About the Fellowship

A Tradition of Empowering Communities Across South Carolina

Originally established as the South Carolina Mayors’ Institute for Community Design, the Fellowship was modeled after the National Mayors’ Institute on City Design. Since 1999, South Carolina mayors have gathered to explore innovative solutions to community challenges and strengthen the places they serve.

Relaunched in 2018 as the Riley Mayors’ Design Fellowship, the program continues to build on Mayor Riley’s vision of thoughtful planning, strong leadership, and vibrant communities.

Fellowship Impact

For almost a decade, the Fellowship has empowered local leaders to create lasting change in communities across South Carolina.

8

Years of Impact

49

Mayors Engaged

46

Communities Represented

Fellowship Alumni

Fellowship alumni represent communities across South Carolina and continue to lead projects that strengthen the places they serve.

2026

Woman with black hair and glasses, wearing a black suit jacket, white shirt and a pearl necklace.
Lethonia Barnes

Mayor of Florence, SC

Women with a pick dress, wearing a nametag, in front of a blue curtain.
Jennifer Rushing

Mayor of Scotia, SC

Man wearing a yellow suit jacket with a light blue shirt, smiling at the camera.
Demetrius Chatman

Mayor of Winnsboro, SC

Women with short light brown hair, wearing a black dress.
Lisa Talbert

Mayor of Easley, SC

Man with brown hair and a beard. He is wearing a navy suit and tie, with a light blue button up shirt, and smiling at the camera.
Russ Touchberry

Mayor of Summerville, SC

2025

Man with brown hair and glasses, wearing a black suit jacket and white shirt, standing on cement stairs.
Thomas E. Andrews III

Mayor of Forest Acres, SC

Man with black hair, wearing a navy blue suit with a gold tie and white button up shirt.
Reginald “Reggie” Burgess

Mayor of North Charleston, SC

Man with light blond hair, sitting at a desk with a name plate in front of him. He is smiling at the camera and giving two thumbs up.
Luke D. Giddings

Mayor of Bishopville, SC

Stellartean Jones

Mayor of Gray Court, SC

Man sitting on a stool, wearing a dark gray suit, in front of a gray backdrop.
George Patrick “GP” McLeer, Jr.

Mayor of Fountain Inn, SC

Man with gray hair, wearing a blue button down shirt and blue tie, sitting at a desk in an office.
Paul Shewmaker

Mayor of Simpsonville, SC

2024

Bald man with a graying beard, wearing a black suit and white shirt, with a blue striped tie and pocket square.
Billy Chavis

Mayor of Holly Hill, SC

Man smiling at the camera, wearing a black suit jacket and light blue shirt.
Will Haynie

Mayor of Mount Pleasant, SC

Bald man with a black goatee smiling at the camera, wearing a black jacket with a red tie.
Sterling Lee

Mayor of Lake View, SC

Person with dark hair, wearing a white suit jacket smiling at the camera. Faded trees are in the background.
Yamekia Robinson

Mayor of Lake City, SC

Man with dark brown hair wearing a navy blue suit, light blue button up shirt and a red tie.
Brandon Smith

Mayor of Greenwood, SC

Woman with dark brown hair, wearing a white and blue shirt, with silver earrings.
Erica Romo Woods

Mayor of Liberty, SC

2023

Man with dark hair wearing a black suit, with a light blue button down shirt and blue tie, standing in front of a black background.
Rockey Burgess

Mayor of Williamston, SC

Women with black curly hair wearing a pink suit jacket, with a pink shirt and a pink pearl necklace.
Theresa Myers Ervin

Mayor of Florence, SC

Women with dark hair and glasses wearing a black dress and a silver necklace, leaning on a brick wall in front of a fire truck.
Qwendolyn Etheridge

Mayor of Ridge Springs, SC

Man with brown hair and a graying beard wearing a navy blue suit and smiling at the camera.
Michael D. Fuesser

Mayor of York, SC

Man with light brown hair, wearing sunglasses, a navy suit jacket, and a light blue button up shirt.
Stephen Murray

Mayor of Beaufort, SC

2022

Person with graying hair, wearing read glasses and a black shirt smiling at the camera.
Barbara Jo Blain-Bellamy

