A Quarter Century of Excellence

For 25 years, the Riley Institute has been bringing high quality programming to Furman’s campus and beyond. Thousands of professionals state- and nationwide have taken part in our fellowships and applied their new skills and knowledge in their local communities. Even more Furman students and community members have taken part in our public policy events, hearing from guest speakers like Bill and Hillary Clinton, Newt Gingrich, Madeleine Albright, Chuck Todd, Al Gore, Christine Todd Whitman, John Glenn, Mike McConnell, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Tom Brokaw.

Support Us for the Next 25
  • 2,800+
    Riley Fellows
    graduates of our renowned Diversity Leaders Initiative
  • 399
    rising Furman freshman participants in Advantage Scholars
    forming a community of scholars
  • $10.6
    Million
    generated to date in contracts through our research consultancy

Institute News

Riley Institute at Furman Announces 2025-26 Afterschool Policy Fellows

FOR INFORMATION: Claudia Winkler Director, Marketing and Communications The Riley Institute at Furman University 864.294.3368; Claudia.winkler@furman.edu   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   RILEY INSTITUTE AT FURMAN ANNOUNCES 2025-26 AFTERSCHOOL POLICY FELLOWS The White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellowship creates...

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Incoming Students Learn Leadership Through Conversation and Community

By Libby Flatley-Holst ‘26 This summer, The Riley Institute welcomed 39 incoming scholars to Furman University's campus for a four-day immersive experience focused on leadership development and effective communication on pressing civic issues. The Advantage...

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Renowned Big-Data Economist Raj Chetty to Visit Greenville

FOR INFORMATION: Claudia Winkler Director of Marketing and Communications The Riley Institute at Furman University 864.294.3368; Claudia.winkler@furman.edu July 10, 2025 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: GREENVILLE, S.C. — While Greenville ranks highly on U.S. News and World...

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Richard W. Riley ’54 and Former Trustee Merl Code Receive Statewide Awards

Last updated January 28, 2025 By Claudia Winkler, Director of Marketing and Communications, The Riley Institute at Furman   Former U.S. Secretary of Education and two-term Governor of South Carolina Richard W. Riley ’54 was...

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A-Team at Furman links policy-minded students with decision-makers

Last updated March 14, 2025 By Damian Dominguez, Senior Writer   As members of the Riley Institute at Furman University’s Advance Team, students can be in the room where it happens, learning how the game gets played,...

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Senator Katrina Shealy and Judge Merl Code to receive Riley Institute’s statewide leadership awards

The Riley Institute at Furman University is proud to announce South Carolina Senator Katrina Shealy and Judge Merl Code as the recipients of the 2025 Riley-Wilkins OneSouthCarolina Legislative and Civic Leadership Awards. The awards, honoring...

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