Press Releases
Nelson Mullins' Westbrook Selected to Liberty Fellows 2012
GREENVILLE, S.C. (July 29, 2010) – Significant community involvement, success in their chosen field, and a commitment to improving South Carolina characterize the newest class of Liberty Fellows. Thad Westbrook, a partner in Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough's Columbia office, is among the 22 out of 400 candidates spread across the state selected to the Class of 2010. The class members represent business, government, and nonprofit sectors of South Carolina.
“The class of 2012 is extremely capable of meeting the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities in the lifetime Fellowship program,” said Hayne Hipp, founder of Liberty Fellowship. “More important to our state, not one of them is satisfied with the status quo. Each has a deep desire to take action to improve South Carolina.”
The integrity of each Liberty Fellowship class depends largely on the blend of differences and diversity of perspectives of the individual leaders. Finding the right mix is a key focus of the Liberty Fellowship.
“The members of this class span a broad and interesting spectrum. They are established leaders who represent a mosaic of backgrounds, skills and experiences,” said Jennie Johnson, Executive Director of Liberty Fellowship.
In addition to attending four seminars over the two-year period, including one Aspen Institute global seminar with leaders from around the world, each class member commits to completing a personal project that will have a positive impact on the state.
“The Fellow projects and collaborative leadership approach truly have an impact at the state level,” continued Mr. Hipp. “The vision of Liberty Fellowship is to identify leaders who are respectful of other points of view so they can work together to move the state forward.”
Mr. Westbrook is on the Board of Trustees and is former vice chair of the Board of Visitors at the University of South Carolina. He is immediate past board chair for Lexington Medical Center and now serves on the Lexington Medical Center Foundation Board. He is a former member of the Board of Visitors for the Medical University of South Carolina and is on the South Carolina Supreme Court's Committee on Character and Fitness. He was named one of the “top 20 under 40” by The State newspaper in 2009.
Mr. Westbrook earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts cum laude in Political Science from the South Carolina Honors College at the University of South Carolina.
About Liberty Fellowship
Liberty Fellowship is a statewide leadership initiative founded by Hayne Hipp, Wofford College and The Aspen Institute. The program seeks to inspire outstanding leadership in South Carolina, empowering the state’s leaders to realize their full potential. Fostering a values-based approach, Liberty Fellowship exposes rising leaders, ages 30-45, to diverse perspectives, critical thinking, and intellectual and personal development through an intense two-year program. For more information: www.libertyfellowshipsc.org.
