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College of Arts and Sciences

Columbia Alumni Council

Council Members

Marty Belk

Marty Presler Belk

Marty Belk earned her B.S. in biology in 1969. Many doors opened for her during her two years as a chemist for Celanese Corporation, after which she moved on to medical research at Vanderbilt Hospital for five years. Eventually, her ongoing interest in real estate became her priority and career. She moved back to her hometown, Rock Hill, South Carolina, where she met her husband, Don Belk, a realtor. Marty has continued her real estate career in Charleston and is involved in numerous community endeavors, including serving on the school board for East Cooper.

Jack Breazeale

W.H. Jack Breazeale

Jack Breazeale received his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1966. He taught at Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina, from 1965 to 1970. In 1970, he was a founding faculty member of a new state college in Florence, South Carolina, now Francis Marion University. From 1970 until his retirement in 1997, he was chair of the Department of Chemistry and Physics and professor of chemistry. Jack has been active in the American Chemical Society for more than 40 years, and has held numerous offices in the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety.

Daniel D'Alberto

Daniel D'Alberto

Daniel R. D'Alberto earned his B.A. in political science from the University of South Carolina in 1997, and an M.S. in higher education administration from Florida State University in 2000. In 2005, he earned a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He is an associate of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP with a wide variety of experience advising businesses in the areas of complex business, patent, pharmaceutical and securities litigation.

Devaris Davis

Devaris Davis

Upon earning his B.S. and M.S. degrees in statistics in 1992 and 1999, respectively, Devaris Davis took on a variety of employment opportunities with the adhesive coating and printing industries. His primary areas of expertise have been data analysis, problem solving and process improvement. He currently works as Quality Manager for Avery Dennison in Clinton, South Carolina. A Life Member of the Carolina Alumni Association, he has served on the Alumni Association's Board of Governors, and he is a former president of the Black Alumni Council.

Lois Whitaker

Lois Lovelace Duke 

After earning her Ph.D. in political science in 1986, at the University of South Carolina, Lois Lovelace Duke, Ph.D., enjoyed an impressive academic career teaching at Auburn University, the University of Alabama, and Clemson, where she was the first female full professor in her department.  A former department chair and full professor of the Department of Political Science and International Studies at Georgia Southern University, she was awarded professor emerita status in 2013.  Lois is a past president of the Women's Caucus for Political Science: South; a past president of the SC Political Science Association and Georgia Political Science Association; and vice-president for the League of Women Voters, South Carolina.

Mark Dutton

Mark Dutton

Mark Dutton completed his B.S. degree in biology education (1977) and M.S. degree in biological sciences (1981) at South Carolina. He served as State Parks Naturalist for the South Carolina State Park Service for several years before beginning work for the Department of the Army as a biologist. He has managed natural and cultural resources for the United States Army Training Center and Fort Jackson since 1991. Mark founded a hiking club for families in 1995 called Families Understanding Nature and has been active with SC Habitat for Humanity for many years.

Cheryl Fisher

Cheryl Fisher

Cheryl Fisher received a Master of Mathematics from South Carolina in 1974 and a J.D. from the  School of Law in 1990. She is an attorney with Rogers Townsend & Thomas, where she concentrates her practice on default and contested foreclosures, resolution of title issues, mobile home issues, loss mitigation issues and Chapter 7, 11 and 13 bankruptcy issues. Her previous experience was as a large systems marketing representative in the manufacturing and distribution sector for IBM.

Joel Johnson

Joel Johnson

A graduate of Spring Valley High School in Columbia, Joel Johnson completed his B.S. in biology at South Carolina in 1978 and went on to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He has been practicing dentistry in Columbia for the past 27 years. He is on the Board of Trustees for Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital and just recently rotated off the Children's Hospital Board for Palmetto Health Richland Hospital. For the past 17 years he served as the Team Dentist for the University of South Carolina athletic teams.

Richard Litwin

Richard Litwin

Richard Litwin received a B.A. in economics from South Carolina in 1984 and a J.D. from Emory University in 1987. He has more than 20 years of experience practicing law in Georgia. Richard started his legal career at the State of Georgia Attorney General's office and subsequently went into private practice in Atlanta. He owns The Litwin Law Firm, P.C. of Atlanta where he specializes in local and state tax disputes. He has earned many accolades, including being named one of Georgia's Super Lawyers in the area of tax law for the past four years in a row.

