By David Dykes, The Greenville News
Former House Speaker David Wilkins, now U.S. ambassador to Canada, has been named to the board of directors of a statewide leadership effort sponsored by the Liberty Corp., Wofford College and The Aspen Institute, organizers said Wednesday.
"His strong, lifelong political insight into our state and our government will bring a new perspective to South Carolina's rising leaders within the Liberty Fellowship program," said Hayne Hipp, founder of Liberty Fellowship and chief executive officer and chairman of Liberty Corp., a Greenville-based broadcast company.
Wilkins, who could not be reached for comment, becomes the group's ninth board member.
Earlier this year, President Bush nominated Wilkins to be the top U.S. diplomat to Canada, and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and sworn in as ambassador in June.
Wilkins accepted the position after a 25-year career in the South Carolina House, where he was chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Speaker Pro Tem and Speaker.
The fellowship program, modeled after The Aspen Institute's international Henry Crown Fellowship, emphasizes not only leadership development -- through Socratic-style dialogue -- but it also explores personal and professional ethics and values.
Lawyers, professors, founders of small businesses and health-care specialists were among the 20 emerging South Carolina leaders who were named last month to the new class of the two-year program.
The Aspen Institute, founded in 1950, is an international nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington that is dedicated to fostering leadership through seminars, policy programs, conferences and leadership development initiatives.
