So how do we keep up with all of this change but not end up like Oldsmobile? It’s an important question that every person, every business and every institution needs to reflect upon and try to answer for themselves.

For the College of Charleston, we embedded our answers about change into our 10-year strategic plan, Tradition & Transformation, and we determined that focusing on the three pillars of our business (student success, academic distinction and employee success) would help us balance what has made our institution great for so long while at the same time positioning us for the future.

When I first arrived at the College in 2019, our institution was designated a comprehensive university by the state, which limited our ability to offer doctoral degrees (also known as terminal degrees). Since then, we have worked closely with the South Carolina General Assembly to change the law and to reclassify colleges and universities in the state. And now, the College has the ability to offer a limited number of doctoral programs.  

In addition to a Ph.D. in math and computing that we implemented two years ago, this past academic year the College received approval to offer two new doctoral degree programs: an Ed.D. (doctor of education) in learning and inquiry in practice and an executive DBA (doctorate in business administration).  

The Ed.D. combines theoretical and practical learning experiences, with a strong emphasis on community partnerships, policy and applied research. It was designed to be both flexible and accessible for today’s working professional, with options for both full-time and part-time study. Coursework is offered in a hybrid format, combining online and in-person instruction, and students will need to complete 60 credit hours. Time to completion will vary, but we expect full-time students to take three years and part-time students about 5.5 years. The first cohort of students, pulled from a strong applicant pool, began their studies in June. This program is perfect for educators as well as those in the nonprofit sector.   

The executive DBA is a plus-up for the MBA, going beyond that work to foster a deeper understanding of organizational issues and help executives make high-level decisions rooted in rigorous analysis. Most importantly, it will help working professionals to navigate disruption, from AI to globalization, and provide them with the tools to anticipate change and design sustainable strategies. The program focuses on applying research to practical business problems, so it is ideal for leaders who want to combine theory and practice.  

Ours is one of only 34 executive DBA programs in the country and is the first of its kind in the state of South Carolina. For those interested, you must have a master’s degree and a minimum of 10 years of work experience. The program is 55 credit hours and can be completed in three years. There is a one-weekend residency per term and online learning. The first cohort will begin in August. 

We expect both of these doctoral programs will help update and upgrade our students’ skill sets to make them more effective leaders in their chosen professions. Change can be difficult to navigate, but education is the key for advancement and handling the path forward. More importantly, these new programs will lift the College into a higher orbit of innovation, relevance and impact.

This is not your father’s (or your mother’s) College.

What is wellness, and what is well-being?

Wellness is about the holistic personal choices people make for themselves around wellness, like nutrition, exercise and stress management. Well-being is about larger-scale social and environmental factors like friends, partners and community, as well as where people live, including aspects of their physical environment like green spaces, air, water and safety.

What new programs have you introduced?

We have expanded dog therapy, an evidence-based activity to reduce stress, and also hold weekly meditation, training to increase skills at helping others and, one of our favorites, cooking classes with student organizations. Around a meal, you can see barriers break down and people start to relax. There’s nothing like meeting and bonding over food.

You advise a student-led program called Students 4 Support. How does S4S work?

S4S was created to give students a space to talk with certified and trained peers. In addition to having the opportunity to meet in person, S4S has a texting platform that gives students the ability to seek support and understanding on the go. It’s incredibly impactful for students to have the opportunity to speak with someone their age with similar experiences.

Are we in a mental health crisis?

If you had asked me in fall of 2023, I would have said that we were starting to see positive gains since the pandemic, but this year, we seem to be falling back. We may be in a mental health crisis. Our children and young adults are dealing with a lot that impacts their mental health and wellness. Although it’s easy to blame a generation, if an entire group is struggling, then a question we should ask ourselves is, “What has happened in our society that helped to create the struggle?” There is a correlation between the use of cell phones and an increase in social anxiety, loneliness and isolation. We have also observed that the use of phones has decreased the opportunity for chatting in informal spaces like waiting for a class to start. We are still trying to figure things out, but it seems pretty conclusive that scrolling in general tends to lower one’s mood while writing and reading positive comments can increase one’s mood.

Has student wellness and well-being changed since you were a student at the College?

While we had a version of student life to create a sense of belonging, students’ desire for programming and wellness education has grown exponentially. This growth is due to the awareness of the challenges students face and the needs they express. Nationally, students share a strong desire for a focus on wellness and well-being, and part of the reason is because they struggle emotionally due to challenges that this generation has had to experience, which can impact their motivation and productivity.

“Four chords in, we have no idea where we’re meant to be,” he says, fingers poised above the keys. “Try to ID that place of home to your ear.”

Chords reverberate throughout the room as the lesson of the early signs of Beethoven’s genius for structural and harmonic daring come ringing through.

For Hicks, there is a lot more at stake than just learning to appreciate music. “The humanities box is not just about appreciation of the arts, but about a style of thinking, critical thinking, that our very democracy relies upon,” he says. “We have an opportunity, as artists and historians of all different types, to emphasize those skills in our classroom teaching, and it is an important responsibility.”

Born and raised on the small island of Guernsey off the coast of France, Hicks began playing piano at age 5, inspired by his great-grandmother. “I was learning to read music at the same time as learning to read English,” he recalls, adding that he returns home often.

After earning simultaneous degrees from both the University of Manchester and the Royal Northern College of Music, Hicks came to America in 2015 for his master’s at Yale and doctorate at Northwestern. He then taught at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., for two years before coming to the College. His performance career has taken him to prestigious venues like London’s Wigmore Hall, and he has recorded multiple albums, including a release this August of Chopin’s Nocturnes.

Hicks also oversees the College’s International Piano Series, which brings world-class pianists to campus for performances and master classes. Department chair Michael O’Brien notes that Hicks stood out in a highly competitive international search not just for his artistry, but for his vision for growing the program.

“As the artistic director of the series,” he says, “Dr. Hicks is a public champion for the piano’s relevance to modern society, not only for the College, but the community as a whole.”