John Logue

John Logue

John Logue received his B.S. in biology in 1964 and M.S. in 1966 from the University of South Carolina. After further studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he taught at USC Sumter until his retirement in 2007. He served as Chair of the Division of Science, Mathematics and Engineering from 1994 to 2002. At retirement, he held the rank of full professor and was appointed Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences.

Jared Mobley

Jared D. Mobley

Jared Mobley completed his B.S. in mathematics at South Carolina in 1995 and his J.D. at the School of Law in 1998. He is a lawyer with K&L Gates, LLP in the Charlotte, North Carolina, office and focuses his practice on complex aspects of federal, state and local taxation, including creating and implementing tax-efficient structures for the firm's clients. His practice covers many facets of tax law that are intertwined with the business activities of the firm's clients, including: advising clients on the tax aspects of private equity, venture capital and M&A transactions.

Ellen Leigh Murray

Ellen Leigh Murray

After graduating from South Carolina with a B.A. in theater, Ellen (who goes by Leigh, professionally) moved to New York City and joined Circle Repertory Company and acted in the daytime dramas “Loving” and “The Guiding Light,” and starred in national commercials. In Los Angeles, she moved into producing-directing and produced the acclaimed CBS television movies, “The Outside Woman” starring Sharon Gless and Scott Glenn, as well as “Stolen Women, Captured Hearts” starring Janine Turner and Dennis Weaver. She is on the board and jury of the Worldfest Houston International Film Festival. Ellen is a native Charlestonian and is the broker-owner of Charleston Premier Properties. She enjoys playing piano and directing plays.

Francis Person

Francis Person

Francis John Person earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of South Carolina in 2005. He attended South Carolina on a full athletic scholarship, and was a four-year varsity football letter winner. He played under the tutelage of legendary coaches Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier. He was previously the special assistant and personal aide to Vice President of the United States Joe Biden. He began working for then-Senator Biden (DE) in Washington, D.C., upon graduating from South Carolina.

David Rembert

David Rembert

David Rembert completed his B.S. (1959) and M.S. (1964) degrees in biological sciences at South Carolina. He received his Ph.D. in biological sciences at the University of Kentucky at Lexington in 1967. He has taught at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, at the University of Kentucky, and at the University of South Carolina from 1967 until his retirement in July 1998. During his tenure at the university, he was promoted through the academic ranks to full professor and at his retirement, he was appointed Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences.

Hugh Rogers

Hugh Rogers

Hugh Rogers completed his bachelor's degree in English at the University of South Carolina in 1951 and his Juris Doctor at the School of Law in 1954. Since 1966, he has practiced law in the town of Lexington, South Carolina, where he also formerly served as mayor. He is a retired colonel in the United States Army Reserve, having served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps with distinction, a past president of the Greater USC Alumni Association, and a member of the USC Guardian Society.

Keith Sanders

Keith Sanders

Keith Sanders is a 1978 graduate of South Carolina in history with more than 27 years experience in the fields of construction and architecture. He is currently a project architect with CDA Architects in Columbia, who focuses on historic preservation and restoration and sustainable design and development projects. He is a current member of the Board of Directors serving as Chair of the Advocacy Committee, and past president of the U.S. Green Building Council SC Chapter. He serves as chair of the American Institute of Architects SC Committee on the Environment.

Shawncee Sapp

Shawncee Sapp

Shawncee Sapp earned her B.S. in mathematics from the University of South Carolina in 1998 and went on to successfully complete South Carolina Banker’s School. Currently, she works for J. E. Wilson Advisors, LLC, where she serves as Director of Client Services, helping customers achieve their financial goals. Shawncee has served on the Township Auditorium Board of Trustees, Township Auditorium Foundation, and as treasurer on Columbia Parks and Recreation Foundation. Shawncee is a member of the Junior League of Columbia and the recipient of the Columbia Parks and Recreation Volunteer of the Year Award in 2011.

