Winthrop University
Board of Trustees Meeting
Thursday, April 30, 2026
9:00 a.m.
Gold Room | DiGiorgio Campus Center
Winthrop University | Rock Hill, South Carolina
Board Members Present – Trustees Joel Hamilton (Chair), Kathy Bigham (Vice Chair), John Brazell, Alison Hamilton, Randy Imler, Rick Lee, David McDonald, Tim Sease, Janet Smalley, Sandra Stroman, Isaiah Venning, Ashlye V. Wilkerson, and Gary Williams
Board Members Absent – None
President’s Cabinet Present – President Edward Serna, Shelia Burkhalter, Kevin Butler, Beverly Gilliam, Amanda James, and Tammie Phillips
Other Attendees Present – Ashley Abel, Adam Glover (Faculty Conference), Emanya Roach (Student Government Association), Hannah Small, Linda Warner (Foundation Board representative), and Ellen Wilder-Byrd
(Only attending Trustees, President Serna, President’s Cabinet, Board Staff, and others presenting or participating in the meeting are noted as attendees).
The Board of Trustees met on Thursday, April 30, 2026, on the campus at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Roll Call to Establish Quorum
Secretary to the Winthrop Board of Trustees Tammie Phillips took the roll and confirmed a quorum of the Board was present.
Public Notice
The meeting agenda was posted on the Winthrop University website with proper notice of the meeting. The meeting was held in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Call to Order
Chair Hamilton called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m., and Trustee Bigham gave an invocation.
Remarks from the Chairman
Chair Hamilton welcomed all attending and discussed the good things taking place at Winthrop University. He thanked the trustees for their commitment and shared his appreciation for the tireless work they have done over the past several years, noting some trustees who have served on the Board for many years through difficult times. He commented on the successes that were heard the previous day from the committee meetings. He asked the trustees to complete the trustee self-evaluation that will be going out May 1 and noted the results are anonymous through SurveyMonkey. The evaluations need to be completed by May 11th.
Consent Agenda
Chair Hamilton called for a motion to approve the consent agenda related to resolutions passed by the committees the previous day and to accept the February 25 and 26, 2026, and April 8, 2026, minutes. Trustee Lee moved to approve with a second from Trustee Brazell. The motion passed by unanimous vote. Trustee Alison Hamilton abstained due to a conflict of interest.
Remarks from the President
President Serna commended the senior team for putting together the informative presentations and moving through the committee meetings so efficiently the previous day. He reported the information heard during committees the previous day connected back to the strategic plan. He discussed the enrollment growth in the new academic programs, the fundraising growth, investment in Greek life with the hiring of a director, the hiring of a club sports director, and Project Inspire. He thanked the Board for their investment in the strategic initiatives and in the strategic plan. He gave an update on the strategic plan and thanked Ed Driggers for his leadership, support and everything he did in developing the three-year plan. He reported the Q3 scorecards are loaded on the portal for the trustees to review, and everything is tracking on schedule and on budget. There will be a couple of multi-year initiatives that will be brought to the board in June that will require strategic initiative funding for next year. He discussed the branding initiative, the Career Center, and the organizational assessment with CampusWorks. He reminded everyone of Commencement on May 9, with 722 graduates: 40% will be first gen, 50% Pell eligible and 85% are South Carolinians.
Committee Reports
Committee on Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Enrollment
Trustee Smalley (Committee Vice Chair) reported the enrollment growth with the current undergraduate, graduate and total enrollment numbers being up 7% over spring of last year. The 2025 freshman cohort has a 90% retention rate. Year-over-year growth for undergraduates is 15% and for first time freshmen a record-breaking 7,779 applications were completed and were submitted, resulting in a record for Winthrop University. Student Affairs focused on Winthrop’s leadership collective training and inclusive approach as well as leaders working with SGA to inform and assist students on how housing decisions are made. She also shared information regarding community agencies coming to Winthrop to help students who cannot get on-campus housing. She also discussed the Career Center and Greek life enrollment. Academic Affairs curriculum continues to evolve to be more current. Specifically new concentrations, new degree programs and degree changes are helping to make Winthrop more responsive to student needs and the economy. Overall, what is seen is an evolution of strategies at Winthrop that involves everyone and everything to create a great university and great student experience.
