Announcing the 2027 class of Liberty Fellows
May 19, 2026
21 South Carolinians commit to driving increased impact & embracing civil discourse
Liberty Fellowship announced the incoming 2027 Class of Liberty Fellows. Since 2003, the network of more than 350 principled leaders has collaborated across differences to realize South Carolina’s greatest opportunities and meet its greatest challenges.
Over an intensive 18-month period, these industry and civic leaders will explore various ways to improve South Carolina. Each Liberty Fellow will bring a unique perspective and will engage in civil discourse to form actionable strategies that find common ground and decrease division. This year’s fellowship class includes an organic farmer from Chester and a historian from Clemson alongside a host of leaders from a variety of professions.
Thomas H. Anderson
Coastal Division President, SouthState Bank
Charleston
Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Thomas H. Anderson has dedicated his career to the place he grew up and calls home. As the Coastal Division President of SouthState Bank, Thomas leads and is responsible for a $3.7 billion deposit franchise and a $2.7 billion loan book across 26 branches. He has shown his commitment to the Charleston community, and the state of South Carolina, through both his professional leadership and civic engagement.
Brook Andrews
Partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP
Columbia
A native South Carolinian, Brook Andrews has built his career around the rule of law, public service, and the belief that strong institutions matter to the future of South Carolina. Brook is a partner at Nelson Mullins in Columbia, where he leads a national practice helping clients navigate complex litigation, investigations, and government enforcement matters. He joined the firm after nearly 15 years with the U.S. Department of Justice, including service as Acting United States Attorney, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Deputy Criminal Chief, and Ethics Advisor for the District of South Carolina.
Meghan Barp
President and CEO, United Way of Greenville County
Greenville
Based in Greenville, South Carolina, Meghan Barp is a nonprofit leader with nearly three decades of experience focused on long-term, systemic change in her community. A graduate of the University of Nebraska and Oregon State University, Meghan has served as President and CEO of United Way of Greenville County since 2018 and has dedicated her career to serving vulnerable populations, including nearly a decade of work in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and New York City.
Josh Bell
President, Beemok Education
Charleston
As student body president of Clemson University, Josh Bell discovered his passion for leadership in service of others. After graduating, his first job was leading a classroom with Teach for America, and that work eventually led him to launch Teach for America – South Carolina, where he recruited and developed hundreds of teachers to serve in high-needs communities across the state.
Katherine “Peanut” Belk
Operations Manager, Wild Hope Farm
Chester
As a farmer in rural Chester, South Carolina, Katherine “Peanut” Belk understands the importance of healthy soil. Guided by the belief that good soil makes for good food, Katherine and her family have provided fresh food to their community since launching Wild Hope Farm in 2017.
Adair Ford Boroughs
Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
Columbia
Hailing from Columbia, South Carolina, Adair Boroughs is a litigator with a strong commitment to public service and an extensive legal career. Adair previously oversaw all federal prosecutions in the state as the United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina, and her career includes work as a Department of Justice trial attorney and law clerk to U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel.
Katelyn N. Brewer
Founder & Principal, KNB Solutions Group
Charleston
Based in North Charleston, Katelyn Brewer is an advocate for inclusion in business spaces. As the founder and principal of KNB Solutions Group, a boutique, woman-owned marketing and organizational consulting firm, Katelyn has helped others invest in their dreams without sacrificing financial stability.
Paul Cain
Attorney, Cain Law Firm; Owner & General Counsel, Magnetic South Brewery
Seneca
A graduate of the Charleston School of Law, Paul Cain has made his mark in South Carolina’s Upstate, including becoming the first Fellow from his county. Paul brings insight from his experience as a former Oconee County Council member, the youngest President of the South Carolina Association of Counties, managing member at the Cain Law Firm, and owner of Magnetic South Brewery in Anderson.
Jennifer Capell
VP Finance, Corporate Controller at BlueCross BlueShield SC
Lexington County
Growing up in the Upstate of South Carolina and spending much of her career in the Midlands, Jennifer Capell developed a broad understanding of the state’s corporate landscape. She serves as a corporate controller for BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and maintains a strong commitment to community wellness.
Tushar V. Chikhliker
Shareholder, Economic Development Practice Group Leader, Maynard Nexsen PC
Columbia
Raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Tushar V. Chikhliker is a first-generation American whose career has focused on mentoring the next generation of business and legal professionals. As a Shareholder and Economic Development Practice Group Leader at Maynard Nexsen PC in Columbia, he serves as an economic development legal advisor and strategist, helping bring investment and job creation to South Carolina.
