Columbia Museum of Art’s board of trustees adds eight new members
Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces eight members elected to serve on its board of trustees for the 2021 – 2022 term: Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, Joseph Bruce, Suzanne Hulst Clawson, Hamilton R. Grant, Therese Griffin, Cathy Love, Darrin Thomas, and Julian R. Williams.
Artis has served as president of Benedict College since June 2017. A prolific speaker, critical thinker, and fierce advocate for educational access, Artis has been recognized for her work locally and nationally and is frequently engaged as a mentor, lecturer, and catalyst for strategic transformation.
Bruce enjoyed a long career with leading advertising and public relations firms in New York and Washington, D.C. He has been heavily involved in arts board leadership, including with such institutions as the Parsons Dance Company in New York, The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, and the University of South Carolina School of Music.
Lifelong Columbian Clawson is a corporate attorney and shareholder at law firm Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, where she leads corporate securities and financial institution regulatory practices. In her spare time, she enjoys collecting local art, gardening, and avidly reading.
Grant is a Columbia native and president of Grant Business Advisors, a financial and strategic advisory firm for nonprofits, small businesses, and middle market companies. He has served as co-chair of Famously Hot New Year’s Eve (2016 – 2020), president of the Columbia Urban League Young Professionals (2017 – 2020), and a member of the South Carolina State University board of trustees (2018 – 2020).
Griffin’s career has included such positions as radio news anchor, host of public affairs shows on both television and radio, public relations director, college magazine editor, and corporate marketing and communications manager. She has worked as Dominion Energy’s manager of energy efficiency and demand side management since 2014. Griffin is also in her second year serving as president of CMA affinity group Friends of African American Arts & Culture.
Incoming board president Love worked at SCANA for 20 years, 13 of them as vice president of marketing and communications. Since her retirement in January 2019, Love has launched a new career as a visual artist and enjoys creative gardening in her spare time.
As president of Thomas Media group, Thomas aims to encourage, support, and facilitate economic empowerment of the African American community through the development of a strategic local business network, educational initiatives, and communication ventures. He founded South Carolina Black Pages three decades ago and continues to host annual Black Expos in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Thomas also founded Greek Traditions, a business providing merchandise for Divine Nine Greek Letter Organizations.
Williams is the University of South Carolina's first vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, a position he took on in June 2020. His goal is to bring to the forefront a community-developed vision for inclusion and diversity ensuring that everyone at UofSC is able to bring their authentic selves to campus every day.