Hicks has already put his stamp on the series, including moving master classes to the renovated Recital Hall and opening them to the public. He’s also secured impressive artists for the 2025–26 program, such as Richard Goode, whom O’Brien calls “arguably the foremost living performer of Beethoven’s piano work in the world.”

In between it all, Hicks manages to practice his craft for 20 to 30 hours a week. Unlike most artists who practice to hone their performance, Hicks performs so he can carry on practicing.

“I love exploring a piece so deeply that I get to know a composer and their experience,” he says. “It teaches you about enjoying the journey, and that skill of learning to enjoy the process makes you a much happier person in life generally.” – Tom Cunneff

Seven years ago, Barry Stiefel noticed this pattern of silence in his research on the preservation of minority historic sites within the Black, Indigenous and Jewish communities. The widespread closures during the pandemic and the antiracist protests sweeping the country further convinced him that these voices needed a platform to speak. Stiefel started weaving together his various essays into one cohesive book that would communicate the efforts of these groups in preserving history.

“In essence, this book project is a response to the growing recognition of the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach to historic preservation,” says Stiefel. “It aims to shed light on the often-overlooked contributions of Black, Indigenous and Jewish communities and to advocate for preserving their heritage on their terms.”

The project required extensive research at various historic sites and archives across North America and Europe. From Charleston to New York, Canada to the Caribbean, Germany to Gibraltar, prestigious institutions to storage closets, Stiefel had quite the adventure scoping out primary sources and hidden gems for his book.

“One of the most profound experiences was learning about my own ancestors and their contributions to a historic site that has not yet received the preservation attention it deserves,” he notes. “This personal connection added a layer of significance and urgency to my research, making the project deeply meaningful on a personal level.”

Stiefel’s research also unearthed fascinating stories about well-known historic sites. One of these is the story of Maria, an enslaved woman from Augusta, Ga., who donated her own money in 1859 to help save George Washington’s home. “This act of generosity and dedication, despite her own circumstances, was incredibly moving,” says Stiefel.

But stories like Maria’s are often overshadowed. That’s exactly why Stiefel took on this massive project: to provide a lamppost that finally lets this hidden history shine.

“Every culture has its own ways of preserving the past,” he says. “I encourage readers to rethink traditional narratives and consider all groups’ diverse experiences and contributions in shaping American history, highlighting the importance of preserving these histories to create a more inclusive and equitable society.” – Mary Carr

So, it should come as no surprise that after graduating with a political science degree from Wellesley College in 1995, Wofford enrolled in Duke University School of Law.

Everything was going according to plan. Until it didn’t.

“It’s a weird situation, but I figured out over halfway through law school that I didn’t want to be a lawyer anymore,” she confesses. “There was just a gut feeling that this was the wrong path for me.”

She decided to pause law school for a year to figure out what she wanted to do. The pause did not work, so she returned to her original plan. A year later, she started taking classes again and in 2001 graduated magna cum laude with a law degree but no job or plan.

No problem.

She was offered the opportunity to teach an American government class as an adjunct instructor at the University of South Carolina Upstate. She knew she had found her true calling on the first day of class.

“I fell in love with teaching right then and there,” she says. “That is how I got on the path of becoming a college professor who taught and studied law instead of a practicing lawyer.”

Soon after earning a doctorate in political science from Emory University in 2011, Wofford accepted a teaching position at the College.

It has been a great fit.

Not only is Wofford a professor in the political science department, but she is also the director of the prelaw advising program at the College. Her unique educational training helps her maneuver both fields easily. Her research interests in American politics and the U.S. legal system have come in handy when examining the many complex issues that have recently been dominating the news cycle.

Wofford believes this is a historic time in America because of how political power is now exercised in this country. We’re in a critical period where many institutions are being tested, she notes, and American politics is extremely polarized, but one of the areas of hope she sees is with the courts.

“The judicial branch is doing exactly what it’s supposed to be doing, which is calmly, slowly and rationally think about how political power should be exercised in this country,” she says. “The system continues to operate, and the people are bringing cases to the courts. Courts are hearing the cases and making very legally sound decisions.”

And rising above politics, as they are supposed to do. “They are expected to use rationale, logic and legal thinking to come to the best decision, regardless of what chaos is happening in the political world. I think they’re doing that.”

Wofford’s expertise on the Constitution has not gone unnoticed. News organizations such as The Washington Post, The New York Times and National Public Radio have reached out to her for analysis of current events. Her legal and political writings have also been published both nationally and internationally.

“So many people thought I was crazy to walk away from the legal path, but I would never trade that for what I get to do now,” she says. “It’s a bit of a cliché, but teaching young people to better understand politics and the law is my small way of making the world better.” – Mike Robertson

“Well, I didn’t crash, and I didn’t come in last,” says Butler, who has been in love with the racing scene since he visited a Porsche factory in Germany with his dad. “My dad is a Porsche fanatic, and I traveled to races with him all over the United States.”

Butler valued the bond he developed with his father, a former animal conservationist with the World Wildlife Fund. He particularly enjoyed collaborating on articles for regional Porsche Club magazines; his father wrote, and Butler took the photos.

While Butler’s father mostly raced Porsches in his spare time, he once raced in the Baja 1000 – which crosses the Baja California desert – on Bill Stroppe’s Ford Bronco team.

“Back when my father raced, people could buy seats and secure a place on a team for the racing season; now it’s unattainable without serious sponsorship or money,” says Butler. “Fortunately, we now have programs that make racing affordable and fun for a broader population.”

Of course, Butler’s mom is not thrilled to have another race car driver in the family.

“My mom was nervous when my dad raced, and now she’s nervous with me,” says the Washington, D.C., native, who got his license last year and now races with the Sports Car Club of America. “I tell her not to worry because with today’s safety requirements, it’s safer than it’s ever been.”

