ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – The Winthrop Women’s Coalition will host an Oct. 17 panel discussion on Women in Politics: Obstacles and Opportunities. Three of the panelists are S.C. House representatives and one panelist is a South Carolina senator.
The panel discussion, which will be moderated by Jennifer Disney, chair of Winthrop’s Department of Political Science and faculty liaison to the coalition, will be held at 7 p.m. in Dina’s Place in the DiGiorgio Campus Center. The event is free and open to the public.
Winthrop First Lady Laura Mahony, founder of the coalition that was launched in March 2017, said that she is proud
to have these guests on campus to share their experiences as women in politics. “Unfortunately,
South Carolina ranks near the bottom of the 50 states in regards to the percentage
of women in the state legislature, and women are under-represented on public boards
and commissions and statewide offices as well. While some progress has been made in
the election of women to these very important leadership positions, more work can
be done. We are looking forward to hearing these women share their experiences in
state politics and how they are charting the course for other women to follow.”
Panelists are:
State Representative Wendy C. Brawley (D)
Brawley is a Democratic member of the S.C. House of Representatives. She represents Richland and Sumter counties. She is a member of the Education and Public Works Committee.
Brawley is the president and chief executive officer of IMARA Communications Group. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree from Webster University.
State Representative Chandra Dillard (D)
Dillard is a Democratic member of the S.C. House of Representatives. She represents Greenville County.
She is a member of the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, and the Legislative Oversight Committee.
Dillard is director of community relations at Furman University. She earned a Bachelor
of Science degree from Winthrop and a Master of Public Administration from Walden
University.
State Representative Raye Felder (R)
Felder is a Republican member of the S.C. House of Representatives. She represents York County. She is a member of the Education and Public Works Committee.
She started an insurance business in Fort Mill. She attended Winthrop and York Technical College, and she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Limestone College.
State Senator Katrina Shealy (R)
Shealy is one of only four women in the South Carolina Senate. She is a Republican senator who represents Lexington County. She is chair of the Senate Family and Veterans’ Services Committee.
She is an insurance consultant for Keenan Suggs.
About the Winthrop Women’s Coalition:
The Winthrop Women’s Coalition was founded on the idea that women’s strength is at
its best when women work together and that a relationship with the institution is
mutually beneficial: the institution fosters the individual to succeed and the individual
helps to support the institution. In the coalition, one will find a connection to
other women of diverse personal and professional backgrounds, and opportunities for
personal and professional enrichment while helping to contribute to the university’s
mission and philanthropic needs.
To learn more about the coalition, please visit www.winthrop.edu/advancement/winthropwomenscoalition.
