent Association Board of the University of San Diego.
Bryan H. Eastman ’99
Board Member
Atlanta, GA
AA Board Service: 2020-present
BS, Business Administration, College of Charleston
Mr. Eastman is a founding partner and President of Stokesman Luxury Homes, a custom home building company in Atlanta. He previously worked for IBM, also in Atlanta, where he lives with his family, which includes one son, Gavyn.
Mr. Eastman is a Volunteer Pilot for Angel Flight Soars, Inc., where he invests his own pilot time and plane to provide transportation for patients in need of medical treatment far from home.
Affiliations: Sigma Phi Epsilon; Past President, Atlanta CofC Club.
Otis E. Engelman Jr. ’69
Board Member
Summerville, SC
AA Board Service: 2021-present
BS, Chemistry, College of Charleston
Doctor of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina
Family Medicine Residency, U.S. Naval Hospital, Pensacola, FL
Dr. Engelman lives in Summerville, SC, with his wife, Debbie, where they raised their two children after he left active duty in the Navy. He practiced Family Medicine for 36 years and was a founder of Palmetto Primary Care Physicians. He now practices with the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.
Affiliations: Pi Kappa Phi; The Cistern Society; Sculpture in the South.
Sarah L. Exell ’07
Board Member
Johns Island, SC
AA Board Service: 2020-present
BS, International Business, College of Charleston
BA, French, College of Charleston
Ms. Exell is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch. Starting her financial services career in New York in 2007, she has worked in different capacities within the industry including analytical and trading support roles as well as banking and financial advising. Ms. Exell is an active part of the local art community and lives on Johns Island with her husband, Eric Boettcher.
Affiliations: Board member, CofC Student Affairs Board of Advocates; Past President, Student Alumni Associates; Senior Class President ’07; past recipient ExCEL Student of the Year, School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs.
Kelli Garrett ’89
Board Member
Mount Pleasant, SC
AA Board Service: 2022-Present
BS, Physical Education, College of Charleston
Ms. Garrett began her professional career the day after graduating from college with an entry level position at United Parcel Service. She quickly moved up the ranks of the company, and within a couple of years was promoted to Operations Manager where she oversaw an entire UPS center with over 200 employees. With a knack for turning under-performing centers into highly effective ones, Ms. Garrett was transferred to multiple facilities during her career at UPS. Eventually, she was transferred to New Jersey and promoted to Division Manager where she was over multiple centers and 1,000+ employees. With a longing to return to South Carolina and a dream to become an entrepreneur, Ms. Garrett left UPS in 2000 after 12 years of service.
Since leaving corporate America, she has owned and operated multiple successful businesses including a mortgage company, a candy manufacturing company, an appraisal company, multiple convenience stores, a restaurant, a landscaping business, and a courier company, among others. Her current businesses include a real estate rental portfolio, a residential and commercial rehabbing business, and a hard money lending business called Rehab Wallet. Ms. Garrett’s strong work ethic, dedication to treating people fairly, and ability to recruit great talent has brought much success to all her business ventures over the past 30+ years.
A native of Easley, SC, Ms. Garrett was on the College’s Women’s Basketball Team from 1985-89 and was a four-time All American honoree. She is in the Hall of Fame at Easley High School as well as at the College of Charleston, where her #14 jersey hangs in the rafters of TD Arena as the Women’s Basketball all-time leading scorer. She and her wife of 20 years, Sunshine Garrett, reside in Mount Pleasant.
Daniel Gentry ’84
Board Member
Pensacola, FL
AA Board Service: 2022-Present
BS, Biology, College of Charleston
MHA, Medical University of South Carolina
PhD, Health Services & Policy Analysis, University of California, Berkeley
Dr. Gentry is President and CEO of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) in Washington, D.C. Previously, he held faculty and academic leadership positions at Saint Louis University, Rush University Medical Center, the University of Memphis, and the University of Iowa. Dr. Gentry has taught in the areas of health policy, health systems, healthcare management and leadership, and professional development. His research has included the financing, organization, and delivery of health services; health policy; the patient experience; and, the transition to new healthcare payment models.
