THIS IS GAMECOCK FOOTBALL JOSEPH CHARLTON SENIOR PUNTER information THE UNIVERSITY CAROLINA FOOTBALL u The University of South Carolina has been ranked the No. 25 flagship university by U.S. News. University History The University of South Carolina is a globally recognized, high- impact u The university’s Columbia campus has 300 degree programs through its research university committed to a superior student experience and 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. dedicated to innovation in learning, research and community engagement. Founded in 1801, the university offers more than 300 degree programs u The South Carolina Honors College was ranked the nation’s best public and is one of a group of public universities to receive both the top- tier university honors college by Public University Press. research designation and the community engagement designation from the Carnegie Foundation. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one u South Carolina has been recognized by Kiplinger’s, Forbes and U.S. News of 20 locations throughout the state, including the research campus in as a best value public university. Columbia. u UofSC is known as a national model for a better student experience, u based on its pioneering first-year experience program and other initiatives UofSC has had at least one Goldwater Scholar every year for the past 27 that give students more flexible and accelerated paths to graduation. years and one or more Fulbright Scholars for 18 consecutive years. USC has also graduated 10 Truman Scholars and 10 Rhodes Scholars. u The university system and alumni pump $5.5 billion into South Carolina’s u economy every year. University of South Carolina faculty generated $258 million in funding for research, training and outreach programs in fiscal year 2018. u The National Science Foundation (NSF) ranks UofSC No. 8 in the nation u for the number of doctoral degrees awarded to African American students. South Carolina is ranked in the top-five percent of U.S. public universities in the number of national awards its faculty have received. u As South Carolina’s flagship university, UofSC has more nationally- u ranked programs than any other school in the state. In fact, U.S. News alone Committed to access and affordability, UofSC established Palmetto ranks 56 of UofSC’s academic programs as among the best in the nation. College, offering convenient campus locations and online bachelor’s degree completion programs for all South Carolina students. It’s On Your Time u The Darla Moore School of Business undergraduate and MBA initiative gives students greater flexibility to graduate sooner and pursue international business programs were ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World internship and study abroad opportunities. Report in 2019. u South Carolina is one of only a handful of public universities to receive u The National Academy of Inventors has named UofSC as a leading both the Carnegie top-tier research university and community engagement generator of patents, putting UofSC in the top one percent worldwide. designations. u u Students at the University of South Carolina have earned nearly 900 Selected by Inc. magazine as one of the nation’s top three “Incubators national fellowships and scholarships valued at $30 million since 1994. to Watch,” the UofSC-Columbia Technology Incubator is one of several university efforts to cultivate entrepreneurism. u UofSC has created vital business partnerships with Fortune 500 companies u IBM, Fluor Corp., Boeing and Samsung to create jobs, accelerate innovation UofSC has the state’s most comprehensive suite of health disciplines, and drive economic prosperity in the state and beyond. It recently opened including medicine, public health, pharmacy, nursing and social work. Its the Center for Applied Innovation, where the university, IBM and private online nursing graduate program is ranked No. 6, and its exercise science sector researchers will use technology for a host of real-world applications. doctoral program is No. 1. University Mission Statement The University’s mission is threefold: the education of the state’s diverse citizens through teaching, research and creative activity, and service. 190 2019 SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE CAROLINA FOOTBALL CAROLINA FOOTBALL BOARD OF TRUSTEES Henry D. McMaster John C. von Lehe Jr. Hubert F. Mobley Eugene P. Warr Jr. Governor of South Carolina Chairman Vice Chairman Chairman Emeritus Ex Officio Chairman 9th Judicial Circuit 6th Judicial Circuit 4th Judicial Circuit C. Dan Adams Chuck Allen J. Egerton Burroughs Robert F. Dozier Jr. A.C. Fennell III Governor’s Designee 10th Judicial Circuit 15th Judicial Circuit President, Alumni Association 8th Judicial Circuit C. Edward Floyd MD William C. Hubbard Richard A. Jones Jr. Toney J. Lister 12th Judicial Circuit 5th Judicial Circuit Governor’s Appointee 7th Judicial Circuit Miles Loadholt Leah B. Moody Rose Buyck Newton C. Dorn Smith III MD Molly M. Spearman 2nd Judicial Circuit 16th Judicial Circuit 14th Judicial Circuit 3rd Judicial Circuit Superintendent of Education Thad H. Westbrook Mack I. Whittle Jr. Charles H. Williams II J. Cantey Heath Jr. 11th Judicial Circuit 13th Judicial Circuit 1st Judicial Circuit Secretary GAMECOCKSONLINE.COM 191 UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION CAROLINA FOOTBALL ences with faculty and the university community,” says Kelly, who BRENDAN began his higher education career as a professor of speech. “You’ve got people at this university right now who are enrolled in KELLY master’s and doctoral programs and medical school and law school and a myriad of undergraduate programs, and they are transforming INTERIM PRESIDENT who they are and who they will be. It’s inspiring!” 