His senior year of high school, Butler got involved in Grassroots Motorsports, an opportunity for amateur racing drivers to hone their skills. After graduation, he took a gap year to continue racing and raise money for college since the scholarship he received to attend the public university of his choice did not cover all his forecasted expenses.

Butler liked the diversity of a liberal arts education, and – when it came time to make a decision – he landed on the College, where he started as a marine biology major but soon switched to anthropology with a studio art minor.

“I decided having a holistic view of the world and an understanding of what makes people different in a positive way would open my eyes to opportunities,” he explains.

One of those opportunities turned out to be real estate. At a Porsche driving event his sophomore year at CofC, Butler’s neighbor asked him to join his Washington, D.C., branch of the brokerage firm, Engel and Völkers. Intrigued, Butler obtained his real estate license and has thrived as a real estate agent ever since.

Using the skills and the anthropological lens he has developed at the College, Butler says he supports buyers and sellers by looking at them within their own context rather than comparing their situations to his own.

“I work to understand the people I’m interacting with,” he says of his sales approach, which he has used on milliondollar deals and multiunit investments “so that I can make sure they make smart, informed decisions.”

Clearly, Butler is on the fast track to success in more ways than one. – Darcie Goodwin

“I began wearing my hijab in the sixth grade,” she says. “It doesn’t just represent my faith – it embodies my culture and my identity. It allows me to stay true to myself and embrace my identity. The hijab speaks volumes about my journey in life, all that I’ve experienced and the future ahead of me. My hijab is simply me.”

Shalaby’s journey in life started in Alexandria, Egypt, where she grew up before moving to South Carolina when she was in high school to join her father, who’d been living and working in the Southeast since she was a child. Her siblings and mother eventually joined them in Charleston, and the family still has a home in Egypt and returns there frequently.

“In Egypt, people don’t look at women differently because we are a multifaith country,” she says. “It’s not like here, where I look different from the majority, which means I get more stares from strangers. It can be positive in some ways, but other times it can be negative and uncomfortable.”

The positive part of wearing something that makes her look different is that her classmates and professors recognize her and remember her name. That sense of being known and seen is one of the reasons Shalaby was interested in the College of Charleston. She wanted to be part of a community. It’s also what drove her to build a community for Arab students on campus.

“I wanted to raise awareness about Arab people and improve representation of our culture on campus,” she says.

With the help of Courtney Howard, a vice president at the College, she worked to create the first Arab American/Middle Eastern/North African Heritage Month on campus to showcase the culture of Arab students through music, food and dance.

“We want to show people that we’re just like everyone else,” says Shalaby, who also founded the Muslim Students Association in 2022 and serves as its executive director. In 2024, she served as the president of the Arabic Club, which fosters appreciation of Arabic language, culture and food and hosts events such as cooking nights. She is also the director of marketing at Phi Chi Theta and the president of the Photography Club.

“It’s about making a space where we can share our culture and beliefs with people from similar backgrounds or people who are interested to know more about this other side of the world,” she says. “It makes me feel that no matter how we are different from each other, we are all humans, and we need to respect and explore different cultures in life. It helped me build a community of friends at the College.”

After graduating with finance and prelaw degrees in May, Shalaby is taking a gap year that includes returning to Egypt to visit her family before applying to law school and starting a clothing business with modest styles.

“It’s hard to find them here,” she says. “I want to make clothes to fit anyone who is looking for something modest with the mix of East and West style.” – Amy Stockwell

She has done so much so soon, one can’t help but wonder, Is she for real?

“She is the real deal,” says Christine Osborne, School of Business entrepreneur-in-residence, who has mentored Zehntner for more than two years. “She’s probably the most persistent, hardworking, relentless, passionate person I’ve met. When she sees needs, she fills them.”

Which is how the MeeLi (Meet Life) app came about, catching the attention of both the College’s administration and the local startup community.

With an investor and board of advisors, including Osborne, Zehnter hopes to launch the app this summer. The target audience (for now) is College of Charleston students with short videos highlighting student organizations, mental health, restaurants, or interesting students or alumni. The big difference from traditional social media is that MeeLi has no commenting or “like” features, trademarks of what Zehnter calls “soulcial media.” Another big differentiator is that a user can tell the algorithm what they do or don’t want to see – a feature Zehntner says will keep it from becoming instead an echo chamber.

“We’re trying to build a healthy social media, which is a huge task,” says Zehntner. “At the moment, there’s so much wrong with social media – the pressure to be perfect, the addiction, the negative mental health impacts, the comparisons. We want to go back to what social media was supposed to be: connecting people all over the world through authentic stories.”

When it comes to interviewing interesting students, she might want to turn the camera on herself. The daughter of professional dancers, Zehntner spent 14 years as a competitive gymnast in Germany and worked as a paramedic before making the bold decision during Covid to pursue her education in Charleston, home of her aunt and uncle, who once worked for BMW in Spartanburg, S.C.

While attending the College the first two years, Zehntner worked as an EMT with Charleston County on weekends. “One moment, you have a person dying, and the next, another person is giving birth in the very same place in your ambulance,” she says. “It provides a unique perspective on life.”

Her lifesaving skills came in handy on a recent flight from Munich to Charlotte, N.C., when she provided first aid to a passenger experiencing a medical emergency during landing. That incident reinforced her longtime dream of becoming a doctor, specifically a neurologist.

“Those are the moments that I do it for,” she says. “If something happens around me, I want to be there to help.”

After graduation, Zehntner hopes to stay in Charleston for a year or two to develop her app while preparing for medical school in the U.S. if she can extend her visa. Her goal is to work with Doctors Without Borders, combining her passions for medicine, travel and human connection – in between a dozen other things, no doubt.

“We need more Elaines in the world,” says Osborne. – Tom Cunneff

“A friend in high school started a business selling random necessities,” says the rising junior majoring in marketing and minoring in economics. “He was a middleman for companies but didn’t have the tools to sell himself effectively. He asked for my help since I have a knack for being very persuasive.”