Dr. Gentry has served in chapter leadership for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) in three regions of the U.S. and as Chair of ACHE’s LGBTQ Forum. He is a past Fellow, Board Member, and Board Chair of Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; and, a past and current Board Member of AUPHA. Dr. Gentry is a past Chair of the St. Louis Federal Club for the Human Rights Campaign.
A native of Greenville, SC, he joined Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and was active in the Student Government Association while at the College. Dr. Gentry resides in Washington, D.C., and Pensacola, FL, with his husband, Patrick Dunn, and their dog, Bentley.
Trey Harvin ’92
Board Member
Roswell, GA
AA Board Service: 2022-Present
BS, Business Administration, College of Charleston
MBA, Georgetown University
Mr. Harvin is Partner and COO of Quantum Technology Solutions, a revolutionary platform for testing capital markets algorithms in Atlanta, New York City, London, and Hong Kong. A native of Sumter, SC, he played on the College’s Men’s Basketball team from 1987-1991, serving as a Captain in 1991. Mr. Harvin was also a Presidential Scholar and served as academic officer in Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity while at the College. He earned his MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in 1999 and was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. While at Georgetown, Mr. Harvin participated in graduate studies programs at Trinity College of Oxford University in the UK. He and his wife, Michelle, are the proud parents of four children and reside in the Atlanta area.
Chanele Henry Jackson ’87
Board Member
Indian Land, SC
AA Board Service: 2022-Present
BS, Business Administration, College of Charleston
MBA, Queens University
Ms. Jackson is a Business Process and Implementation Manager for Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. After graduating from the College with a BS in business administration, she earned an MBA from Queens University in Charlotte, NC, in 1993. She also has a professional certification in Process Risk and Oversight from the University of North Carolina. A native of Georgetown, SC, Ms. Jackson has been an ambassador for the Cougar PAWS program since graduation, representing the College at high school fairs and hosting receptions for early acceptance students and families. She has partnered for three years with the Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Services to share her passion for financial literacy and provide information to students and parents about saving for college, budgeting, and managing debt. Ms. Jackson has donated to the College consistently for the past 25 years. Last year, she established a scholarship for the N.E. Miles Early Childhood Development Center. She is a Cistern Society member, providing for future students with a planned gift.
Affiliations: Chair, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Charlotte region; Board member, Catholic Charities, Charlotte Diocese; Member, National Association of Black Accountants (NABA); NABA Charlotte Chapter continuing professional education presenter and nominee for national service award; Past Board member and current adviser to the CEO of Right Moves for Youth; recognized by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as a Hands on Banking – Financial Education Champion and for the launch of the “Teach Children to Save” curriculum in high schools in Charlotte; Partnered with the Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Library System to initiate a financial literacy summer camp and a youth financial literacy program.
Ceth W. Land ’94
Board Member
Manning, SC
AA Board Service: 2020-present
BA, Political Science, College of Charleston
Juris Doctor, University of South Carolina
Mr. Land has spent his career dedicated to law. After completing law school, he spent the early part of his career as the Law Clerk for Circuit Court Judge L. Henry McKellar. In 1998, he joined the law firm Land Parker Welch LLC as a partner where he currently practices. His primary areas of practice are personal injury, family court, and criminal court.
He and his wife, Amy Anders Land, reside in Manning, SC, with their three children James Ceth Land, Carolina Elizabeth “Bitsy” Land ’20, and William Anders Land.
Affiliations: Pi Kappa Phi; Clarendon School District Two Board of Trustees 2004-Present (Board Chairman 2009-11, 2020-2021); Clarendon County Disabilities and Special Needs Foundation, Foundation Chairman 2009-Present; Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, Board Member 2016-Present; Clarendon County Community Development Corporation, Board Member 2009-Present; Congaree Land Trust, Board Member 2017-Present; Clarendon County School District Board of Trustees, 2021 (Board Chairman 2021).
