Dr. Andrew Sorensen,
President of the University of South Carolina

In May 2002, Andrew A. Sorensen was named the 27th president of the University of South Carolina (USC) after serving as president of the University of Alabama, provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Florida, executive director of the AIDS Institute at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, and dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He has also served as a visiting faculty member at the Harvard University School of Medicine and the University of Cambridge School of Medicine.

Author or editor of eight books and more than 100 articles, Dr. Sorensen is a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics in USC's Arnold School of Public Health. He holds a bachelor's degree in ethics and master's and doctoral degrees in medical sociology from Yale University. He also earned a B.A. in history from the University of Illinois and a master of public health degree from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Sorensen's awards include the University of Florida Student Government Association's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Government, Yale University Divinity School's Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Community Service, the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year Award, and the Order of the Palmetto. He is president of the Southeastern Conference, secretary-treasurer and past president of the Southern University Conference, past chair of the Southern Universities Research Association Council of Presidents, chair of the Health Sciences South Carolina board, and a trustee of the Universities Research Association. He served on the Bush transition team Educational Advisory Committee (2000-01), DHHS Secretary's Council on Public Health Preparedness Bioterrorism (2002-05), and now serves on the National Board of Public Health Examiners and the National Institutes of Health National Science Advisory Board on Biosecurity.

Mr. Bob Coble,
Mayor of the City of Columbia

Mayor Bob Coble was elected as Mayor of Columbia in 1990.  He previously served on Richland County Council from 1985 to 1988.  Mayor Bob, as he is known, is a 1975 cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina and a 1978 cum laude graduate from the University of South Carolina’s School of Law.In addition to being our city’s Mayor, he is a partner in the law firm of Nexsen Pruet. Fighting crime, neighborhood improvement, economic development and entering the new economy are his top priorities. He chairs the Mayor’s Campaign Against Breast Cancer committee.  In addition, he started the Mayor’s Corporate Citizen of the Year Award in 1991 to recognize a company each year who has made a significant contribution to the community for our non-profits and who encourages volunteerism in their employees. 

He has served as the President of the Municipal Association of South Carolina, he was instrumental in creating the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and has been the fundraising chairman for the United Negro College Fund.  He is currently a board member with the River Alliance, Central SC Economic Development Alliance, and EngenuitySC.