Manirakiza came to the U.S. with his family from Tanzania as an infant “to seek asylum from the unstable government in the area at the time and to gain a better life,” he says. They first lived in California before moving to Dillon County, S.C., when he was 5.

“The College was always on my radar after hearing about it from peers,” says Manirakiza. “When I participated in an overnight visit, I loved the community, the people I met and how they kept in touch after my visit.”

People like Lancie Affonso ’96 (M.S. ’08), senior instructor of management and marketing, who was also a first-generation student from Tanzania.

“Danieri showed a strong desire to make a positive impact at the College,” recalls Affonso. “As a Meeting Street Scholar, he is already paying it forward as a mentor and student ambassador in our School of Business.”

Manirakiza knew Charleston’s dynamic business scene would open numerous opportunities, and one proved transformative: interning as a sales assistant/delivery specialist with the Mercedes-Benz dealership of the Baker Motor Co. of Charleston.

“Working at Mercedes has been one of the best experiences,” says Manirakiza. “I’ve learned so much about myself as a person and marketer. I’ve learned that marketing is much deeper than people think.

“I also get to meet people from all walks of life and connect with them as individuals,” he adds. “It’s been a fantastic networking opportunity.”

In addition to his internship, Manirakiza took a personal-growth class on intentionality taught by Ben Navarro, the Charleston businessman and philanthropist.

“The class taught me so much, especially how it connects to my current role at Mercedes,” says Manirakiza. “Plus, (Mr.) Navarro is someone I consider a mentor. He has so much to offer, and I aspire to be like him one day.”

Navarro says admires how Manirakiza embodies the power of intentionality – proving that our past does not dictate our future. “Through the class, Dani discovered he holds the pen to his life’s narrative,” he says. “He did more than absorb the lessons; he applied them to his everyday life. By embracing challenge, taking ownership and applying the principles of intentionality daily, he has ignited a meaningful and lasting shift in his mindset – one that will propel him toward his fullest potential and the life he chooses to create.”

Manirakiza is deeply grateful for the financial aid he has received at CofC, including the Knox Global Financial Need Scholarship and the R. Keith and Melissa G. Sauls Undergraduate Scholarship.

“As a first-generation student from a low-income background, I couldn’t be more thankful for all the support I’ve received,” he says. “My scholarships have made it possible for me to attend CofC without any debt or loans. One day, I want to give back to this place that has given me the confidence to be who I am.” – Abby Albright

“My love had always been the ocean,” recalls Bryson. “I didn’t know how I could mix ocean organisms with a career. When I heard the job title ‘marine biologist,’ I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do.”

During her collegiate search, Bryson discovered the College was one of a few schools in South Carolina with a major in marine biology. It didn’t hurt that one of her idols, Jasmin Graham ’17, had also studied at CofC (see story).

And thanks to financial aid, starting with the Herb Kirsh Scholarship from her high school, Bryson had a full ride. A member of the Honors College, Bryson graduated with a 3.81 GPA and impressive internship experiences. She hopes to make an impact in ocean conservation.

“It helped me gain a better understanding of why it’s so important to set regulations on certain fishing quotas in order to maintain a healthier ecosystem,” she says. “It showed how important it is for environmental conservation to take into account what weʼre taking out of the [water] and what we’re putting back into the it.”

Another impactful experience was a class trip over spring break to the Florida Keys with biology professor Chris Freeman and 10 other students. For their research project, Bryson and her partner dissected sponges they collected from the water to study the organisms that live inside them. They learned that the porosity of a sponge influences what organisms live inside of it (see story).

Bryson was actively involved in several campus organizations, too, such as TriBeta, the biological honor society, and the Biology Club. She also was a member of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, where she and her peers discussed current events impacting oceans and organized initiatives like beach cleanups. She also volunteered with the Honors College’s Green Heart Project, teaching local students about urban gardening and healthy eating, and was a peer mentor through Mentoring Matters and SPECTRA (Speedy Consolidation and Transition), which provided guidance and support to first-generation students headed to college.

“I just love volunteering and helping people,” she says. “It’s just something I’ve always enjoyed doing and will probably continue doing.”

After taking a gap year to work as a nature tour guide for a boat company in Charleston, Bryson plans to earn a master’s degree in fisheries and aquatic sciences at the University of Florida.

“I’m looking forward to helping our oceans be cleaner and used more wisely,” she says. “My goal is to make people aware of issues surrounding our oceans and ocean conservation.” – George Johnson

“It was great for them to meet, especially since they share many of the same qualities we look for in an Under Armour athlete,” says Jaggars. “Kieron embodies the core values of our brand. His character and maturity surpass that of the typical college athlete, and that can be seen in the way he approaches the game – truly impressive for someone at the amateur level.”

Make that former amateur. After the most successful career of a men’s golfer at the College, which included five wins and a tie for fourth in his PGA Tour debut at the Puerto Rico Open in March, van Wyk turned professional in May.

“Playing in the final group on Sunday in a PGA Tour event is just not done while you’re in college,” says men’s golf coach Mitch Krywulycz, noting van Wyk had to win a college event just to get a spot in the field. “He took that little snowball and turned it into an avalanche.”

With van Wyk’s family in South Africa, Krywulycz was there for the final round. “The stage was huge,” says Krywulycz, who played on two national championship teams at Augusta State. “To watch him operate in that world and handle the pressure was awesome.”

Although he didn’t win the event, the tie for fourth would have netted him about $250,000 had he not been an amateur. “It’s always been a dream of mine to be a professional golfer,” says van Wyk, a business administration major. “Having experienced that has only solidified my decision.”

But van Wyk’s favorite memory while at CofC has nothing to do with golf. It’s playing in the annual kickball game on the softball field at Patriots Point with the men’s and women’s golf teams.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at the College and the relationships I’ve made,” he says.

Van Wyk has secured several sponsor exemptions this summer into PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour events, where good play could earn him tour privileges without having to go through qualifying this fall.

