The Riley Institute at Furman

Home
United States
Greenville, SC
The Riley Institute at Furman

Transforming the systems that shape how we learn, work, and engage in civic life. Secretary of Education Richard W. (Dick) Riley. Learn more at furman.edu/riley.

The Riley Institute empowers emerging and established leaders—across sectors and throughout society—with the knowledge and tools to advance equity and drive social and economic progress in South Carolina and beyond. We work to strengthen public education; promote the power of diversity to help teams, organizations, and communities thrive; and elevate informed, evidence-based approaches to critical public issues. In all it does, the institute is committed to nonpartisanship and a bias-free path to change. Launched in 1999, the Institute is named for former South Carolina governor and former U.S.

10/09/2026

Matt Moore became one of the youngest state party chairs in the country when he took the helm of the South Carolina Republican Party. Jaime Harrison chaired the Democratic National Committee after leading the South Carolina Democratic Party.

At 2026, they brought two different careers to the same question.

10/07/2026

AI should give us more time to be human, not less.

Former South Carolina Republican Party chair Matt Moore reframed the debate around what AI should do for us at 2026.

What would you put on AI’s to-do list?

10/03/2026

Be honest: Who else gets The Terminator and Matrix vibes from AI? Or just former Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison? 👀

AI risks can sound like science fiction until you start thinking about the systems we rely on. Hear from former South Carolina Republican Party chair Matt Moore, a.k.a. the tech guy on stage.

10/02/2026

Their RISE internships ended, but ideas kept flowing. 🔁

Hanaa Khan worked alongside City of Greenville, South Carolina Government Council member Tina Belge before writing about Greenville’s proposed penny sales tax on The Greenville News: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/opinion/2026/09/22/why-greenvilles-proposed-penny-tax-could-help-manage-rapid-growth/91823347007/

Ben Thompson wrote for The Post and Courier about the potential of donor-advised funds for nonprofits: https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/328-billion-opportunity-sitting-under-our-noses/article_c957f99c-b9d3-4668-9c3d-74485adafb9b.html

10/01/2026

AI’s risks are only half the conversation.

Many conversations about AI focus on its risks for our society and democracy. But during 2026, political strategist Jaime Harrison pointed to some opportunities.

What could AI put within reach that wasn’t before?

09/25/2026

On Tuesday, we wrapped up StraightTalk 2026 with one final conversation, featuring a keynote from Axios CEO Jim VandeHei.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for StraightTalk 2026 (on stage, in the audience, and everywhere the conversation continued afterward), and to all who made the series happen, especially our partners OLLI- Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Furman, our moderator Mary Sturgill of Furman University Communication Studies, and our wonderful Advance Team students.

09/21/2026

ChatGPT is the AI you notice. What about the AI you don’t? 👀

University of Virginia’s Renée Cummings brought the stakes of invisible AI to StraightTalk2026: The AI Reckoning.

wraps up on Tuesday with Axios CEO Jim VandeHei and Greenville Chamber CEO Carlos Phillips.

🗓️ September 22 at Furman University. Few seats left: https://www.furman.edu/riley/projects/straighttalk-2026/

09/20/2026

Axios CEO Jim VandeHei isn’t mincing words.

And on Tuesday, he is bringing that perspective to Furman University.

The POLITICO co-founder joins business and higher education leaders to dig into what it means to be workforce-ready when the workforce is changing this fast.

📅 September 22 | Session III
🎟️ https://www.furman.edu/riley/projects/straighttalk-2026/

09/19/2026

10 frames from a night of big questions about AI, democracy and trust.

Week II of : The AI Reckoning brought another packed house to Furman University and plenty to talk about long after the lights came up.

One Tuesday left. See you on Sept. 22 for the finale. 👀

See full lineup and claim your seat: https://www.furman.edu/riley/projects/straighttalk-2026/

09/18/2026

“We don’t know how to control the AI we’re building." 💬 - People working inside AI companies

One of TIME's 100 most influential voices in AI, Sneha Revanur brought that concern to StraightTalk2026 and shared why nearly 1,400 AI researchers are calling to slow things down.

One final conversation is coming this Tuesday, Sept. 22, in collaboration with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Furman University.

🎟️ Furman community attends free. Everyone else, link in bio.

Address

3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC
29613

Telephone

+18642943546

Website

http://riley.furman.edu/, http://linktr.ee/rileyinstitute

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Riley Institute at Furman posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to The Riley Institute at Furman:

Want your organization to be the top-listed non profit organization in Greenville?