In November 2020, Dr. Hope E. Rivers was selected as the 3rd President of Piedmont Technical College. Piedmont Technical College contributes to the economic growth and development of the largest and most diverse region of the technical college system, Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry and Saluda counties. In addition to credit curriculum programs, Piedmont Technical College offers a wide variety of on-demand training options to businesses and organizations through the college’s Economic Development and Continuing Education Division. Prior to leading the team at Piedmont Technical College, Dr. Rivers served in many other administrative positions in higher education including Executive Vice President, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and Research, Associate Vice President for Curriculum and Instruction, Curriculum Coordinator, and Program Manager for Student Support Services for over 25 years. As Executive Vice President, Dr. Rivers served as principal advisor to the System President on matters relating to educational programs, internal and external relations, and system advocacy. Dr. Rivers worked alongside the System President, State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, Technical and Community College Presidents, and the South Carolina Technical College System’s Executive Staff on legislative and governmental affairs. Additionally, Dr. Rivers played an active role in the System’s budgeting process often fielding questions or testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee, Senate Finance Committee, House Education Committee, Senate Education Committee, and the Executive Budget Office (i.e., Governor’s Office). Last year, Dr. Rivers worked tirelessly with the legislative staff on the creation of the state’s new $17 million dollar Workforce Industry Needs Scholarship (SCWINS).