Brianne Steiner Libby ’07
Board Member
Aiken, SC
AA Board Service: 2022-Present
BS, Anthropology, College of Charleston
BA, Biology, College of Charleston
Juris Doctor, Charleston School of Law
Ms. Libby is an Assistant Public Defender in the 2nd Circuit Public Defender’s Office in Aiken, SC. Prior to that, she was a Law Clerk in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. While at the College, she was in the Honors College and was a member of Alpha Chi Sigma national chemistry fraternity and the Pep Band. Ms. Libby has served as President of the Aiken/Augusta CofC Club. She is a member of the Supreme Court Bar and the Georgia Bar, and is an ordained minister. Ms. Libby and her husband, Chris, reside in Aiken, SC, where they love entertaining their family, friends, and neighbors.
Forest E. Mahan ’93
Board Member
Aiken, SC
AA Board Service: 2020-present
BA, History, College of Charleston
MA, History, University of South Carolina
PhD, Higher Education Administration, University of South Carolina
Dr. Mahan is the President of Aiken Technical College. With 25 years in the South Carolina Technical College System, Dr. Mahan began as a history instructor at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College and later became Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Northeastern Technical College before arriving in Aiken. Focused on the mission to provide affordable, accessible higher education to the greater Central Savannah River Area, Dr. Mahan champions the development of a highly skilled workforce to serve the industries in the region.
Affiliations: South Carolina Chamber of Commerce; Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce; Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness; Aiken County United Way; Savannah River Site – Community Reuse Organization; Rotary Club of Aiken; Aiken Performing Arts; South Carolina Technical College Association; and 1770 Society.
James W. “Jamie” Moon IV ’90
Board Member
Greenville, SC
AA Board Service: 2022-Present
BA, Political Science, College of Charleston
MA, International Affairs, American University
Mr. Moon is the President and CEO of the Institute for Child Success, where he oversees the organization’s mission, operational and strategic direction focusing on early childhood education, health, and wellbeing. He earned his BA in political science from the College of Charleston and MA in international affairs from The American University in Washington, D.C. Mr. Moon currently serves as the Chair of Together SC’s Advocacy Allies and is a founding Board member of the Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative. He also serves on the capacity building grants committee of the Greenville Community Foundation, the United Way of Greenville County’s Community Impact Council, and the Sisters of Charity SC Kinship Care Advisory Council. A graduate of the Riley Institute at Furman University’s Diversity Leaders Initiative, Mr. Moon formerly served on Advisory Board member for Clemson University’s Elementary and Early Childhood Education Programs, and on the Advisory Board of the Early Childhood Development program at Greenville Technical College. He is a past recipient of the SC Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Child Advocate Award.
Mr. Moon lives in Greenville, SC, with his wife, Sommer, and their four children, Jack, Grant, Merrick, and Claire.
Ashley B. Nance ’02
Board Member
Florence, SC
AA Board Service: 2020-present
BS, Business Administration, College of Charleston
Juris Doctor, Charleston School of Law
Mr. Nance is an Attorney in Florence, SC, and is a shareholder in the law firm King, Love, Hupfer & Nance, LLC. The primary focus of his practice is on personal injury cases arising from motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, and premises liability matters. He also represents clients in criminal cases, family law matters, and agricultural cases. He and his wife, Danielle Blaker Nance, have two children, Blaker and Eloise.
Mr. Nance is very active in the Florence community. He is a founding member of the Pee Dee CofC Club and has served as President. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Florence County and is a Founding Member of the Circle of Excellence at McLeod Health. He is a member of the Fellows in Education, Florence County School District, an Advisory Board Member at Signature Wealth, and is a Basketball Coach at Trinity Byrnes Collegiate School.
Affiliations: South Carolina Bar Association; Florence County Bar Association; Criminal Justice Act of 1964 Panel, United States District Court, District of South Carolina; Pee Dee CofC Club; and Sigma Chi Fraternity.
Dil D. Patel ’11
Board Member
Savannah, GA
AA Board Service: 2021-present
BS, Business Administration, College of Charleston
Doctor of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina
Dr. Patel is a Neuro Radiologist at Savannah Chatham Imaging in Savannah, GA. He recently completed his fellowship training in Neuro Radiology at the Medical University of South Carolina, which was preceded by residency training at Loyola University in Chicago where he served as Chief Resident. After graduating from the College, Dr. Patel attended medical school at MUSC, where he remained involved in leadership and student government, serving as both Class President for multiple years as well as Student Body President.