And who knows? There’s a good chance he could be back on the ground next year at Augusta – on the other side of the ropes. – Tom Cunneff

Year:
Graduate student (communication)

Accolades:
Named to the All-CAA First Team and a member of the all-tournament team in 2024; 2025 Division I baseball No. 52-ranked outfielder. Helped lead the University of Lynchburg to a Division III national title in 2023 and was a two-time Division III All-American.

Love of the sport:
I love being around the guys on the team and hanging out together. Being a part of a team that shares the same goals and comes together to achieve them. Making lifelong friendships.

Favorite MLB player:
New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira. I did a school project on him when I was in middle school about the time the Yankees won the World Series. Huge fan of his.

Favorite moment as a CofC player:
Last year, senior day, Kevin Madden hit a grand slam home run to beat Northeastern to win our last home game of the season.

Favorite part of game to practice:
Hitting. Would take batting practice all day if they’d let me.

Least favorite:
Base running. It’s important, and you have to practice to be good at it, but I’m not a big fan.

Advice you’d give your freshman self:
Go out and enjoy yourself on the field every day. When you get to college, the game can turn from kind of a casual love for the game to being much more serious. Don’t let it get too serious. It’s still a kid’s game, and you should have fun with it, no matter what.

Walk-up song/why:
“Free Bird,” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I think your walk-up song gets the crowd engaged, gets the fans engaged, and it gets me mentally focused.

If you didn’t play baseball, what sport would you play?
Basketball. I love watching and playing basketball.

Go-to doubleheader snack:
Fruit snacks. Maybe mix in a little Goldfish.

– Andrew Miller

“I have always believed that the School of Business should be at the center of the Charleston business community,” says Finn, who first got involved with the school when it opened its doors in 1984. “It’s a great school with great faculty and remarkable students. It should be the go-to place for internships and a resource for businesses.”

To make his vision a reality, Finn became one of the initial members of the School of Business Board of Governors, and he continues to serve on the board today. He understands the value of having experts to help grow the involvement of the business community. As the chairman and CEO of AstenJohnson for more than 20 years and with an extensive C-suite network, he was just the person to do it.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better partner,” says Howard Rudd, the founding dean of the School of Business. “Bill used his global connections to support me and the faculty. He always asked the right questions and provided the resources to make things happen. Thanks to Bill and other members of the Board of Governors, the School of Business has a Student Success Center, a vibrant MBA program and now an Executive MBA program. These are a great resources both for our students and the business community.”

For Finn, his return on involvement has been exponential. He has seen the evolution of the College as a whole, watched graduates go on to leadership roles in their communities and has had friends from around the country ask about having their kids attend the College based on what he has shared. In addition, through Finn’s leadership, AstenJohnson continues to hire CofC graduates; he has also hosted economic development–related classes at AstenJohnson headquarters as well as in Europe.

Finn’s reason for everything he does at the College is the students, and he found an opportunity to have long-lasting relationships with students thanks to a proposal by Carrie Messal, now associate dean of the School of Business, to get seniors involved with the business community. A gift from Susan and Peter Schottland made the concept a reality, and the Schottland Scholars were formed in 2011.

Messal’s proposal aimed for students to be comfortable when interacting with business leadership; however, she hit a dead end when contacting companies. Instead of reaching corporate leaders, she was steered toward HR and recruiting events.

Finn set to work assigning students mentors based on their needs.

“I could see how the program was impacting the students,” says Finn, whose career with AstenJohnson began through an internship. “They were graduating with confidence because of their experience as a Schottland Scholar.”

Now an integral part of the fabric of the School of Business, Finn remains involved with the Schottland Scholars program as a volunteer and a donor. Over the past 15 years, his institutional knowledge and network have proven invaluable to the three directors.

Finn maintains relationships with Schottland Scholars alumni. Most recently he and the Schottlands met with New York City alumni, who all have a great appreciation for the fact that they are where they are today because of the program.

“Bill was formidable during the initial interview with legitimate hard-hitting questions,” recalls Lauren Tonkovich ’13. After being accepted, she quickly learned that Finn’s seriousness was because of how much he cared.

“Everything Bill does is out of a generosity of spirit,” says Tonkovich, controller at cereal manufacturer Magic Spoon. “As I’ve gotten older and struggle with work/life balance, the time and attention he gave me means so much more.”

At the New York dinner, she was pleased to see Finn supporting the new cohort of students with the same zest he had when coaching her.

Finn continues to share his connections and opportunities with Tonkovich, and she attributes much of her career success to his guidance. He plays such a key role in her life that she invited him to her wedding in 2022.

“I didn’t really match the profile on paper, and the interview was very intimidating, but Bill decided to take a risk,” says Hansen, who owns Venture in Consulting, a leadership and sales training company. “He trusted his instinct and let me in. For that reason, we have a special relationship. We have stayed in touch for more than 10 years and haven’t skipped a beat.

“Bill sees that our success will have a ripple effect in communities,” she adds. “He wants everyone to be connected and part of the community, and he wants us prepared for the real world. He gave me the ability to network by emphasizing the importance of true, good networking. It has served me well in the real world.”

Finn believes in the Schottland Scholars program so much that he formed the Finn Scholar program at his alma mater, Thomas Jefferson University.

Back at the College, Finn recently created the William A. “Bill” and Prudence Finn Endowed Scholarship for the School of Business – one more way he supports student success.

“I am eternally grateful for the scholarships I received while in college,” says Finn. “I have a great appreciation for the people who didn’t know me and still provided the funding for scholarships. It’s because of them and the students that I give back.”

Meanwhile, Finn continues to look at how to improve the School of Business.

“The business world is changing quickly, and continuing education is becoming more and more critical,” says Finn. “The time horizon on skill sets is becoming shorter and shorter. We will see an incredible change with AI, and the School of Business can play a major role in that change. I see helping people develop the skills to be more relevant as key to the school’s future success.”

