A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR Dr. Lynn W. McGee, A Senior executive AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AFTER YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, in preparation for her life's career in higher education leadership, Lynn McGee earned a bachelor's degree from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, where she served on the Honor Court, played tennis for four years, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and graduated summa cum laude and as valedictorian with a double major in English and mathematics. She also was awarded a Rotary scholarship to the University of Oslo International Summer School; and

Whereas, she continued her educational pursuits, earning a master's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina Kenan Flagler School of Business where she held the prestigious Morehead Fellowship. She was then awarded the John Edwards Fellowship at Indiana University Kelley School of Business, where she earned a doctorate in business marketing and served as associate instructor from 1984-1986; and

Whereas, Dr. McGee served as vice chancellor for advancement and external relations in Beaufort, Bluffton, and Hilton Head Island for USCB from 2006-2018, during which time USCB doubled in enrollment to 2,000 students, built two new campuses, and opened campus housing to a capacity of over 1,100 beds. A nascent athletics program expanded to nine varsity sports in the NAIA Sun Conference. By 2018, USCB offered 18 undergraduate degrees on three campuses. She served USCB on the Chancellor's Cabinet, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' (SACS) Accreditation Team in 2009 and 2019 and Re-affirmation in 2014, and the Study Abroad Committee from 2015-2018, as well as chair of the Commencement Committee from 2008-2016; and

Whereas, Dr. McGee's most noteworthy state-wide achievement at USCB was her successful leadership of the Parity for Students initiative in 2014, an improved funding formula put in place by the General Assembly for the three participating regional campuses, USC Aiken, USC Upstate, and USCB, resulting in enriched and expanded programs at all three campuses. Some ten thousand students per year across the State have benefitted from this initiative's recurring funding; and

Whereas, Dr. McGee's professional recognitions have been many and include: a Fulbright Scholar Award, the first received by an USCB faculty or staff member; the 2014 Circle of Excellence International Gold Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, its highest award worldwide; the Edwin Crawford Award for Innovation in State Government Relations in 2015; and the SAI Programs Staff Leadership Grant in 2019; and

Whereas, she has served her community as a member of Beaufort Rotary Club/Sea Islands Rotary Club since 2011, on the Hilton Head Island Chamber Government Relations Committee from 2012-2018, and as a member of the South Carolina Fulbright Association since 2016, chosen to serve as its vice president from 2020-2024. She has served the international community as an independent marketing consultant since 1990, and on the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head since 2021; and

Whereas, together with her beloved husband, David McGee, she reared four outstanding sons. After completing her doctorate, Dr. McGee paused her career to homeschool her sons in their early years. A faithful member of Grace Coastal Church, she serves as a children's Sunday school teacher, and she has served the Boy Scouts of America Troop 213, for which she has received several honors; and

Whereas, grateful for her years of unparalleled service to USCB, the House of Representatives extends best wishes to Lynn McGee in her transition to a richly deserved retirement, and the members wish her many years of enjoyment in her well-earned retirement begun in late September 2022. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Dr. Lynn W. McGee, a senior executive and professor at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, upon the occasion of her retirement after years of outstanding service, and wish her continued success and happiness in all her future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Lynn W. McGee.

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