Claire Griffin Porter ’06
Board Member
Charleston, SC
AA Board Service: 2021-present
BA, Arts Management, College of Charleston
Ms. Porter owns and operates Lighthouse Real Estate alongside her husband Joe Porter ’06. Lighthouse Real Estate is an independent residential brokerage helping clients buy and sell properties throughout greater Charleston. Lighthouse also continuously works to address the need for quality affordable housing through the acquisition and management of homes throughout greater Charleston. With 55 units, they are boots on the ground advocates for the critical need for affordable housing in our region. Ms. Porter grew up in South Georgia but has now spent most of her life here in the Lowcountry. She and her husband have two daughters, June and Mary, and live in Charleston.
Mercedes Pinckney Reese ’07
Board Member
Goose Creek, SC
AA Board Service: 2019-present
BA, Political Science, College of Charleston
Juris Doctor, North Carolina Central University Law School
Master of Laws, St. Thomas University School of Law
Ms. Reese is the Director of Legal Services and Title IX for Lexington Country School District. Prior to this position, she served as General Counsel for the Charleston Country School District and Associate General Counsel at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, before that. For three years, she was the General Counsel for South Carolina State University where she served as the Chief Legal Officer for the University. Her duties included reviewing contracts, evaluating risks, and advising its Board of Trustees, President, and senior administration. Ms. Reese is a former Assistant General Counsel for the College of Charleston.
Affiliations: North Carolina State Bar Association; South Carolina State Bar Association; Charleston County Bar Association; and the National Association of College and University Attorneys.
Otis Robinson ’90
Board Member
Chapin, SC
AA Board Service: 2021-present
BS, Business Administration, College of Charleston
MBA, University of Virginia
Mr. Robinson has worked for Westvaco/MeadWestvaco, Alcoa, Reynolds Consumer & Packaging Products, and United Sporting Companies before starting his own consulting business which he currently operates from Chapin, SC. He is founder and Managing Principal of Robinson Business Consulting, LLC (RBC), a certified minority-owned business that provides business and supply chain process improvement services as well as coaching for supervisors, managers, and executives. With more than 25 years of experience in Supply Chain and Business Improvement practices progressing to executive and leadership levels, Mr. Robinson formed RBC to help companies promote growth, reduce costs, increase profits, and increase service levels.
John D. Rutenberg ’92
Board Member
Myrtle Beach, SC
AA Board Service: 2020-present
BA, Political Science, College of Charleston
Juris Doctor, New York Law School
Masters Media Studies, New School University
Graduate School of Banking, ABA Stonier at The University of Pennsylvania
Mr. Rutenberg is the Senior Vice President/Market President for TRUIST. Previously, he served as Regional Vice President for TD Bank, leading the commercial banking function of the bank for the greater Grand Strand, Pee Dee and Cape Fear regions. Prior to joining TD in 2011, Mr. Rutenberg held various commercial banking positions during his many years in banking, including roles in both management and sales.
Mr. Rutenberg grew up in Myrtle Beach. After graduating from the College in 1992, he moved to New York City where he lived for 13 years. While living in New York, Mr. Rutenberg worked as a Producer for CNN-New York and CNN-United Nations before attending law school. While in law school, Mr. Rutenberg worked for the New York City Law Department’s Medical Malpractice division. He moved back to Myrtle Beach in 2005.
He and his wife, Kim, have a daughter and son and live in Myrtle Beach.
Affiliations: Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee; Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, Chair, Financial Review Committee; Coastal Carolina University Athletic Foundation Board of Directors; Horry-Georgetown Technical College Foundation Board Member; 2012 graduate of Leadership Grand Strand.
Ginger Dillard Selby ’86
Board Member
Daniel Island, SC
AA Board Service: 2021-present
BA, Political Science, College of Charleston
Ms. Selby spent the first 26 years of her career in the upstate of South Carolina. She was president of Dillard Memorial Inc., her family business, which owned and operated two funeral homes and a crematory business in Pickens and Oconee Counties. She later served as National Director of Community Relations for Stewart Enterprises, Inc. She currently lives in Daniel Island, SC, with her husband, Ed. She has two children; her son, Daniel Fahey, graduated from the College in 2015 and her daughter, Kathleen Fahey, graduated from the College in 2017. Ms. Selby is currently a Director of Advance Planning at J. Henry Stuhr, Inc.
