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Rose Buyck Newton was elected chairwoman of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees on Aug. 21, 2026, becoming the first woman to lead the body in its 225-year history. The Bluffton finance professional was chosen unanimously to succeed Thad Westbrook.
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FULL STORY: For the first time, a woman will lead USC’s Board of Trustees
Here are key takeaways:
- Newton, a third-generation banker who chairs the board at the Bank of Clarendon in Manning, has served on the USC board since 2018 and was its vice chair beginning in 2022.
- She joins a growing group of female education leaders in the state, including the board chairs at Clemson, Coastal Carolina and the College of Charleston, along with state Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver.
- “Higher education continues to face significant challenges and unprecedented opportunities,” Newton told fellow trustees, pledging thoughtful governance and financial strength for future generations of South Carolinians.
- Westbrook’s four-year chairmanship was marked by record enrollment, fundraising and state investment. He will remain on the board and urged continued support for President Michael Amiridis’ vision.
- Reid Sherard, a Greenville attorney who joined the board in 2023, was elected to succeed Newton as vice chair.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
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