Interview with Richard W.

Interviewer

John Gaston

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Abstract

This interview was conducted as part of the Winthrop History Project, an initiative led by Winthrop President Emeritus Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio and Rebecca Masters. The project aimed to document Winthrop’s transformation over Dr. DiGiorgio’s 24-year tenure, tracing the institution’s evolution from Winthrop College to Winthrop University. Designed to supplement Dr. Ross Webb’s The Torch is Passed, which chronicles Winthrop’s history up to Dr. DiGiorgio’s presidency, this project sought to provide a comprehensive account of this significant period.

This interview features Richard W. “Dick” Riley (b. 1933) and Terry K. Peterson, both of whom played significant roles in shaping education policy at the state and national levels.

  • Dick Riley served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives (1963–1966) and the South Carolina State Senate (1967–1977) before being elected the 111th Governor of South Carolina, serving from 1979 to 1987. He later became the U.S. Secretary of Education under President Bill Clinton (1993–2001), where he was a leading advocate for education reform. In recognition of his contributions to education, Winthrop’s College of Education bears his name.
  • Terry K. Peterson has been a key advisor to Riley since his tenure as governor. He served as Riley’s education adviser during his governorship (1979–1987) and later as special assistant for higher education policy at Winthrop University (1987–1993). Peterson continued his work alongside Riley at the national level, shaping education initiatives during Riley’s tenure as U.S. Secretary of Education.

In this interview, Riley and Peterson reflect on their experiences working with Winthrop University and share their insights on higher education policy. They also discuss their impressions of and collaborations with President DiGiorgio throughout their careers.

Publication Date

6-2015

Unique Identifier

OH 624

Format

MP3;

Length

01:08:30

Series

Anthony DiGiorgio

Interview with Richard W.

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