2020 Alumni Award Winners

1977, Bachelor of Arts in Education, College of Education, University of South Carolina
1981, Master of Education, Graduate School, University of South Carolina

Since graduating from the University of South Carolina in December 1977, Donna Hooks has dedicated herself to serving students, educators, and her community. She worked for 36 years as a teacher and administrator in Horry County Schools, ending her career at national and state award winning Burgess Elementary School, which she opened as principal in 2007.

After retiring in 2014, Hooks continued to serve professionally in various roles including administrator, consultant, mentor, adjunct university instructor, and Executive Director for South Carolina ASCD. She has served on many state and community boards advising on educational issues, planning professional development opportunities, and advocating for educational reform at the local, state, and national levels.

She has visited schools and collaborated with teachers and administrators across South Carolina and traveled internationally to serve on several Christian mission teams including working in classrooms with Roma students and adults in Slovakia, training and sharing resources with teachers in Haiti, and teaching children in churches, schools, and orphanages in Ukraine.

1991, B.S. Management, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina

1994, Master of Arts in Teaching, Graduate School, University of South Carolina

1999, Master of Education, College of Education, University of South Carolina

2014, Ph.D. Education, College of Education, University of South Carolina

Dr. J. R. Green is a product of parents who instilled high values, especially to education. As a young man, he embraced their core principles and gave his best in all educational pursuits.

Dr. Green strongly believes he is purposed to work with and to inspire young people.  He impresses upon students that education is the foundation of their future.  Dr. Green leaves quite a lasting impression on others and enriches their lives with his noble deeds.

Dr. Green began his duties as Superintendent of Fairfield County Schools in July 2012, after a successful tenure as an assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Chesterfield County School District.  He spent several years as a principal in Pageland, South Carolina after serving as both an assistant high school principal and a teacher.   Dr. Green earned a doctorate degree in Education Leadership from the University of South Carolina. He also received a Master’s of Arts Degree, a Master’s of Education Degree, and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of South Carolina.

A native South Carolinian, Dr. Green currently resides in Winnsboro with his wife Tonya and daughters, Jamara, Janelle, and Jacia. He is an active member of many organizations to include: the Omicron Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Providence Health Board of Trustees, Board of Directors for Midlands Education & Business Alliance, Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Bow Tie Mentoring Club, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Organization.

Dr. Green’s philosophy is simply, “Do your best.”

1971, B.S. Business Administration, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina

Tommy Suggs is President and CEO for the Carolinas Region of HUB International. Residing in Columbia, South Carolina, his responsibilities include managing HUB’s 10 offices throughout North Carolina and South Carolina.

Previously, Tommy was the President and CEO of KeenanSuggs, the largest independently owned insurance, risk management and benefits company in the Carolinas. Before purchasing KeenanSuggs in 1996, Tommy spent twenty-three years in banking ending his career with twelve years as Executive Vice President, Chief Banking Officer and Board member with South Carolina Federal Savings Bank before selling to a multi-state bank holding company. Previously he was Vice President / Commercial Lending at South Carolina National Bank for eleven years. Tommy’s banking experience also includes serving as Founding Chairman of First Bank of the Midlands and serving as its Chairman before selling to South State Bank in 1999. He recently retired from the bank’s Corporate Board, Executive Committee and Trust & Wealth Management Committee. He also serves on the Trustmark Insurance Company’s National Advisory Council.

Tommy graduated from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He also graduated from the School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University; the National Commercial Lending Graduate School at the University of Oklahoma and the Wharton School of Business, Executive Education Program through the University of Pennsylvania. He received an Honorary Doctorate degree from The Darla Moore School of Business in 2011 and is a frequent speaker at the North Carolina and South Carolina Bankers Schools and various conferences and seminars on cyber liability and professional coverages. Recently, Tommy was recognized by the Columbia Regional Business Report as a 2020 Business Icon and he was awarded the Community Champion in the Icons awards division.

Tommy was a starting quarterback for the University of South Carolina football team, Most Valuable Player his senior year and Most Valuable Player of the annual Blue-Gray Post Season game. In 2012 his friends and family honored him by establishing the Tommy Suggs Endowed Quarterback Scholarship.

He is married and has two children and one grandchild. Tommy has served as President of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina Nature Conservancy, Leadership Columbia, Chairman of the Providence Hospital Foundation and Chair of the University of South Carolina’s Development Foundation. His hobbies include golf, exercise, traveling and USC athletics.

2015, Master of Business Administration, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina

Vanessa Vaughn Mathews is the founder and chief resilience officer of Asfalis Advisors.

Asfalis helps business leaders to prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptions and specializes in crisis management and business continuity. Vanessa’s breadth of experience in emergency management, crisis preparedness and risk management equip Asfalis to support their customers, to include property managers, universities, international and intermodal logistics firms, retailers, the healthcare industry and athletic associations. Prior to Asfalis, Vanessa worked with a Tier 1 intelligence agency and a Fortune 50 company, which equip her to be on the front lines of the industry to restore business and community resiliency.

Mathews was appointed by the Mayor of Charlotte to serve as the Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Charlotte International Cabinet. The Mecklenburg Times recognized Vanessa as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte, NC (2020). The US State Department recognized her as a “Global Innovation Fellow.” The United Kingdom’s “Acquisition International Magazine” named her as a finalist for the “Best Female Owned and Operated Small Businesses.” Vanessa also co-owns and hosts the Business Resilience DECODED podcast. Additionally, Vanessa was the 1^st female in the state of Georgia to graduate with a degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management.