The School of Business is very fortunate to have an inspirational, passionate leader like Finn, who has built bridges for the College that span the world.

“I am so grateful to celebrate Bill,” says Messal. “He has had a tremendous impact on the School of Business for the last 25 years. I can’t imagine the School of Business without the force of Bill Finn. He is the infinite mentor. Who could be more VIP than Bill?” – Darcie Goodwin

“I was one of the department’s first hires,” says Kaiser. “Bill Bischoff, the newly appointed chair, took me under his wing and became my mentor. He inspired me to meet others where they are and support in any way I can.”

In addition to having created new courses, Kaiser shows another form of support through the Charles Kaiser Award for Outstanding Psychology Students. Established in 2018, the award has gone to seven senior psychology students who have uplifted the community.

Katie Cole, a psychology major and neuroscience and chemistry double minor in the Honors College, is the 2025 recipient. She used the award to fund her Costa Rica spring break trip to study the sociology and psychology behind the country.

“I always wondered if I would get to travel given my demanding coursework and extracurriculars, but amazingly this opportunity crossed my path,” says Cole, “and, thanks to the Kaiser Award, I was able to experience this once-in-a-lifetime trip.”

Cole, who wants to become a neurologist and research Parkinson’s disease, was struck by how many people with Parkinson’s have a long wait to see a neurologist. She chose her field to help ensure timely care for Parkinson’s patients, and her community involvement as a camp counselor for students with severe neurological disabilities solidified her path.

Cole’s dedication to improving the community is exactly why Kaiser created the award.

Kaiser’s motto is “service above self,” which comes from his decade with the Charleston Rotary Club.

“As a Rotarian, Charles volunteered his expertise and time to serve the community, and as one of the founding members of the Retired Faculty and Staff Council, he supported the connections among retired colleagues,” says Sue Sommer-Kresse, former dean of admissions, among numerous other roles at the College. “Through action, he demonstrates loyalty to the College, his students, the community and to his colleagues and friends.”

Kaiser credits where he is in life to people who put others before themselves: “It’s my calling to support others with what I have. Helping others is the key to making the world a better place, which is why philanthropy is so important.”

Kaiser has also earned great respect from the Department of Psychology.

“Charles is a positive force whose passion for psychological science, his students and his colleagues is both obvious and contagious,” says Cindi May, professor of psychology.

Adds Garrett Milliken, chair of psychology: “As a leader and the longest-serving member of the psychology department, Charles has fostered a genuine sense of collegiality and care that defines the spirit of cooperation we share today. He also played a crucial role in psychology becoming the College’s most popular major.”

Kaiser’s commitment to bettering the community and nurturing the growth of others is a legacy that will live on for years to come. His influence continues to shape of the College.

“On a personal level, Charles is kind, generous, sincere and deeply caring – qualities we should all aspire to emulate,” says Milliken. “We are truly grateful for him.” – Abby Albright

Donor challenges incentivized giving by unlocking gifts.

• Mark Buono ’81 and Judy Buono ’22 (M.Ed.) gave a $50,000 gift at the 1,000-donor milestone.
• The Zucker Family Challenge awarded $100,000 when the number of donors reached 1,500.
• Laurie Minges ’83, president of the Alumni Association, supported the Alumni Greek Life Scholarship with a matching gift once donations reached $5,000.
• Edward Tuccio ’91 provided a match and a challenge for alumni who graduated within the last 10 years: $5,000 matched the donor’s designation, and $10,000 was unlocked when 150 recent graduates made a gift.
• Johnnie ’92 and Michelle Baxley’s matching gift of $2,500 to encourage faculty and staff giving was met within 30 minutes.
• In honor of the decade Johnnie graduated, the Baxleys supported the ’90s Happy Hour Power Hour with a gift of $3,000 when 100 ’90s alumni donated.

The Baxleys also supported the inaugural student scavenger hunt for 10 plush Clyde the Cougar toys. Students who found a hidden Clyde could direct $250 to the area of their choice.

Justin McLain ’98 funded a friendly competition among schools and units for the second year with the winning teams receiving gifts to their excellence funds for outstanding CofC Day results. The School of the Arts received $30,000 for the largest number of donors and most dollars raised: 189 and $65,235, respectively. The School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs received $15,000 for the highest percentage of alumni participation: 3.28%. CofC Libraries received honorable mention and was awarded $5,000.

This year, schools and units enlisted creative ways to engage their donors. Playing on the “Level Up Your Impact“ theme, LCWA tapped as its spokeswoman the globetrotting criminal mastermind from the popular 1990s video game Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? Megan Oldak, LCWA communication and marketing coordinator, created the social media game “Where in the World is Dean Arias Sandiego?” The students who found Dean Aimee Arias, who was dressed like Carmen Sandiego, won CofC swag.

“It really was a team effort,” says Oldak, noting that LCWA increased its donors by 12% and grew its social media followers. “It was nice to see how many people were willing to join in on the fun. We’re excited about the next CofC Day.”

“CofC Day continues to serve as a fun way to engage with the College and give back,” says Dan Frezza, chief advancement officer. “We are so grateful for the philanthropic spirit of our alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends. Our day of giving makes it possible for the College to continue to provide students with an excellent liberal arts and sciences education.”

“We bought a pair of shoes, and every time we went back, we bought more,” she remembers. “And then, my friends and family would say, ‘Oh, bring me a pair.’” 

Before Powell knew it, she had both feet in the shoe biz. She’d fill suitcases full of shoes in San Miguel and lug them to furniture markets with her mom all over the East Coast and South, selling them on the side. The momentum carried her through her years as a studio art major at the College. By the time Powell graduated, she had 300 wholesale accounts. But after a decade, during which the entrepreneur from the Florida Keys had moved to San Miguel to try to make a full-time go of it, she decided to pack it in.

“I hadn’t made a dime,” she says.