Committee on External Engagement and Athletics
Trustee Williams (Committee Chair) reported $8 million has already been given this year with 2,416 donors showing support for the university. Bleed Garnett/Give Gold Day resulted in over 1,000 donors giving $316,000. The committee had discussion around the upcoming campaign priorities and strategies to make it successful. He reminded the trustees to do their part and give to the campaign in their own way. Athletic giving is already over $2,000,000. Chair Williams reported on the good news regarding the student athletes and the awards they have received, praising the coaches for the excellence in leading the athletes. He commended the teams and the coaches for a prosperous season and discussed highlights of various teams. Athletic sponsorships have increased to 60 this year and Eagle Club memberships have doubled in the past five years. He discussed the Inspire Soccer League. He reported on the new branding launch, Bring the You, the partnerships and marketing initiative, digital AI and how it is involved in development and recruitment.
Committee on Strategic Planning and Facilities
Trustee McDonald (Committee Chair) reported on the great projects and renovations that are happening around campus with a continued focus on making sure that our spaces are utilized. He commented on the campus master plan and the road map for our campus, looking at how space is being utilized along with long-term projects. The most exciting project is the new residence hall, and he noted how aggressively the administration is moving to get that building built for our students who deserve a first-class space to live. He reported on some action taken on an exciting partnership with a local town to be able to expand our offerings and opportunities. He noted trustees continue to set those benchmarks for the strategic plan and continue to help the president reach his goals for the university, while also making sure that we are celebrating the incredible success that we have in terms of renewing our facilities and making sure our students have fantastic places to live and learn.
Committee on Finance and Audit
Trustee Brazell (Committee Vice Chair) welcomed new committee member Alison Hamilton. He reported on student housing and the pros and cons of funding sources. The noted we had a positive audit report. He shared the positive news of fiscal year 2026 year to date and positive balance sheet and favorable outlook through the end of the year. All the work that has been done results in a substantial increase in our fund balance since 2024.
Reports of Affiliated Groups
Report of Faculty Conference
Faculty Conference Chair Adam Glover reported that faculty are excited about news regarding enrollment and retention. Faculty members are committed to continuing to work with the President and Provost particularly in the context of the Faculty Committee on University Priorities chaired by Dr. Eric Birgbauer which meets regularly with the Provost and President. He reported on the faculty’s commitment to working with the strategic plan and highlighted one in revising the general education curriculum not to make it easier, but to make it less complicated. The general education committee has taken on the task and has been working throughout the year to propose modification, streamlining to the general education program. He shared a summary of a statement approved at faculty conference about the values of equality, inclusivity and diversity on campus, pride in our status of one of the most diverse public universities in the state, and belief that employees should be held accountable for their words and actions. The statement concluded by noting that, at Winthrop University, it is everyone's responsibility to ensure that the place we work is an affirming and inclusive environment.
Report of Staff Conference
Staff Conference Chair Maura Conway was not in attendance but submitted a written report.
Report of Student Government Association
Student Government Association President Emanya Roach reported that the goal has been clear to build strong relationships with our student body and to ensure that students will feel heard, supported and represented. Throughout the semester SGA has remained committed to advocacy and engagement. Highlights included the experience of Winthrop Day at the State House allowing students to better understand what goes on within the Legislature. She reported on the email students received from Residence Life regarding changes in housing. Recognizing that many students had questions and concerns, a survey was distributed to gather feedback, and over 60 submissions were received which resulted in a town hall to create a space for open dialogue. SGA collaborated with campus partners on student-focused initiatives including supporting the renaming of First Day Complete, which is an optional textbook service, to Eagle Books helping to make the program clearer and more accessible for students. SGA has been active on social media platforms, boosting engagement and visibility on campus. Various events have occurred including presidential lunches, mental health initiatives and other engagement programs designed to support student well-being and campus morale. She reported students have a strong desire for greater transparency and clear communication from the institution. She announced Kelsey Medcalf has been elected as the new President and Jalen Hayes as Vice President.
New Business
No new business was discussed.
Old Business
No old business was discussed.
Executive Session
Chair Hamilton called for a motion to enter executive session pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. §30-4-70(a) (2) for discussion of legal matters covered by the attorney client privilege. Trustee Imler moved to go into executive session; seconded by Trustee Lee. Motion to enter executive session passed by unanimous vote.
[Only the Board of Trustees, President Serna and Ashley Abel remained for Executive Session.]
Motion to Leave Executive Session
Chair Hamilton called for a motion to leave executive session. Trustee Williams moved, seconded by Trustee McDonald. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Chair Hamilton noted that no action was taken in Executive Session.
Motion to Adjourn
Chair Hamilton thanked everyone for taking the time to attend the meeting. Chair Hamilton called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Bigham moved. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sease and approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Tammie C. Phillips.
