Our Board of Trustees is a rich and diverse group of leaders. From various backgrounds and professions, they share a commitment to our mission of reducing poverty in South Carolina through action, advocacy and leadership. Their strategic decision-making guides our organization.

Officers

Lisa Bernardin, Chair

Former Juvenile Justice attorney with the Children’s Law Center and Deputy Solicitor for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Lexington, SC 

  • Board member since 2015
  • Governance Committee
  • Executive Committee
  • Ex-officio on all board committees

Mitch Watson, Vice Chair

Chief Operating Officer, Hub International Carolinas

  • Board member since 2015
  • Grants Committee, Chair
  • Executive Committee

John Anderson (Andy) Folsom, Treasurer

VP, M&A and Strategic Investments at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (BCBSSC)

  • Board member since 2014
  • Finance Committee, Chair
  • Executive Committee

Brian Murrell, Secretary

Creative Director and Partner at ADCO

  • Board member since 2014
  • Policy Communications & Research (PCR), Chair
  • Executive Committee

Board

Pam Bryant

Ombudsman/Director, Communications & Public Affairs, SC Department of Social Services

  • Board member since 2016
  • Policy, Communications & Research Committee

Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, FACHE

Congressional Leader, Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine

  • Board member since 2019
  • Grants Committee
  • Governance Committee
  • Executive Committee

Dr. Reshma Khan

Founder and Executive Director of the Shifa Free Clinic, a program of the Islamic Circle of North America Relief USA

  • Board member since 2017
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee

Tiffany Knowlin-Boykin

Pastor, Wesley United Methodist Church

  • Board member since 2020
  • Grants Committee

Mike McCabe

Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

  • Board member since 2015
  • Finance Committee

Rick Mendoza

Member of Nexsen Pruet, LLC and practices in the areas of creditors’ rights and bankruptcy law

  • Board member since 2010, re-elected in 2020
  • Finance Committee
  • Governance Committee
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee

Patricia Moore-Pastides

Former First Lady of the University of South Carolina and an accomplished cook, writer and public-health professional

  • Board member since 2016
  • Policy, Communications & Research Committee

Dr. Lee Pearson

Associate Dean for Operations and Accreditation, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina

  • Board member since 2020
  • Policy, Communications & Research Committee

Dr. Ronald Pitner

Associate Dean for Curriculum, Associate Professor, College of Social Work, University of South Carolina

  • Board member since 2017
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, Chair

Karen Smith

Vice President with TD Bank

  • Board member since 2014
  • Grants Committee

Maria G. Smoak, M.Ed.

Owner of MGSmoak and Associates, a company that provides translations, training and consulting services

  • Board member since 2016
  • Policy, Communications & Research Committee

Ex-officio

Thomas C. Keith, Ex-officio

President of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

  • Ex-officio on all board committees

Susanna H. Krey, Ex Officio

Senior Vice President for Foundations and Marketing, Sisters of Charity Health System

  • Joined the board as ex-officio in 1997
  • Governance Committee
  • Executive Committee

Thomas Otis, Past Board Chair

Vice President, Real Estate and Corporate Development, Palmetto Infusion Services

  • Board member since 2016
  • Governance Committee, Chair