Dr. Shaniece Criss
Director of the Advocacy and Social Policy Master’s Program and Associate Professor of Health Sciences, Furman University
Council Member, City of Travelers Rest
Greenville
As a City Council member in Travelers Rest and a public health scholar at Furman University, Dr. Shaniece Criss brings insight and leadership to her community. She serves as the Director of the Advocacy and Social Policy Master’s Program and Associate Professor in the Health Sciences Department, where her research and teaching focus on the systems and social conditions that shape community well-being and opportunity. She is also the host of Civically Grown, a podcast where changemakers share the roots and impact of their leadership.
Sara Hazzard
President and CEO, South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce
Columbia
Based in Columbia, South Carolina, Sara Hazzard has built a reputation for connecting people and organizations. In her role as President and CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, Sara helped guide a merger between the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, forming South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce.
Allison King
Partner, Tiber Hudson LLC
Charleston
Allison R. King has built her career on the belief that stable housing is the foundation of a healthy community. As a partner at Tiber Hudson, she leads the firm’s Charleston office while maintaining a national practice focused on innovative financing solutions that have helped secure homes for thousands of families across the country.
Steve Miano
Investigations & Law Enforcement Development Manager, Africa & Europe
Summerville
With a commitment to protecting vulnerable populations around the world, Steve Miano draws on his Aiken County law enforcement experience in his role with International Justice Mission. He works to protect people living in poverty from violence, including human trafficking and abuse against women and children.
Ashley K. Nelson
Executive Director, Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation
Charleston
Ashley K. Nelson is a community-centered leader whose work is rooted in service, connection, and creating opportunities for others. From her early leadership experiences at Winthrop University to her professional career, Ashley has consistently focused on making a meaningful impact in the communities she serves.
Michael W. Nix, CFA
Chief Investment Officer, Verity Investment Partners
Bluffton
Based in Bluffton, South Carolina, Michael W. Nix brings financial expertise, analytical skills, and strategic leadership to his work. He serves as Chief Investment Officer at Verity Investment Partners and sits on several statewide boards, including the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority, the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development, the Palmetto State Growth Fund, and InvestSC.
Dr. Otis Westbrook Pickett, Sr.
University Historian, Chief Administrator of Historic Properties and Assistant Professor of History, Clemson University
Charleston
A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Otis Westbrook Pickett, Sr. has a deep appreciation for the role history plays in shaping the future. As Clemson University’s historian, he oversees historic properties and helps preserve and share the institution’s history with the public.
Aaron Polkey
President & CEO, Palmetto Project
Charleston City Councilmember
Charleston
As a fourth-generation Charlestonian with Gullah Geechee heritage, Aaron Polkey has been recognized as a leader, communicator, and advocate for historically marginalized individuals and communities.
Derrick L. Quarles
Founder and Principal Consultant, NextWave Consulting Group
Greenville
Derrick L. Quarles is a public policy leader, educator, and organizational strategist with experience across government, higher education, civic engagement, and nonprofit leadership. A graduate of Claflin University and a Ph.D. candidate in Higher Education Administration at Jackson State University, Derrick’s leadership has been shaped by the legacy and impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Saria Saccocio
Chief Medical Officer, Essence Healthcare
Fountain Inn
Based in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, Saria Saccocio is a family physician who leads teams focused on transforming primary care delivery. As Chief Medical Officer at Essence Healthcare, she brings extensive healthcare leadership experience to advancing patient-centered solutions.
Marion Hinson Smith III “Rion”
Retired, Board Chair Prisma Health Upstate Foundation
Greenville
An outdoorsman based in Greenville, South Carolina, Marion “Rion” Smith is the CEO of Outdoor Sports Marketing. With nearly three decades of industry experience, he creates marketing campaigns that connect outdoor enthusiasts with quality products. Rion is also dedicated to conservation and promoting outdoor recreation throughout South Carolina.
Through public leadership convenings and seminars, Liberty Fellowship promotes the importance of seeking to understand, questioning self and others, and increasing tolerance for different perspectives. The latest cohort of leaders will embrace reasoned discourse to increase knowledge, strengthen their individual understanding of varied perspectives, and to drive positive change across differences.
“If we want to sustain progress, we must embrace a curious mindset and refuse to retreat into familiar circles. Liberty Fellowship empowers leaders to define and defend individual values–while also cultivating a genuine willingness to compromise for the sake of improving the lives of all South Carolinians,” CEO Tycely Williams said.
The public leadership cohort consists of South Carolina residents, aged 35 to 55, who were selected from 503 interested applicants. Read more about the 2027 Class of Liberty Fellows here.
ABOUT LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Liberty Fellowship is an independent, values-based leadership organization committed to advancing the state of South Carolina on a local, national, and global stage. As a non-partisan, non-sectarian 501c3 organization and a member of Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network, we advance South Carolina’s economy, environment, and culture to elevate the health and well-being of all South Carolinians and their communities, today and for future generations. Learn more at www.libertyfellowshipsc.org/.
