Applied Public Policy

Furman University senior Ben Thompson writes an opinion piece in The Post and Courier about how donors and nonprofits can make the most of donor-advised funds, shoring up the gap left by traditional funding vehicles. Thompson, a politics and international affairs and a Spanish major, says a...Read more

In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, we explored AI’s promise as a learning partner as well as the evidence gaps and risks surrounding educational technology. But the question remains: what should we actually do? The answer is unlikely to be either...Read more

In Part 1, we looked at AI’s promise as a learning partner—and the risk that convenience can replace the productive struggle students need to develop lasting skills. But schools face another challenge: we’re adopting AI faster than we can determine what actually works, prepare children for an...Read more

What if the smartest student in the classroom isn’t a student at all? Today, students can ask AI to explain a difficult equation at midnight, brainstorm an essay in seconds, or create a personalized study guide with a few prompts. For teachers, AI and other educational technologies can provide new...Read more

Riley’s Readers, a program crafted by Furman University’s Riley Institute Fellows, was featured on WYFF News 4 and on FOX Carolina News. Riley’s Readers enables incarcerated parents to record their voices as they read stories to their children. The recordable books are then shared with the inmates’...Read more

Hanaa Khan, a junior at Furman University, has written an opinion piece in The Greenville News in favor of a proposed penny sales tax for Greenville residents. The tax, which will appear on the ballot this November, has the potential to raise more than $510 million over eight years...Read more

More than three decades ago, Alexander Stubb ’93 H’17 and Gen. Joshua Rudd ’93 arrived at Furman University with different interests, different ambitions and little indication of where their paths would eventually lead. On Friday, those paths came together again at the university that helped shape both of them. Stubb,...Read more

Amid a capacity crowd Sept. 18 in McAlister Auditorium at Furman University, news organizations near and far covered a talk featuring Finnish President Alexander Stubb and General Joshua Rudd, both 1993 Furman alumni. From domestic and foreign policy to artificial intelligence to college days hijinks, news sources touched on a...Read more

Each summer, the Riley Institute Summer Experience (RISE) places Furman students with Upstate organizations working on some of the region’s most pressing challenges. During the 10-week experience, students contribute their skills and perspectives to meaningful work while gaining a deeper understanding of the communities and organizations they serve. ...Read more

More than three decades ago, Alexander Stubb ’93 H’17 and Gen. Joshua Rudd ’93 were Furman students headed in very different directions. Stubb, a political science major from Finland, arrived on campus with a broad curiosity about the world and quickly immersed himself in political theory and international affairs. Rudd, also...Read more

FOR INFORMATION: Claudia Winkler Director, Marketing and Communications The Riley Institute at Furman University 864.294.3368; claudia.winkler@furman.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2027 OneSouthCarolina Award Winners Announced by The Riley Institute at Furman University GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Riley Institute at Furman University has announced the recipients of the 2027 OneSouthCarolina Awards, recognizing...Read more

By: Melissa Charles  The Riley Institute Summer Experience (RISE) connects Furman students with Upstate organizations working on Greenville’s most pressing challenges. For 10 weeks each summer, RISE interns work full time with host organizations, building professional skills while expanding their host’s capacity for community impact. Thanks to the high-quality work, fresh perspectives, and innovative insights these...Read more

Furman University President Elizabeth Davis will be recognized by the Greenville Drive Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Fluor Field as the 2026 Green Day Honoree. Green Day represents Greenville’s unofficial birthday when the Greenville Drive and city officials gather to celebrate the things that make Greenville exceptional. Davis, who will...Read more

Reams of public school data are published every year in South Carolina, so finding a specific piece of information is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Until now. Two online data tools aim to make it easier for everyone to parse the glut of information and render it...Read more

In a commentary appearing in The Post and Courier, Amy Keely and Claudia Winkler of The Riley Institute at Furman University, ask, “Are students truly prepared for college and careers? Do our systems work together to ensure their success?”Read more