message from the PRESIDENT

Dear Friends: Since the last Winthrop Magazine edition, the university has continued to navigate the unchartered waters of COVID-19. We successfully completed the spring semester via remote instruction, transitioned into virtual Summer Session and are now carefully and strategically planning to welcome our students back to campus in August.

COVID-19 affected nearly every aspect of university life, as you’ll read about in this edition. It remains top of mind for all of us working toward our 135th academic year.

Our campus community has remained resilient through these

last few months and has embraced change with grace and perseverance. It hasn’t been easy, and there are certainly more challenges ahead as we keep a watchful eye on the virus. But I can honestly say that the Winthrop spirit is alive and well, and I witness its strength daily.

This magazine edition contains a variety of COVID-19-focused content. I encourage you to read more about:

• The university’s swift response to the pandemic; • The creative teaching methods used by our visual and performing arts’ faculty;

• The genuine concern for our students’ well-being that was exemplified by a College of Business Administration faculty member;

• How our student-athletes were affected by the cancellation of spring sports seasons; and

• A compelling profile on Gregg Davis ’92, director of Public Health Laboratories at George Washington University, whose team of scientists is learning more about the virus every day.

This edition also notes the 24 years of visionary leadership and service of President Emeritus Anthony J. DiGiorgio, who passed away in May. The outpouring of support that the Winthrop community has shown to Dr. DiGiorgio’s family during this time has truly revealed his great legacy here. I know that his wife, Gale, daughter Darrah and his extended family have appreciated beyond measure the thoughts, prayers and support that they have received.

Thank you for being a part of this unique Winthrop community. I hope that we are able to soon meet in person so that I can hear about how much Winthrop means to you.

Sincerely,

WINTHROP UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

GLENN MCCALL Chair, Rock Hill

KATHY HUDSON BIGHAM ’73 Vice Chair, Rock Hill

ED DRIGGERS ’92 Greer

JULIE GORE FOWLER ’85, ’88 Simpsonville

DONNA GLENN HOLLEY Columbia

TIMOTHY L. HOPKINS ’83, ’85, ’00 Lugoff

RANDY IMLER ’87, ’00 Tega Cay

JANE LAWTON LAROCHE ’70 Camden

TIM SEASE ’87 Mt. Pleasant

ROBBY SISCO ’80 Florence

JANET RICE SMALLEY ’72 Walhalla

SANDRA STROMAN ’73, ’76 Chester

ISAIAH VENNING ’95, ’00 Rock Hill

ASHLYE WILKERSON ’05 Columbia

GARY WILLIAMS ’11 Rock Hill

ADOLPHUS BELK JR. Faculty Representative

BRANDON JACKSON Student Representative

GEORGE W. HYND Interim President

KIMBERLY FAUST

Vice President and Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Board of Trustees

ELLEN WILDER-BYRD ’88, ’94

George W. Hynd Interim President

Associate Vice President for Communications and Market ing

DEPARTMENTS

CAMPUS NEWS ADVANCEMENT NEWS ALUMNI NEWS

CLASS NOTES MILESTONES

NOTES

Winthrop Magazine is published for alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends of Winthrop University by University Communications and Marketing.

Winthrop University offers equal opportunity in its employment, admissions and educational activities.

All cities referenced in editorial content are located in South Carolina unless otherwise indicated.

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EDITORIAL STAFF

MONICA BENNETT, editor PETER AIRHEART, senior designer

contributing writers: NICOLE CHISARI ’09, ’16 KAYE HAYES JUDY LONGSHAW

FEATURES

ANTHONY DIGIORGIO PASSES AWAY CAMPUS COVID-19 RESPONSE

CVPA GETS CREATIVE DURING PANDEMIC GOING THE EXTRA MILE

INTERNSHIPS TAKING ON NEW SHAPE GREGG DAVIS ’92 STUDIES COVID-19 BASEBALL HAS UNFINISHED BUSINESS BREAKING THE STIGMA

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