Mr. Riley is a senior partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and its affiliate, EducationCounsel LLC. As a former U.S. Secretary of Education (1993-2001) and a former Governor of South Carolina (1979-1987), he remains an ambassador for improving education in the state, nation and abroad.

As Governor, he focused on much-needed improvements in public education and SC economic development policy, as well as limiting nuclear waste storage in the state and modernizing state government. At the national level, he fought for higher academic standards for all children, additional reading, after-school and other programs to help improve learning; professional development to help educators improve teaching; and greater access and affordability for college for all students.

His selection by TIME Magazine as one of the top ten Federal cabinet officers in our nation’s history, as well as his induction into the South Carolina Hall of Fame, demonstrate the high regard in which Mr. Riley is held at the national and state levels. During the 1990s, the Christian Science Monitor wrote that many Americans regard Dick Riley as “one of the great statesmen of education in this century.” David Broder, the highly acclaimed national columnist, called him one of the “most decent and honorable people in public life.” 

“Throughout his life and wherever he goes, Mr. Riley wins respect for his integrity, principled leadership, commitment to children, passion for high-quality education and respect for the law. Mr. Riley gets things done by reaching out to all citizens. He prefers partnership to partisanship,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Marvin Jennings Caughman, who nominated Mr. Riley for the award.

As a young, progressive reformer in the SC Legislature, he pushed for greater autonomy for local governments, judicial reform, legislative openness, revision of the SC Constitution and general modernization of the SC government.

Mr. Riley continues to participate in activities to improve the quality of life in his local community, as well as at the state and national levels. The public offerings of his Riley Institute have brought national recognition to Furman, to the Greenville area and to the state. He also serves on the board of the University Center in Greenville; he has been instrumental in development for A Child’s Haven to serve abused and neglected children; he speaks at local public school events, college application and attendance promotions; and he participates in local community development efforts. Indications of Mr. Riley’s continuing public leadership are recent top awards extended by the Greenville Literacy Association, the S.C. Arts Commission and Leadership South Carolina.