Affiliations: Former Advisory Board Member for Charleston Financial Services; Former Board Member, College of Charleston Cougar Club; Former Member of the Board of Trustees of Cannon Memorial Hospital; Former Chairman of the Cannon Memorial Hospital Foundation Board; Former Chairperson of Pickens County Meals on Wheels; Alpha Delta Pi; CofC Women’s Basketball and Volleyball.
Stephen B. Smith ’83
Board Member
Greenville, SC
AA Board Service: 2019-present
BS, Business Administration, College of Charleston
Mr. Smith is the Managing Director of CBRE’s South Carolina office, where he has executive oversight over all operations in the Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville-Spartanburg offices including the Advisory and Transaction Services and Capital Markets teams. With more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate, he has a passion for connecting the right people and the right skills on every opportunity. Mr. Smith focuses on integrating CBRE’s diverse service lines, including property leasing, management, project management, and investment sales to provide comprehensive and creative solutions to clients across the state. Mr. Smith’s first nine years after graduation were spent in Charleston, where he specialized in commercial sales and leasing.
Affiliations: SIOR Designation; Greater Greenville Association of Realtors Member; Board of Governors for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce; March of Dimes Real Estate Committee; Member of the Greenville YMCA Board of Directors; Past President for Carolina’s Chapter of SIOR; Past Regional Director and Board of Directors member for SIOR; and Alpha Tau Omega.
Susan Frederick Stewart ’80
Board Member
Columbia, SC
AA Board Service: 2021-present
BA, Political Science, College of Charleston
Juris Doctor, University of South Carolina
Ms. Stewart is Vice President/Underwriting Counsel for Commonwealth Land Title and Fidelity National Title Insurance Company. She was engaged in the private practice of law through 1995 then began work as a South Carolina underwriting counsel. She is a Past President of the Palmetto Land Title Association and has served on the board of the Mortgage Bankers of Greater Columbia. Ms. Stewart is the 2014-15 recipient of the Property Records Industry Association Ernst Award for contributions to the recording industry, a recipient of the MBGC Associate Member of the Year Award, and was the 2004 Better Business Bureau Arbitrator of the Year. She taught paralegal studies at Columbia Junior College Professional Center. Ms. Stewart is trained as an Arbitrator and Mediator. She has served as Eucharist Minister for Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church and as Secretary and Board Director of Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina. Ms. Stewart serves on the Board of Directors of Marshwinds Homeowners Association of Folly Beach, SC, is a charter member of the SC Women Lawyers Association, former Secretary of Association of Corporate Counsel SC, and is a Governor-appointed member of the Electronic Recording Committee. She is a member of the South Carolina Bar, where she has served as 2009-10 Chair of the Real Estate Section, and 2020-22 as a member, 2011-12 Section Delegate, and on the Task Force on Professional Potential. Ms. Stewart is also admitted to the US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. She has spoken on various real estate law and title insurance topics through the South Carolina Bar, Palmetto Land Title Association, and other private educational companies. As a student at the College, she joined Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.
William T. Stone ’75
Board Member
Jacksonville, Florida
AA Board Service: 2022-present
BA, Political Science, College of Charleston
Juris Doctor, University of South Carolina
Mr. Stone was the first full scholarship tennis player at the College where he played the No. 1 position in both singles and doubles. He is a member of the College of Charleston Athletic Hall of Fame. Upon graduating in 1975, he received both the Bishop Robert Smith Award and the Willard Augustus Silcox Award. After completing law school at USC, Mr. Stone returned to his hometown of Jacksonville to practice law from 1978 to the present. He became Board Certified as a Civil Trial Lawyer in 1989 and has spent the last 43 years in a very active trial practice. His law practice was entirely focused on the defense of personal injury and wrongful death actions across all types of claims including automobile, trucking, premises, products liability and medical malpractice. His clients included individuals, insurance companies, hospitals, and large self-insured Fortune 500 companies.
Bill and his wife, Janan, have four children and four grandchildren.
