Applied Public Policy

The post Kelly Gregory: A Life Shaped by Classrooms appeared first on The Riley Institute.Read more

by Melissa Charles Not every student experiences school in the same way, and oftentimes, public education works best when it meets students where they are. The Riley Institute for Public Policy and Civic Leadership is applying that approach through leadership education at Greenville County Schools’ High School Alternative Program (HSAP)....Read more

As parents rush to find summer programs for their children, Furman University’s Amy Keely and Zelda Waymer write an opinion piece in The Post and Courier about the importance of supporting out-of-school-time programs in South Carolina. Keely, director of S.C. Afterschool Leaders Empowered at Furman’s Riley Institute,...Read more

Grace Guillaume ’26 couldn’t see herself as a leader when she first came to Furman University, but becoming a Paladin changes things. Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, Guillaume knew she wanted to pursue a career in law. She had several friends who had to navigate civil law proceedings while...Read more

March 31, 2026 What if a single school disciplinary decision could shape the rest of a student’s life? For thousands of young people across the United States, that’s the reality. A suspension, an arrest, or even a brief encounter with law enforcement at school can set off a chain reaction—one...Read more

by Amy Keely and Cathy Stevens When we talk about youth crime and risky behavior, the conversation often centers on consequences—what happens after something goes wrong. But what if we focused instead on prevention? What if we invested more in the hours, relationships, and environments that shape young people before...Read more

The post Amy Keely: Creating Lift for Communities appeared first on The Riley Institute.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: Kids On Point Selected as 2026 Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award Winner Greenville, S.C. – Kids On Point has been named the winner of the 2026 Dick and Tunky Riley...Read more

by Cathy Stevens When thinking about education in America, we naturally think about the traditional school day from roughly 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Often overlooked, but also critical to children’s success and development are afterschool and summer programs. At The Riley Institute, we have long been invested in improving the entire...Read more

The post Cathy Stevens: A Career Built on Connection appeared first on The Riley Institute.Read more

The post How The Riley Institute Is Changing the Afterschool Landscape appeared first on The Riley Institute.Read more

The post Bringing His World to Furman: Don Gordon’s Journey to The Riley Institute appeared first on The Riley Institute.Read more

For S.C. Rep. Neal Collins ’04, receiving the 2026 Riley Wilkins OneSouthCarolina Legislative Leadership Award from The Riley Institute at Furman University was a full-circle moment. Collins, who represents Pickens and Greenville Counties in the state House of Representatives, remembers contemplating a life of public service as early as his...Read more

FOR INFORMATION: Claudia Winkler Director of Marketing & Communications The Riley Institute at Furman University 864-294-3368 • claudia.winkler@furman.edu   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lowcountry Honorees Among 2026 OneSouthCarolina Award Winners COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Riley Institute at Furman University honored a Lowcountry organization and a Charleston-based leader during the Riley-Wilkins OneSouthCarolina...Read more

FOR INFORMATION: Claudia Winkler Director of Marketing & Communications The Riley Institute at Furman University 864-294-3368 • claudia.winkler@furman.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Upstate Leader Honored Among 2026 OneSouthCarolina Award Recipients COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Riley Institute at Furman University honored South Carolina Representative Neal Collins (R–Pickens & Greenville) with the Riley-Wilkins...Read more