Claud N. Sapp, IV

Claud N. Sapp, IV

Claud N. Sapp, IV earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences and chemistry in 2002 from the University of South Carolina. Claud works for Medtronic, Inc. Cardiac and Vascular Group, where he serves as Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management Senior Clinical Specialist. As an alumnus of the University of South Carolina, he aims to contribute and give back to the university and the College of Arts and Sciences by sharing his technical knowledge base and real world job experience.

Thomas Sayetta

Thomas Sayetta

Thomas Sayetta completed his Ph.D. in physics at the University of South Carolina in 1964, after receiving his undergraduate degree in physics in 1959. He is an associate professor emeritus with East Carolina University. With a research focus on magnetic resonance, Thomas has authored articles for academic journals such as the American Journal of Physics, and numerous physics laboratory manuals. Since his retirement in 1995 he has continued to teach physics part time. He also enjoys staying active as a part-time tennis player.

Dee Silverthorn

Dee Silverthorn

Dee Silverthorn received a B.S. with honors in biology from Tulane University in 1970 and a Ph.D. in marine science from USC's Baruch Institute in 1973. She is currently a senior lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches physiology. Her bench research focuses on epithelial transport. Dee is an active member of the American Physiological Society and the Human Anatomy & Physiology Society, and is a member of the Education Committee of the International Union of Physiological Sciences.

Davontae Singleton

Davontae Singleton

Davontae Singleton, a native of Charleston, graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in English. He is a current graduate student at USC and plans to pursue a career in education. At USC, he was executive director of the Waverly Afterschool Program and president of Share Our Strength: No Kid Hungry, he served as a University 101 peer leader, interned with the Office of the Provost, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia, and served as an ambassador for the Honors College and the College of Arts and Sciences. Notable achievements include: National finalist for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, 2015 Newman Civic Fellow Inductee, 2015 recipient of "Outstanding Senior Award," and recipient of "Who's Who Among American Colleges and University" award.

James Stevens

James Stevens

James Stevens received degrees in Physics and Math from Wofford College prior to his Ph.D. in Physics from USC in 1975. He served as a research associate at Savannah River Laboratory and Case Western Reserve University before teaching at North Georgia College. He worked with Philips Electronics/BCC in Columbia, SC, in various positions ending with Manager of Product Development. He later served as technology consultant to several electronic firms in the Southeast and is now semi-retired with occasional consulting and teaching assignments.

Laura Bauld Turner

Laura Bauld Turner

Laura Bauld Turner graduated from South Carolina cum laude with a B.A. in International Studies and Spanish Language. Upon graduation, she became employed as a Legislative Assistant in the Office of United States Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington, D.C., where she specialized in education, labor, welfare, and agriculture policy for seven years. Laura currently serves as the Senator's Upstate Director in Greenville, where she manages his Greenville Office and oversees community outreach and constituent service activities in the Upstate region.

Mary Baskin Waters

Mary Baskin Waters

Mary Baskin Waters earned her undergraduate degree in art studio in 1985, her master's in art education in 1987, and her Ph.D. in higher educational leadership and policies in 2002, all from USC. She is Founder and CEO of Albion Research Associates, LLC, a grant writing and grants development firm. She is also currently affiliate faculty in the Women's and Gender Studies Program and teaches "Women in Society: A Service Learning Approach." Additionally, she is affiliate faculty in the MPA Program in the Department of Political Science, where she teaches Grants Administration.

Not Pictured: Natasha W. Anderson (Arts, ‘13; Public Admin, ‘17),  James M. Albergotti III (Biology, ‘68),   Lois E. Carlisle (Art History),  John L. Edwards (Chemistry, ‘73), Heyward Harvin, (Political Science and International Studies, ’09),  Jonaka Hunter-Young (Biology, ‘96), Gray H. Ladd (Business Admin, ‘03; Public Admin, ‘05), Nicholas Levi Jones (Statistics, ‘86), Kimberly D. Leighton (Theater, ‘99; Ed. ‘01), John T. Metts (Arts, ‘13), Robert Scott Moore (Physics, ’82, ‘86), Albert B. Pittman (Biology, ‘78), Ira J. Radin (Biology, ‘68),  Derrell Alver Shipes (Biology, ‘75), James L. Stevens (Physics ’75; Business Admin, ‘92), Robin Smith Stephens (Biology, ‘92), Krystal W. Thames (History '04)


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