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Richard W. Riley

Richard W. Riley

Partner

Greenville ONE
2 W. Washington Street
Suite 400
Greenville, SC 29601
101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
dick.riley@nelsonmullins.com

The EducationCounsel leadership team includes former U.S. Secretary of Education and former South Carolina Governor Richard Riley. During his tenure with the U.S. Department of Education, Secretary Riley helped launch historic education initiatives to raise academic standards; improve instruction for the poor and disadvantaged; increase parental and business involvement; establish afterschool academic enrichment programs; support training...

The EducationCounsel leadership team includes former U.S. Secretary of Education and former South Carolina Governor Richard Riley. During his tenure with the U.S. Department of Education, Secretary Riley helped launch historic education initiatives to raise academic standards; improve instruction for the poor and disadvantaged; increase parental and business involvement; establish afterschool academic enrichment programs; support training and professional development for teachers; expand grants and loans to help more students attend college; foster international education; prepare young people for careers; and promote lifelong learning. To groups throughout the country, Secretary Riley provides strategic planning and policy advice to promote high-quality teaching and learning at all levels of education.

Richard W. Riley

and professional development for teachers; expand grants and loans to help more students attend college; foster international education; prepare young people for careers; and promote lifelong learning. To groups throughout the country, Secretary Riley provides strategic planning and policy advice to promote high-quality teaching and learning at all levels of education.

The EducationCounsel leadership team includes former U.S. Secretary of Education and former South Carolina Governor Richard Riley. During his tenure with the U.S. Department of Education, Secretary Riley helped launch historic education initiatives to raise academic standards; improve instruction for the poor and disadvantaged; increase parental and business involvement; establish afterschool academic enrichment programs; support training... and professional development for teachers; expand grants and loans to help more students attend college; foster international education; prepare young people for careers; and promote lifelong learning. To groups throughout the country, Secretary Riley provides strategic planning and policy advice to promote high-quality teaching and learning at all levels of education.

Education

  • University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1959)
  • Furman University, BA, Political Science, cum laude (1954)

Admissions

  • South Carolina
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • TALK Greenville Magazine's Top Lawyers List, Education (2023)
  • Greenville Business Magazine "Legal Elite of the Upstate", Education (2022-2024)
  • Inducted into South Carolina Hall of Fame
  • Named by TIME Magazine among Top Ten Best Cabinet Members in USA history
  • Recipient of national and local awards from education and public service organizations
  • Recipient of honorary degrees from higher education institutions in the United States and abroad
  • College of Education at Winthrop University and College of Education and Leadership, Walden University, bear his name
  • South Carolina Bar
  • American Bar Association
  • Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of South Carolina
  • Advisory Board Chair of Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership at Furman University
  • ABA Commissions on Rule of Law and Civics in our Nation's Schools