Nominate

Do You Know the Next Liberty Fellow?

In South Carolina’s 46 counties, there are dynamic leaders who have the drive, proven success, and desire to make a difference. Nominators play a critical role by nominating leaders who they know well and who meet the selection criteria. Review the criteria and process below to guide your Liberty Fellow nomination.

Submit a Nomination

Nomination Criteria

Characteristics of a Strong Nominee:

South Carolina resident

Age 35 and 55

Intellectually curious and open to diverse perspectives

Demonstrated history of significant community or civic leadership and engagement

Be at an “inflection point,” ready to deepen their leadership role and embrace new opportunities for growth and impact

Willing to engage in civil discourse, ready to question personally held beliefs with respectful and constructive dialogue

Possess a breadth of experience and maturity that will allow them to both contribute to and learn from their peers in the seminar experience

Liberty Fellowship expects and encourages Fellows to challenge one another’s ideas respectfully in conjunction with our commitment toward engaging a multitude of perspectives. The strongest nominations are those that help us understand the nominee’s inflection point and why this is the right time for them to take full advantage of the Fellowship.

The Fellowship will not accept nominees who express hate or intolerance toward others based on their particular ideas or identities.

Nomination Process

Nomination Form

All nominations must be submitted using a nomination form.  If you have previously submitted a nomination form, you do not need to submit a new one. Your nominee will remain in the pool for consideration until they no longer meet the criteria. We encourage you to send updates on previously nominated forms to Janice Wilkins.

Nominations for the Class of 2027 closed on January 31, 2026. However, we are accepting nominations on a rolling basis.

Interviews

After the submission deadline, our team will thoroughly review all new nominations as well as candidates from the existing pool. Selected candidates will be invited to participate in the interview process, which may include both virtual and in-person meetings.

Class Selection

South Carolina is fortunate to have an abundance of bright and competent nominees. However, each class is limited to 21 exceptional individuals.

When selecting our Classes, we aim to create a vibrant mosaic. Considerations include creating an optimum cross section of gender, geographic, urban/rural, political, social, occupational and ethnic characteristics. A critical task is to weave together the strongest candidates in a class that–as a whole–reflects South Carolina in all its rich diversity. Our goal is for each Fellow to bring their own knowledge and experience to the group, while also learning from the insights and perspectives of others.

An official announcement will be made once the class is seated.

Commitment to Seminar Dates

Nominees are required to attend all seminar dates and times as published. Arriving late or leaving early is not permitted.

Seminars for the Class of 2027 are:

  • Challenge of Leadership 
    • June 14-19, 2026
    • Spartanburg, SC
  • The Aspen Executive
    • October 11-17, 2026
    • Rock Hill/Fort Mill, SC
  • AGLN Leading in a Global Context
    • January – March 2027
    • Various international locations
  • The Promise of Leadership
    • June 7-11, 2027
    • Columbia, SC
The Fellowship Commitment

Frequently Asked Questions

The next selection cycle concludes on January 31, 2026, which is the deadline for all nominations for the Class of 2027.

South Carolina residents between the ages of 35 and 55 are eligible. Nominees who will turn 56 by the start of the first seminar are not eligible.

Education of Fellows ranges from no college degree to post-doctoral work.

There are no specific employment requirements.

Successful nominees will have a history of significant civic and community engagement that includes positions of leadership. We are looking for leaders who are at an “inflection point”- looking toward the broader role they might take on in their communities. By this, we mean that they are ready and able to pause, re-evaluate the things that matter to them most, and dedicate time and energy to making a difference.

There are two factors you should seriously consider:

  1. Four, multi-day seminars over the course of 14 months in the U.S. and abroad. Fellows must participate in all seminars. Late arrivals and early departures are not permitted. No offers of “just missing a bit” or “calling in,” and  Fellows must also complete required readings before the seminars take place.
  2. An individual impact venture. Each Fellow commits to an individual leadership venture that will be underway by the end of the seminar experience.

Liberty Fellows are expected to articulate and follow through on meaningful actions to make South Carolina a stronger state. They join a community of 330 Liberty Fellows across the state, in addition to the 4,000 members of the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), working individually and collectively to have a positive impact in South Carolina and the world. Liberty Fellowship and AGLN provides multiple opportunities for fellows to stay engaged throughout their lifelong leadership journeys.

Learn more about the commitment required to be a Liberty Fellow.

The good news is that every nominee remains in the active candidate pool until they no longer meet the eligibility requirements.

No. We encourage periodic updates, particularly in the areas of career and community or state engagement, to Janice Wilkins.

Submit a Nomination

Nominations for the Class of 2027 closed on January 31, 2026. However, we are accepting nominations on a rolling basis.