Affiliations: Florida Bar Association; Georgia Bar Association; American Board of Trial Advocates; Florida Defense Lawyers Association; Jacksonville Defense Lawyers Association (Past President); Florida Super Lawyers; Best Lawyers in America; and College of Charleston 1770 Society.
Suzette Jeffries Timme ’84
Board Member
Arlington, VA
AA Board Service: 2020-present
BA, Organizational Leadership and Management, College of Charleston
Ms. Timme is President/CEO of Indigo Asset Services, an advisory firm for commercial real estate partnerships and family offices. With over 25 years of industry experience, she acts as an Owner’s Representative, overseeing the financial performance of real estate portfolios. Prior to launching Indigo in 2017, Ms. Timme was President of Weissberg Corporation, overseeing real estate investment activity for its retail, office, multi-family, and industrial assets. She was previously Vice President of Asset Management and Leasing for Spectrum Partners and spent over 15 years in mall management including with Simon Property Group as General Manager of Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in the Greater Washington, D.C., area.
Throughout her career, Ms. Timme has served on numerous industry-related, civic, and non-profit boards. She has participated in several mentoring programs and holds four professional designations. Ms. Timme is a former Commissioner for Arlington County Economic Development and past President of Women in Retail Real Estate. She currently serves as a Board Member of Rosslyn Business Improvement District. She is a certified ski instructor and was President for Wintergreen Adaptive Sports.
A native South Carolinian who now resides in Arlington, VA, she is married to Rear Admiral William G. Timme (USN, ret.), and they have two daughters.
Affiliations: Rosslyn Business Improvement District, Board Member; Arlington County Economic Development, former Commissioner and Retail Task Force chair; Women in Retail Real Estate, Past President; Capital Speakers Club of Washington, DC; Urban Land Institute; Women’s Leadership Initiative of ULI; International Council of Shopping Centers; Building Owners and Managers International; Leadership Loudoun; Wintergreen Adaptive Sports, Past President, Board Member and Volunteer Ski Instructor; Professional Ski Instructors of America; and Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
Ryan M. Velasco ’02
Board Member
Washington, D.C.
AA Board Service: 2021-present
BA, Historic Preservation & Community Planning, College of Charleston
Mr. Velasco is Vice President at Laurel Strategies, a CEO advisory and strategic communications firm based in Washington, D.C., where he oversees a portfolio supporting corporate executives across the biopharmaceutical, tech and private equity space. He has more than 18 years of experience in strategic planning and communications, advising a range of clients in crisis messaging and brand reputation management, government relations, and public-private partnerships.
Prior to joining Laurel Strategies, Mr. Velasco was Vice President at Ogilvy Public Relations where he advised the Federal Emergency Management Agency on engagement with key stakeholders to encourage increased investment in disaster resilience and hazard mitigation. During the Obama Administration, he served at the White House Council on Environmental Quality as a Deputy Associate Director, leading a key initiative of the President’s Climate Action Plan.
Ryan is passionate about historic preservation and environmental conservation. A native of Loudoun County, Virginia, he maintains close ties to South Carolina and returns often. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his husband, David McKnight.
Affiliations: The George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership – Cohort IV of the D.C. Neighborhood College; Former Washington, D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and Commission Chair of the Committee on Planning, Zoning and the Environment; Former Co-Chair for the Disaster Preparedness Committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; Georgetown Ministry Center Winter Shelter volunteer; Editor of Design, The Miscellany, 2000 edition.
Beth Pierce Meredith ’97
CofC Foundation Board Representative
Charleston, SC
AA Board Service: 2006 – 2011, 2023-Present
BA – Corporate Communication
Ms. Meredith is a Senior Director, Technical Solutions for KBR, and has been with the company since 2013. In 2007, she opened the South Carolina Lowcountry office for New Carolina to facilitate targeted industry sector development in the Charleston area. Ms. Meredith also established a non-profit cyber security organization called the Advanced Security Technology Research Alliance (ASTRA). She is married to her husband, Robert, and they live in Mt. Pleasant, SC, with their 2 dogs.
Affiliations: CofC Alumni Association and Foundation Boards, Charleston Defense Contractors Association, Junior League of Charleston, Palmetto Partners, SC affiliate of Global Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).
