The University of South Carolina has added former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley to its Joseph F. Rice School of Law as a full-time distinguished professor of practice and public service in the Department of Legal Studies, beginning March 1.
He will also give guest lectures at the law school, the Honors College and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Beasley began his life in public service when he was elected to serve in the South Carolina House of Representatives at the age of 21. He served in the state legislature until 1994 when he was elected governor. He held the governor’s office until 1999 and in 2003, he earned a John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his efforts during his gubernatorial term to remove the Confederate Flag from the State House.
From 2017 to 2023, Beasley worked as executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, a humanitarian organization that works to feed hundreds of millions of starving people in more than 80 countries. In 2020, he received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the organization for its efforts to combat hunger and conflict around the world and make peace.
Beasley also co-founded the Center for Global Strategies in 2005 with fellow USC law school alumnus Henry L. Deneen. The center’s mission is to integrate developing communities into the global economy via investment, market solutions and a message of peace.
“The Rice School of Law is most grateful that Gov. Beasley will be joining our faculty,” said Dean William Hubbard. “The mission of the law school is to educate lawyer leaders for their communities, our state and nation. Gov. Beasley’s example of exemplary leadership and public service will inspire our students, broaden their perspectives and enhance their international understanding.”
Beasley holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from USC and graduated from the university’s School of Law in 1983.
