New Board Members Begin Terms at Converse
On July 1, 2002, Converse College welcomed six new members to its Board of Trustees.
| William Barnet, III of Spartanburg, S.C. Bill returns to the Board of Trustees as Chair of the Development Committee. He is also Chairperson of the Campaign for Converse. Bill’s service to Converse began in 1988 when he was first elected to the Board. From 1997-99, he served as Chairman of the Board, providing key leadership that led to numerous achievements for the college.Under his guidance, Converse was able to meet and surpass a fundraising goal of $45 million dollars in 1998-99, securing over $50 million dollars in just nine months. This is particularly impressive because at the time, Converse had no president in place. In 2001, Bill was presented with the Dexter Edgar Converse Award, the college’s highest honor. Bill’s dedication to education and community has benefited other organizations including the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee, United Way of the Piedmont, the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, the Spartanburg Arts Council, the Spartanburg County Foundation, and numerous other organizations. His service to community also resulted in his being was sworn in as Mayor of the city of Spartanburg in January 2002. |
| Susan Phifer “Susu” Johnson ’65 of Spartanburg, S.C. Susu Johnson will serve Converse as Chairperson of the Committee on Trustees. Although her leadership has been in a wide variety of areas, this 1965 Converse graduate has maintained a special interest and commitment to organizations that prevent violence against women and children. She has provided key leadership for Planned Parenthood, the Mecklenburg Commission on the Status of Women, Safe Homes Network, the Spartanburg Women’s Political Caucus, and the Junior League.Her contributions to her community include serving as a member of the Spartanburg City Council, the Spartanburg Music Foundation Board of Directors, the advisory board for NCNB, and the Daniel Morgan Society, of which she was a founding member. |
| Robert H. Chapman, III of Spartanburg, S.C. A native of Spartanburg, S.C., Robert earned his bachelor of arts in economics from University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.Throughout his professional life, Robert has served on numerous Boards of community and business organizations, including the New York Cotton Exchange, South Carolina Independent College and Universities, Bank of America, and the Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce. Since 1976, he has served as President of Inman Mills. |
| Carroll Clancy ’71 of Raleigh, N.C. A native of Milledgeville, Georgia, Carroll will serve as President-elect of the alumnae. She attended Converse College in 1971 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Museum |