Assistant Vice President for Career Readiness and Post Graduate Student Success

Email: DLAWHEAD@mailbox.sc.edu
Phone: 803-777-7280

With over 30 years of experience in higher education, Dr.  Justin Lawhead is committed to connecting students with the tools, experiences, and relationships they need to thrive in their careers. At the University of South Carolina, he leads strategic initiatives that help students explore their purpose, build professional confidence, and successfully transition from academics to meaningful careers.

Prior to joining USC, Lawhead served as Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Memphis, where he led a division of 120 professional and student employees supported by more than $13 million in annual funding. During his tenure, he oversaw career services, counseling and health, residence life, leadership development, campus safety, and student support services, consistently driving measurable improvements in student retention, persistence, and holistic development.

At USC, Lawhead has launched several high-impact initiatives including the Carolina Career Ready Model, Cocky Career Guides, and Cocky Career Ready, the university's AI-powered career coaching platform. He also leads the Student Employment and Career-Readiness Work Group, implementing the University Innovation Alliance framework to transform student employment into a comprehensive career development experience.

Lawhead holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education from the University of Memphis, an M.Ed. in Educational Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh.