UofSC announces new leadership posts
Posted on: August 3, 2018; Updated on: August 3, 2018
By Jeff Stensland, stenslan@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-3686
As the University of South Carolina gears up for a new academic year, several key administrative areas on the Columbia campus are welcoming new leadership.
Caroline Agardy was named the new vice president for human resources and will lead Carolina's efforts to recruit and retain top talent at the university. The university employs more than 6,700 faculty and staff and was recently ranked as one of the best employers in the U.S. by Forbes magazine.
Agardy has served as associate vice president for human resources at Carolina since 2011 and replaces Chris Byrd, who retired in June. Prior to joining the university, Agardy served as human resource director at the S.C. Budget and Control Board. She holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Carolina.
In addition, business and civic leader Paula Harper Bethea is joining Carolina to lead the newly created Division of Advancement. The division will coordinate activities of several existing university areas including communications, development, alumni relations, corporate engagement, government and community relations, and special events.
Bethea brings a wealth of experience to the new role. She is a former board member of the S.C. Lottery Commission and served as its executive director for seven years. She also is a former chairwoman of the Columbia College board of trustees, former president of the My Carolina Alumni Association and former chairwoman of the board of the state Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of America’s Board of Governors. She is a graduate of Carolina.
The creation of the advancement division will strengthen current efforts to showcase the university’s mission and accomplishments to a variety of external stakeholders, including donors, alumni, media and policymakers.
As part of that effort, longtime South Carolina Senate Finance Committee staffer Craig Parks also joins Carolina's government and community affairs team this week. Parks previously worked as assistant director of tax policy for the committee and as a senior analyst for the higher education finance subcommittee. Parks is a graduate of Wofford College and earned his master’s degree at USC.
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