With more than 75,000 students and close to 100 schools, the Greenville County School District is the largest in the state. Dr. W. Burke Royster, who has been superintendent of the district since 2012, navigates the challenges and opportunities inherent to such a large district by finding a balance among students, administration, and the greater Greenville community. “Dr. Royster does an excellent job of creating educational experiences for all students,” says Tobi Kinsell, director of OnTrack Greenville, an initiative designed to support students and keep them moving toward graduation. “That includes meeting the needs of the most under-resourced students while also creating opportunities for the most-resourced. But I think the hallmark of his tenure as superintendent has been opening up the district to partnerships.”

The University of South Carolina Upstate Foundation recently elected new members to its board.