It was time to reassess. Powell took a breath, had a baby and decided to go back to school – this time to Savannah College of Art and Design to study shoe design. But she couldn’t shake the entrepreneurial bug.

“I wanted to do something for myself like my parents had, and I didn’t want to work for either of them,” she says.

She opened a store in Savannah, Ga., selling her own designs, and three months later, she moved the whole operation to Charleston. By 2019, Charleston Shoe Co. had 32 stores. Retail, it turns out, was her niche. 

Looking back on her time at the College, Powell says having a liberal arts education set her up for success. “It taught me so many facets of business, arts and communications, allowing me to juggle all the challenges that I face today,” she says, recalling art professors Frank Cossa, Cliff Peacock and Michael Tyzack as her biggest inspirations. “They pushed me to be bold, which made my confidence soar and take big leaps like creating this business.”

Today, Powell lives on Isle of Palms with her 17-year-old daughter. With its headquarters and warehouse on Upper Meeting Street, Charleston Shoe Co. produces 10,000 pairs of shoes a week, made by a team of 80 cobblers in a factory run by the adult children of the original cobbler in Mexico. In addition to an online and wholesale business, she now has 26 stores nationwide, including in California and St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, with three more slated to open this year. During Covid, she started the nonprofit Shoe Joy, which to date has provided $5 million worth of free shoes around the world through partner Soles4Souls. And, coming full circle, she regularly speaks to classes in the College’s entrepreneurship program.

For Powell, one of the most satisfying aspects of running a successful business is nurturing her employees, many of whom have graduated from the College. Four of them have been with her from the beginning, starting when they were freshmen, and now each runs a division of the company.

“They’re passionate about everything they do,” says Powell, “because they feel like they’ve essentially helped me grow this business, which they have.” – Margaret Loftus

“I love that when I go home at the end of the day, I haven’t been staring at a computer screen,” says Davis. “It’s challenging, creative and always different. I feel like I’m providing a good service to the community through an organization that does the same.”

The bindery, named after a socialite who practiced bookbinding as a hobby, is where Davis combines art, science and history to repair and preserve precious volumes. His current projects include everything from family Bibles to rare institutional collections, with some restorations taking over a year.

One of his most challenging projects is a 1693 Huguenot Bible containing irreplaceable family history written inside its covers. After 19 months of painstaking work, Davis has reinforced the spine, reattached the boards and even re-created the original decorative thread colors he discovered hidden within – all while preserving the book’s essential historical elements.

“It’s a super important book with high historical value,” says Davis. “I really wanted to make sure I did it right.”

An art history major, Davis discovered conservation during a study abroad program in Florence, Italy – the birthplace of modern conservation. After graduation, he worked in publishing before a visit to the Dead Sea Scrolls laboratory in Israel sparked his interest in book and paper conservation.

This led him to specialized training at West Dean College in the U.K. He returned to Charleston and spent six years as a conservation technician at the Library Society before taking over as bindery director in 2020.

“Without the expertise of a conservator such as James in house, we would be at a complete disservice to our collections in terms of proper care and preservation,” says Executive Director Laura Pelzer, noting the advantage to the community as well. “The ability for a family to preserve a Bible or document that has been passed through generations is invaluable.”

Davis demonstrates the difference between modern machine-made books and traditional hand-binding. While mass-produced books rely on glue to hold individual pages together, hand-bound books feature an intricate structure of folded sections sewn around cords that support the spine. A single hand-bound volume can take eight hours or more to create.

His conservation work requires equal patience. A typical family Bible restoration can cost as much as $2,000 and involve hours of careful repair work. The process includes assessing damage, reinforcing torn pages with special conservation tissue, resewing sections and reconstructing the spine – all while maintaining as much of the original material as possible.

Reyling on word of mouth, Davis maintains a monthslong waiting list of projects. He hopes to expand the bindery’s work with institutional collections while continuing to serve individual clients who understand the value of preserving irreplaceable historical volumes.

“People understand their value,” he says, “and they want to preserve them for the future.” –Tom Cunneff

And ESB has a lot to say, and quite the online presence to do so, boasting 1 million followers on Instagram, 1.3 million on Facebook and 1.6 million on TikTok. On each platform, the landmark building comes alive, flirting, joking, clapping back, celebrating the beauty of New York City seen from such great heights and inviting others to do the same. Many followers take ESB up on that offer – the Manhatten skyscraper welcomes 2.5 million annual visitors into its gleaming art deco lobby and new museum before they rocket up to its renovated 86th- and 102nd-floor observation decks.

Hundreds of celebrities are among those who have made the journey, some with more flair than others. In 2023, Jared Leto physically climbed ESB’s exterior to promote his band’s world tour, and in 2024, the cast of HBO Max’s House of the Dragon joined a 270-foot-long dragon, Vhagar, atop the building in preparation for the show’s second season.

When brands interested in promotional events do the outreach to Rickards’ team, part of Rickards’ job is to push every idea to be splashier, bolder, more experimental.

“The House of the Dragon team reached out and said, ‘We want to put a banner on the building,’” she recalls. “And we said, ‘What about a dragon?’”

While Rickards was growing up in tiny Newbury, N.H., a town with no stoplights and a population under 3,000, her dreams of working in a creative field did not involve dragons. Eventually, however, they came to include Cougars.

“I wanted to go to school in a small city with a campus in the downtown area,” she says, citing Charleston’s warm weather and fascinating history as bonuses. “I loved the opportunities the College and city provided me. CofC gave me a great education and my best friends; the communication department gave me the foundation for my career.”

Through a retail job as a student, Rickards met a woman at a real estate firm who hired her as a marketing assistant. So, when she acted on a lifelong interest in moving to New York after graduating, she had two years of experience under her belt and was able to find a job with Empire State Realty Trust.

After a three-year stint as marketing manager for a different real estate company, she returned to the Empire State Building in 2018. She was excited to step into a leadership role in which she could build and develop her own teams, which sometimes requires stupidity.