1st Year at South Carolina Kelly is focused on engaging stakeholders for the university. “The University of South Carolina has an incredible array of differ- The search for the University of South Carolina’s next president ent stakeholders from students and faculty to alumni and legislators. continues, but don’t expect a slowdown in campus operations as In- I am interested in dedicating my time to continuing to nurture their terim President Brendan Kelly takes office Aug. 1, 2019. relationships with the university.” Kelly, USC Upstate’s chancellor since March of 2017, was named Since becoming chancellor of USC Upstate, Kelly has articulated to the interim position when university trustees decided to continue an ambitious vision for the university aimed at creating transformative the presidential search after considering four finalists to succeed Har- opportunities for students and the communities of South Carolina’s ris Pastides. Pastides retired July 31 after 11 years as the institution’s Upstate region and beyond. Kelly and his leadership team have posi- 28th president. tioned Upstate as a top public, regional comprehensive university in “At a large public university like this, nothing should stop or be the Southeast — one that is focused on maximizing the institution’s put on hold even for a short time,” Kelly says. “There is a tremendous ability to educate students, is deeply connected to industry and is pur- amount of talent in this university that is doing great work every day. posefully involved in the community. You don’t stop doing great work because there’s a transition at the top.” USC Upstate is highly ranked for excellence in performance by As one of three chancellors in the university system, Kelly is keenly U.S. News & World Report, at No. 2 among public regional universi- familiar with the university’s major projects and priorities on the Co- ties in the South. lumbia campus. Prior to joining USC Upstate, Kelly managed the Division of Uni- “As part of the leadership team for the USC System, I’m familiar versity Advancement at the University of West Florida, directed the with all of the important projects and priorities and I’m going to con- School of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts and chaired tinue to push to advance the university on those fronts,” says Kelly, the communication arts department. He joined the UWF faculty who previously led the university advancement division at the Univer- in 2004, serving as director of the institution’s nationally recognized sity of West Florida. “There’s broad agreement about some of the key speech and debate program. Specializing in speech communication things that this institution needs, so I think there’s a lot of progress training, Kelly has taught courses in political communication, speech that can be made.” communication, communication ethics and various areas related to Kelly, whose family will divide its time between Spartanburg and strategic communication. Previously, he was vice president for ad- Columbia, likens his role to that of a choirmaster. vancement at the University of West Florida, where he led the units of “There are many constituencies, many voices at our university, and university marketing and communications, alumni relations, develop- we are trying to take them and orchestrate into a choir,” he says. ment, community engagement and more. Kelly particularly relishes the opportunities to meet key stakehold- Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations in 1998 and a ers, especially students. master’s degree in communications in 2000 from Eastern Michigan, “When you work for a public university, you’re surrounded by peo- and a doctorate in rhetoric and political communication from Wayne ple who are going places. Every student you meet, you ask, ‘Where State in 2005. did you come from and where are you going?’ and they’ve got a story He and his wife, Tressa Kelly, have three children: Bree, Liam and fueled by optimism and inspiration that they’ve derived from experi- Kieran. Dr. Littlefield joined the South Carolina faculty in 1999 after pro- VALINDA fessional stops at each of her alma maters, North Carolina Central and Illinois. LITTLEFIELD While at USC, Dr. Littlefield has served on numerous university FACULTY ATHLETICS committees including co-chair of the Commemoration of the 50th REPRESENTATIVE Anniversary of Desegregation, QEP, University Women’s Faculty Or- 20th Year at South Carolina ganization, and Faculty Committee on Instructional Development.