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
Director of Public Information and Constituent Services for the SC Department of Social Services
- Board member since 2016
- Policy, Communications & Research Committee

Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, FACHE
Congregational 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