Mary Anne Fitzpatrick is first woman to serve in top leadership role at USC Upstate
August 17, 2016
Mary Anne Fitzpatrick assumed the role of interim chancellor at the University of South Carolina Upstate on August 1 making her the first female to serve in the top leadership role since the University was founded in 1967.
“I am honored to be, entrusted by President Harris Pastides and the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees with leading USC Upstate during this transitional time period,” Fitzpatrick said. “Being part of this University family is both a pleasure and a privilege. My decision to join (even for this short period of time) the wonderfully dynamic and diverse academic community at USC Upstate is affirmed every day as I interact with the outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni and our engaged communities of supporters.”
Fitzpatrick will deliver an address entitled “USC Upstate: The Place where Opportunity Meets Excellence” to the faculty and staff on Wednesday, August 17 at the annual University Day. The event, held in the Sansbury Campus Life Center, begins at 7:45 a.m. with remarks beginning at 8:30 a.m. University Day will be available via Facebook Live.
When the freshman class gathers for the New Student Convocation Program on Wednesday, Fitzpatrick will be on hand to welcome them to USC Upstate. The event begins at 5 p.m. in the G.B. Hodge Arena and will be followed by dinner on the Main Quad. The freshman class will assemble into a U-shape to have a class photo taken at 4:30 p.m. on the quad behind the Stockwell Administration Building.
On Thursday, August 18, approximately 6,000 students will begin the fall semester on the Spartanburg campus, at the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics in downtown Spartanburg and in Greenville at the USC Upstate Greenville Campus at the University Center Greenville and the 501 River Street location in downtown.
Fitzpatrick will give the keynote address for the Greenville Campus Opening Convocation on Thursday evening at 5 p.m. at the University Center Greenville.
Before beginning her appointment as interim chancellor at USC Upstate, Fitzpatrick served as a Carolina Distinguished Professor of Psychology and the Vice President of the University of South Carolina System. Fitzpatrick has served as the USC Columbia vice provost for special academic initiatives and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
“USC Upstate is of great importance to the state of South Carolina with its special metropolitan mission to serve the Upstate region. For more than a decade, USC Upstate has been ranked as one of the best institutions in the Southeastern United States. I have a great foundation to build upon and tremendous talent to work with—there is an innovative strength and a collaborative spirit evident on our campus. It will be my privilege to guide and nurture that spirit.”
For more information, contact Tammy E. Whaley, assistant vice chancellor for University Communications at (864) 503-5210 or [email protected].