Mayor of Conway, SC

Man with gray hair, wearing a black suit with a red tie, standing in front of a flag.
Frank Crenshaw

Mayor of Pendleton, SC

Man with white hair, wearing a blue button down shirt and khaki pants, standing in front of a microphone speaking.
Danny Edwards

Mayor of Walhalla, SC

Man with gray hair, wearing a dark blue suit with a purple tie, smiling at the camera.
Briton Williams

Mayor of North Augusta, SC

Man with graying hair and black glasses smiling at the camera.
Charles K. Fulton

Mayor of Lane, SC

Man with gray hair, wearing a black suit, blue button down shirt and maroon colored tie.
Robert Halfacre

Mayor of Clemson, SC

Person with black and gray hair, wearing black glasses and a brown shirt.
Kim Wiley

Mayor of Estill, SC

2021

Woman with curly brown hair, wearing a black suit jacket, smiling at the camera.
Brenda Bethune

Mayor of Myrtle Beach, SC

Woman with curly black hair wearing a black shirt with a purple and pink jacket over top.
Alfred Mae Drakford

Mayor of Camden, SC

Man with brown hair, wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt and red tie smiling at the camera.
Greg Habib

Mayor of Goose Creek, SC

Women wearing a red dress, with her arms crossed, standing and smiling at the camera.
Ladonna Hall

Mayor of Salley, SC

Man in a dark gray suit, white shirt and light blue tie smiling at the camera.
Cornelius Huff

Mayor of Inman, SC

Man in a black suit, with a white shirt and black bow tie, standing behind a desk.
James Fletcher Perry

Mayor of Pickens, SC

2020

Man with white hair, wearing a dark gray suit, white shirt and red and white stripped tie, sitting behind a desk.
Alston DeVenney

Mayor of Lancaster, SC

Bald man with glasses, wearing a black suit, white shirt and gold tie, smiling at the camera.
Rick Osbon

Mayor of Aiken, SC

Man with white hair and glasses, wearing a black suit, white shirt and blue tie.
Bob Pettit

Mayor of North Augusta, SC

Woman with short brown hair, wearing a black suit jacket, smiling at the camera.
Christie Rainwater

Mayor of Hanahan, SC

Man with brown hair, wearing a black suit jacket, white button down shirt and yellow and blue tie.
Nathan Senn

Mayor of Laurens, SC

Man with graying hair, wearing a light blue button down shirt.
Lancer Dean Shull

Mayor of Batesburg-Leesville, SC

2019

Person with short brown hair, wearing a black shirt, smiling at the camera.
Brandy Hart Amidon

Mayor of Travelers Rest, SC

A framed picture of a man with brown hair, wearing a black suit, with a green tie, standing in front of an American flag.
Corrin F. Bowers III

Mayor of Estill, SC

Bald man in a navy blue suit with a blue shirt and tie, standing in front of a brick building.
Michael C. Butler

Mayor of Orangeburg, SC

Man with gray hair, wearing a navy suit jacket, light blue shirt and red tie, smiling at the camera.
John P. Gettys Jr.

Mayor of Rock Hill, SC

Man with brown hair, wearing a black suite jacket, white shirt and red and white striped tie, smiling at the camera.
Carl Melvin Pennington

Mayor of Hartsville, SC

Women with light brown hair, wearing a black dress and a pearl necklace.
Rosa Lee Privette

Mayor of Patrick, SC

Man with brown hair, beard and handlebar mustache wearing a black suit jacket and light blue shirt.
Richard Blake Sanders

Mayor of West Pelzer, SC

Man with gray hair wearing a black suit, white shirt and purple tie smiling at the camera.
Harry Williams

Mayor of Hardeeville, SC

Building a Statewide Legacy

From its inaugural class in 1999, the South Carolina Mayors’ Institute for Community Design connected local leaders from across the state to tackle community challenges through design and collaboration. These early alumni helped establish a tradition of leadership and innovation that continues through the Riley Mayors’ Design Fellowship today.

riley mayors

Riley Mayors' Design Fellowship

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com