A deep love of South Carolina, steadfast faith in its leaders, and a conviction that change is possible led Anna Kate and Hayne Hipp to found Liberty Fellowship in collaboration with Wofford College and The Aspen Institute. Seasoned business executive Jennie Johnson, as Executive Director, and Wofford President Bernie Dunlap are instrumental in designing the Fellowship experience.
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Fellows
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Classes
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Years of Leadership
Liberty Fellowship is a vibrant community of leaders who have made a lifelong commitment to creating a better future for all people in South Carolina. Each class of 20 leaders is selected every two years from a pool of nominations and carefully crafted to create a unique Mosaic of backgrounds and experiences.
Through their involvement in Liberty Fellowship, Fellows are expected to explore differing worldviews with an open mind and to challenge one another’s ideas respectfully in conjunction with the Fellowship’s commitment to engaging a multitude of perspectives. Liberty Fellowship helps Fellows develop a deeper understanding of a just, free, and equitable society and gain clarity in the values that guide their leadership.
Since the Fellowship’s founding in 2004, hundreds of Fellows have worked individually and collectively to confront some of the most difficult challenges in society to create a better South Carolina for all.
Our History
Liberty Fellowship Over Time
Hayne Hipp was CEO of Liberty Corporation, a publicly held organization that included insurance companies and television stations with additional investments in media, real estate and technology ventures. Hayne’s grandfather, W. Francis Hipp, started the company in 1919 with headquarters at 135 South Main Street, which remains part of the Greenville skyline. Liberty Fellowship, along with the iconic Liberty Bridge in Falls Park, were named in honor of the company and the Hipp family.
The first-ever Liberty Fellowship Class is selected from a pool of 250 nominations. The first Class begins their seminar series modeled in the Aspen Institute style of moderated, text-based dialogue. Members for the founding Board of Directors are selected.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the US and around the world. Liberty Fellowship is one of 13 Fellowships in the Institute’s Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), a growing worldwide community of 4,000 entrepreneurial leaders from over 60 countries.
The 5th Class of Fellows is selected and begins their seminar series. Liberty Fellowship grows into a network of 100 leaders across the state and holds the first Multi-Class Reunion, a gathering for the full network of Fellows.
The Liberty Fellowship South Carolina Network is a diverse Mosaic of established leaders with a wide range of professional affiliations. Currently, 76% of Fellows are from the business sector, 12% are from the public sector, and 12% are from the private sector.
Bringing together Fellows, Mentors, and almost 1,000 other South Carolinians with a desire for change, the Liberty Fellowship Summit features speaker Walter Isaacson. Following his remarks on Transcending Tribalism, participants spend the afternoon forming action groups and delving into the details of confronting some of South Carolina’s most intractable problems in the areas of education, economic development, health, environment, and public policy.
Liberty Fellowship celebrates 10 years! The second Multi-Class Reunion is held, and Liberty Fellow Luanne Runge (’09) is named the successor to the first Executive Director of Liberty Fellowship, Jennie Johnson.
Multi-Class Reunions become Multi-Class Gatherings. These network gatherings continue biennially and give Fellows the opportunity to connect across Classes and participate in shorter seminar experiences.
The first all-Fellows Board begins leading the organization, marking the transition to a Fellows-led organization.
The required seminar series for new Fellows is expanded to include the Call to Action seminar. Designed as the capstone of the 18-month experience, this 5th seminar brings Fellows together as a class specifically to make plans for generational impact in South Carolina.
Liberty Fellowship celebrates fifteen years! The 15th Class of Fellows is selected and begins their seminar series. The Liberty Fellowship South Carolina Network grows to 300 leaders throughout South Carolina.
Liberty Fellow Ann Marie Stieritz (’16) is named President & CEO of Liberty Fellowship.
Each new Liberty Fellow is required to create an individual impact venture. Liberty Fellows have worked individually and collectively through the network to confront some of the most difficult challenges in society. Together, they are working toward creating a better South Carolina for all—and their impact can be seen and felt statewide.
As in-person gatherings pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liberty Fellowship South Carolina Network is convened virtually through Class check-ins and topic-specific webinars. Communication initiatives are launched to inform and inspire the Fellowship.
Three Liberty Fellows are added to the Fellowship’s Board of Directors, and committees are formed to grow the Fellowship through Governance, Fundraising and Fellow Engagement.
Having grown into a robust network of more than 300 Fellows, the Fellowship creates new programming designed to connect and engage the Liberty Fellowship South Carolina Network.
The Continuing the Journey Seminar is created for the network to re-convene around the seminar table.
The Connected Conversations program is created for the Liberty Fellowship South Carolina Network to connect for one-on-one meetups and conversations.
Liberty Fellowship is a lifelong commitment, and the network remains engaged with one another long after the initial seminar series is complete. For example, new Fellows working on individual impact ventures are connected with Fellows in the network who help to refine the venture ideas and address any challenges. For the three most recent Classes of Fellows, 254 connections and consultancies were facilitated.
Liberty Fellowship celebrates 20 years, and the Liberty Fellowship South Carolina Network grows to 350 Fellows!
The 17th Class of Fellows begins their seminar series.
First, you must be nominated. Next, each newly elected candidate is personally interviewed. Finally, all candidates are considered in the creation of a class mosaic that reflects the rich diversity of South Carolina. This mosaic transcends race, politics, gender, religion, and regions, removing traditional barriers that can block progress for South Carolina.
South Carolina residents between the ages of 30 and 47 are eligible for nomination. Additionally, nominees must be proven leaders with a history of significant community engagement and success in their chosen field. Finally, the nominator should have confidence in the candidate’s potential to have an impact at the state level. Refer to the nomination criteria for further guidance.
Nominating a fellow is a simple, 4-step process. Follow our directions on making a nomination.
Yes. Our underlying purpose is to create a generational impact in South Carolina, so Fellows must be South Carolina residents.
The initial five, multi-day seminar experience takes place over 18 months. After the initial seminars, Fellows stay connected in a variety of ways from informal Class check-ins and social gatherings to our biennial Multi-Class Gathering, where the full Fellowship convenes to discuss statewide issues and opportunities for action.
Learn more about the Liberty Fellowship commitment.
No. Liberty Fellowship is rigorously non-partisan and has no religious affiliation.
No. Liberty Fellowship is non-partisan and does not endorse any political candidate.
There is no cost to Fellows for the initial 18-month experience. All costs associated with the required seminars (including travel) are covered by our organization. However, all costs with the required leadership project are the Fellow’s responsibility.
Liberty Fellowship hosts social and leadership events separate from the required seminars. The cost to attend these optional events is the responsibility of the Fellow. The Fellowship works to keep the cost of these events nominal and to offer financial assistance when available.
Liberty Fellowship is based at Wofford College in Spartanburg and also has an office in Greenville. However, the program is a statewide initiative with an expansive network of Fellows, Mentors, nominators, and contributors in virtually every corner of South Carolina.
Liberty Fellowship is a lifelong commitment. Once selected for the program, Fellows become part of a growing network of more than 310 Fellows across the state. Each Liberty Fellow identifies an area, through their Fellowship project, to take action to improve South Carolina. Whether individually or collaboratively, Fellows continue to make an impact on South Carolina far beyond the initial seminar experience.
Learn more about the Liberty Fellowship commitment.
Meet Our Fellows
Explore our network of 350 Fellows across South Carolina. →
Explore Our Impact
See how our Fellows are creating lasting impact in our state. →