Kenneth S. “Gus” Gustafson, Sr. ’75
Past President Advisor
Charleston, SC
AA Board Service: 2022-Present
Bachelor of Science – Political Science
After a successful professional basketball career in France, Mr. Gustafson returned to Charleston and entered the insurance business working for CofC alumnus Robbie Heffron’39. After retiring from Wachovia in 2007, he founded Great Underwriting Solutions, a consulting firm for small businesses on employee benefits and providing individual insurance services.
Mr. Gustafson served as the first president of the Cougar Club Board and was also past chair of the College of Charleston Foundation Board during his first tenure from 1992-2014. Gus served on the Alumni Board from 1988-1994, having served as President-elect from 1991-1992; President from 1992-1993 and Past President from 1993-1994. He is a member of the CofC Athletics Hall of Fame and was the 2013 Alumni Award of Honor recipient. In 2019, Gus was elected to serve again on the College of Charleston Foundation Board of Directors.
The New York native married fellow CofC graduate, Trisha Sullivan Gustafson, shortly after graduating from CofC. The couple has one son and two grandchildren.
Affiliation: CofC Men’s Basketball, CofC Athletics Hall of Fame, College of Charleston Alumni Board President-elect 1991-1992; President, 1992-1993; Past President, 1993-1994.
Ryan Eleuteri ’02
CofC Athletic Fund Representative
Charleston, SC
AA Board Service: 2020-Present
Bachelor of Science – Political Science
Mr. Eleuteri is the founder and owner of Charleston Beverage Company, a locally owned company that sells and produces Charleston Mix Bloody Mary nationally. Founded in the Lowcountry and still made locally, Charleston Mix is the #1 selling craft mix in the nation, and #5 overall. Born and raised outside Philadelphia, Mr. Eleuteri moved to Charleston in 1998 to attend the College of Charleston.
A 2002 graduate of the College, with a degree in Political Science, he resides in downtown Charleston with his lab Tyson.
Affiliation: College of Charleston Athletic Fund Board, Sigma Nu Fraternity, Student Alumni Associates Past President, 1770 Society; GOLD Society.
Ebony Venson ’18, ’20
Graduate School Representative
Washington, D.C.
AA Board Service: 2020-Present
Bachelor of Arts – Political Science
Master of Public Administration
Ebony Venson is a recent MPA graduate with a passion for politics, community planning, and women’s representation in government. Originally from Hartsville, S.C., Ebony received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the College of Charleston in 2018 and dedicated her time on campus to helping recruit, retain, and empower students of color. Fueled by her desire to learn more about public leadership and policy, she enrolled in the University of Charleston’s Master of Public Administration program. As an MPA student, Ms. Venson centered her studies around strategic planning, city and county management, and nonprofit development. After graduating from the MPA program, she worked as a Lead for America fellow with the City of Chattanooga, helping expand economic mobility opportunities in communities of color.
Ebony currently works as a Program Associate with Smart Growth America, a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on creating safe, healthy and resilient communities.
Affiliations: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omicron Delta Kappa, Black Student Union, Student Ambassadors.
Alumni Association Representative on the CofC Board of Trustees
Neysa Williams ’95
Alumni Association Representative on the CofC Board of Trustees
Charleston, SC
AA Board Service: 2018-2022
BS, Sociology, College of Charleston
MA, Business Administration and Human Resources, Webster University
Ms. Williams currently serves as the Community Engagement Director for Joint Base Charleston in Charleston, SC. Her current career began after she retired from the U.S. Army in April 2018 after 22 years of service. Her last position was as the Public Affairs Specialist for Moncrief Army Health Clinic at Fort Jackson training base in Columbia, SC. Prior to that, she worked at the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, as the Director of Public Affairs and Media/Community Relations at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Ms. Williams lives in Charleston, SC.
Affiliations: Member, Charleston County Rotary Club, Charleston, SC; American Legion Post #117, Camden, SC; The Palmetto Chapter of the Association of U.S. Army; Charleston County NAACP; SC Boys and Girls Club of America; ASALAH; Veterans Across America; President, CofC Black Alumni Council; and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.