“I’ll sit down with the team and ask, ‘What’s the dumbest idea you have?’” she says. “Stupid is fun. It’s great when you have a team that gives everyone the freedom to be stupid. Things flop, or they go viral, but we never get deterred when they flop, because ​​it all helps us better understand our performance and the direction we need to take.”

Equally important is instilling a sense of what the 94-year-old brand stands for, what lines it will and won’t cross. “We have a strong identity and strict brand standards,” Rickards says. “So when we’re thinking up content, we’re asking ourselves, ‘How can we keep to those standards but still have fun?’” – Hannah Ashe ’12

“Just as we Black women scientists have struggled to thrive in our field, sharks have struggled to survive,” says Graham. “When Black women fight back, we are seen as the enemy, just like sharks, which, more often than not, bite only when provoked.”

Like a shark, Graham doesn’t stop moving. In 2024, she published a book, Sharks Don’t Sink, a memoir of her journey to becoming a shark scientist. She also appeared on an eight-episode PBS miniseries, Sharks Unknown With Jasmin Graham. She regularly publishes research in scientific journals and partners with National Geographic as a science adviser and consultant, leading to SCI Journal including her on its “Top 16 Famous Shark Scientists That You Should Know” list.

“I don’t just love sharks,” says Graham. “I feel for them. I admire their persistence, their resilience, their ability to survive, to keep moving forward; but I’m also laser-focused on their vulnerabilities, their need for our protection.”

Graham discovered her passion for sharks as an Honors College student at the College. In her search for a paid research position – a rare opportunity for undergraduates – she met Gavin Naylor, then a CofC marine biology professor working on the Chondrichthyan Tree of Life Project, which focuses on the genus of sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras. Naylor was able to get Graham funding, and they worked together throughout her time at the College.

“Gavin moved mountains to find me undergraduate funding after my summer research with him,” says Graham, who grew up in Columbia, S.C. “The funding Gavin found for me, when others said it was impossible, was essential, but perhaps his biggest gift was the confidence he always seemed to have in me.”

For Naylor, supporting Graham just made sense. “When you meet someone of the caliber of Jasmin, you want to support her,” he says. “For such a young person, she is incredibly self-assured – not loud but quietly confident. She was an absolute joy to work with.”

At the urging of Naylor, Graham applied for and received a National Science Foundation graduate research fellowship. After graduating from CofC with a double major in marine biology and Spanish, she studied with Naylor’s colleague at Florida State University, graduating with a master’s in marine biology. She then discovered a group of marine scientists who were also women of color.

Graham had never encountered a shark scientist who looked like her, and the experience proved pivotal. In 2020, she cofounded Minorities in Shark Science to provide underrepresented students with a welcoming, inclusive environment to explore the field of marine science. All MISS programs are free because, as Graham says, “not having money shouldn’t be a reason you never get this experience on the water.”

Today, with Graham as CEO, MISS has more than 500 members in 33 countries. In her role, she wears many hats, from fundraising and research to outreach and public awareness.

In addition to conducting ocean science workshops for students, Graham regularly presents about the importance of protecting endangered sharks. When she first started her presentations, she would Google “marine scientists” to show the audience how the field was not diverse. Now, the Google images include more diversity, and almost all are affiliated with MISS.

Graham also serves on the board of the American Elasmobranch Society, which supports the scientific study of sharks, skates and rays. She says she is pleased that AES is helping to bring more communities of color into marine sciences. –Darcie Goodwin

More than 70% of American adults are concerned about how technology affects their mental health and personal relationships.

Our recent research studied the digital detox journey, where people take a much-needed break from digital consumption, aiming to uncover what supports or sabotages those seeking digital well-being. Our findings highlighted four key strategies to improve this journey:

1. Finding replacement practices
Feelings of withdrawal during a digital detox are quite common. For many, reaching for their phones and scrolling has become such a ritual that they often don’t realize they are doing it. Finding an alternative to distract your mind and occupy your hands can be crucial during a digital detox. These replacement practices often involve hobbies or activities that result in play. As adults, people sometimes forget what it feels like to have fun. By engaging in play for its own sake, you can significantly reduce stress levels and boost your digital well-being.

2. Shoring up social bonds
Since humans are social creatures, our innate desire for connection combined with people’s reliance on technology can lead to feelings of FOMO – fear of missing out – and anxiety during a digital detox. Although we’re a more connected society, relationships suffer and people are lonelier than ever.

During a digital detox, it is vital to fill your cup with community. We recommend engaging in a digital detox alongside others, because FOMO may rear its ugly head if your friend pulls out their phone during a night out.

3. Emphasizing mindfulness
In today’s fast-paced environment, finding a moment to pause can feel impossible. Many don’t have moments to be alone with their thoughts. Yet, the ability to just be allows time to reflect, helping you consider what makes you happy and healthy.

In our study, yoga and meditation were common ways that detoxers found moments to become more aware of their own thoughts, which helped foster more intentional behaviors. Finding moments where you can step away – to be still and silent – can provide a much-needed recharge.

4. Viewing digital well-being as an ongoing journey
Ultimately, digital well-being is a journey. It is not a checklist that, once completed, means you are fulfilled.

A successful detox often leaves people feeling introspective and curious. Relapses are common, especially if detoxers don’t set and monitor goals. Importantly, your needs change and evolve over time. What works now might not be what you need in the future.

We recommend identifying specific goals related to your own digital well-being. These aren’t productivity goals but goals to be unproductive. Whether planning a weekly game night with friends or taking a 10-minute walk without your phone, making time to unplug is worth it in the long run.

People are not machines, so recognizing your limits and finding ways to reconnect with yourself and others during a detox can enhance your sense of humanity and digital well-being.

Kelley Cours Anderson and Karen Ann Wallach are assistant professors of marketing at the College and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, respectively. Anderson is co-founder of (Dis)Connect Collective, a digital wellness consulting group.