NGU News


Smith Completes Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative

Posted on: March 15, 2021
By LaVerne Howell, laverne.howell@ngu.edu

Tigerville, SC (June 13, 2019) North Greenville University (NGU) Professor of Business Feliccia Smith was one of the thirty-eight leaders from the Upstate which has just completed the Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI).

Over the past five months, participants have examined sensitive issues related to diversity and inclusion, explored “blind spots,” and discussed how to suspend assumptions. Each class is expertly facilitated by Juan Johnson, an independent consultant, and former Coca-Cola vice president.

As part of the program, participants have worked in small, cross-sector groups to respond to real issues and opportunities in their communities through service projects. The projects from this class focused on: enhancing educational opportunities for local youth through programs that expose students to valuable life lessons and skills; assisting adult men experiencing homelessness transition; providing a personal piece of luggage to children in foster care offering them a sense of belonging, continuity, and respect; improving safety and accessibility for every rider in the Greenlink transit system; and fostering community dialogue around racial terror aimed to raise awareness, build trust, and break down barriers.

Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with an emphasis in statistics from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay; a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University; and a doctorate in leadership and organizational change from Walden University. She is also a small business owner. Before entering higher education, she honed experience in K-12 public education; county and federal government; the nonprofit sector; and corporate America.

“We are excited to add this group of thoughtful leaders, unafraid to take on a challenge and passionate about this state, to our alumni list,” said Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute. 

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