COL (Ret.) Alexander Conyers

Alexander Conyers is the 13th president of South Carolina State University. Prior to this role, he served the university as interim president, acting president and vice president for strategic alliances and initiatives.

Col. Conyers is an experienced servant leader having served over 28 years in the U.S. Army. He is a proven leader who has led complex organizations in areas of leadership, recruitment, retention, training, human resources, finance and budget, safety, and accreditation. His assignments consisted of many stateside locations including two tours at the Pentagon and South Korea, Canada, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Conyers previously served in Washington, D.C., in the Senior Executive Service (federal government just below presidential appointees) as the deputy assistant secretary of the Army (Review Boards); a two-star general equivalent. In this capacity, he led the Army Review Boards Agency, which on behalf of the secretary of the Army serves as the highest administrative level for review and appeal of personnel actions taken by lower levels of the Army. The agency administers 12 different boards and adjudicates over 20,000 cases annually from soldiers, veterans, and family members. He was responsible for boards that adjudicate cases involving evaluation and promotions, discharge upgrades, physical disability, eliminations, the parole board for military prisoners, and other cases.

He completed his military career in 2016 after rising from private to colonel as the leader of the Army’s largest and most complex military police brigade. He led over 3,600 soldiers and civilians across four military installations: Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Ft. Stewart, Georgia, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and Ft. Drum, New York. He was also responsible for the safety of the Ft. Bragg community with a population of over 100,000 personnel.

Col. Conyers remained intimately involved with SC State while serving in the Army. He served as a member of the SCSU Board of Visitors, chairman of the Student Relations Committee for the SCSU National Alumni Association, and a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee. He was featured as a 2016 honoree on the Stellar Alumni Calendar. He has also been inducted into SC State ROTC Hall of Fame and most recently served as the president of the Washington, D.C., Chapter of the National Alumni Association.

A Manning, South Carolina, native. Col. Conyers holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from SC State, a master’s degree in corrections from the University of South Carolina, and a master’s degree in public administration from Troy University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and The University of North Carolina’s Leadership, Excellence and Development (LEAD) program. He is a member of several professional associations, including the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, and a former adjunct professor at Upper Iowa University.

He is married to First Lady Agatha Conyers, and they have two children, Ace and Aly.

Since serving as President of SC State, he has accomplished the following:

1. Fiscal Stability
   1. Made an immediate decision to utilize $9M of HBCU Cares Acts funding as student debt relief. The debt was owed to SC State, therefore the $9M was returned to SC State as unrestricted funds.
   2. This singular decision relieved/cleared the university of $9M of bad debt.
   3. Allocated $5M of these funds to the SCSU rainy day reserve account.
   4. Made an additional $1M payment to the principal of the $6M loan from the state.
   5. Utilized the remaining funds towards the other strategic initiatives.
2. Fundraising
   1. On August 25, announced a $1.25M fundraising campaign over 125 days with a personal donation of $25,000.
   2. The campaign raised $2.5M during the period with a 40% increase in the number of alumni giving.
   3. To date, the annual fund has received $5.1M compared to $2.7M at this time last year.
   4. Raised $1M at the Alumni Reunion Banquet on May 7, only the 2^nd time in history that mark was made.
   5. On track to implement a sizable capital campaign plan, the first in the history of SC State.
3. Student Enrollment and Success
   1. On July 13 when named acting president, he immediately reopened the admission portal with a blitz for students and brought in 682 new freshmen in August 2021, the largest class in five years: reversing the trend of freshman classes with 350-360 students.
   2. On pace to enroll his stated goal of 1,000 new students Fall 2022.
   3. Personally, participates and engages with potential students and parents at recruitment fairs throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
   4. Re-established dual-enrollment programs with several high school districts; dozens of students have already enrolled for August
   5. Established a professional advising program designated for first–time freshmen aimed at increased retention rates.
4. Curriculum and Research
   1. Has directed an academic program review to align programs with workforce needs and trends; the last review is more than 15 years old.
   2. Research grant funding is up over 35% than this time last year.
   3. Implemented SLATE, a customer relations management program after a three-year stall. This will greatly enhance many aspects of the university.
5. Improve the Campus Environment
   1. In the process on implementing $2M worth of safety and security enhancements; cameras, LED lighting, emergency call boxes and card readers for dormitory access.
   2. Currently conducting improvements to over 10 buildings on campus.
   3. Made major improvements to the softball field for our female student-athletes
   4. Provided $160K directly to student organizations to improve campus experience; Army ROTC, Marching 101 Band and Student Government Association.
6. Enhance the University Brand
   1. Developed a marketing campaign that includes, radio, internet, and TV advertisements and eight billboards throughout South Carolina.
   2. Capitalized on the HBCU National Football Championship by combining the spring football game with Open House, resulting in over 3,000 students and parents visiting the campus.
   3. He is fully engaged with the local and state community; to include school districts, churches, elected and appointed leaders, local Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission.
   4. Contracted with a company to develop a brand-new comprehensive website for the university.
7. Faculty and Staff Morale
   1. Conducted an off-campus holiday social for faculty and staff in December.
   2. Conducted a Tailgate Appreciation for faculty and staff during last football season.
   3. Provided a $125 gift card to every faculty and staff member.
   4. Re-established a financial reward to departmental employees of the year.
   5. Providing funding for faculty and staff to attend professional development conferences and seminars.
8. Parents and Family Engagement
   1. Created the first SCSU Parents and Family Association to build a bridge and serve as conduit between parents and the university.
   2. Established the Legacy Scholar Pinning Ceremony which recognized incoming students with a parent who graduated from SC State.
   3. Initiated the implementation of a First-Generation College Student Society (FirstGen) to improve the success and retention rates of this population of students.