Spring 2008 PDF - University of South Carolina Upstate

her graduation from Upstate
with a BS in physical education,
she has worked as a physical
education teacher for all grade
levels, a back rehabilitation
specialist, and as a pitching
coach assistant for Upstate. Traci
currently works at Southeast
Region Fastpitch. She believes
her biggest accomplishments are being a
wife and mother, and influencing young people through
sports and making a difference at Upstate. She is
heavily involved in her community, but when she is not
working, volunteering or spending time with her family
she like to SCUBA dive.
Rusty Williams
Listed in the Wall Street Journal
as one of the top 200 real estate
agents in the nation for closed
transactions, and as a member
of the RE/MAX 2007 Hall of
Fame, Rusty credits his business
management degree from USC
Upstate as
the “perfect match for working
in today’s real estate market and for operating a real
estate office that specializes in foreclosures and bank
owned properties.” Now a licensed realtor and broker
for RE/MAX in Spartanburg, this Spartanburg native
focuses on marketing, maintaining and disposing of
foreclosed bank assets in the Upstate as well as parts
of North Carolina. Rusty has six full-time assistants and
three work crews. Offshore boating and travel abroad
are his leisure-time hobbies, and he is involved with
Spartanburg Children’s Shelter, the Peace Center for
the Performing Arts, Hatcher Gardens and with USC
Upstate’s own Susan Jacobs Arboretum.
Victor Austin
It’s been a busy 18 years since
graduation for Greenville native
Victor Austin, who left USC
Upstate with a bachelor of
science in marketing. He has
worked for Fed Ex, Met Life, and
owned a Port City Java Coffee
House. He got married along the way and
has three children. Currently, he owns Palmetto Home
Care Upstate, a company that provides in-home care
to individuals who want to maintain an independent
lifestyle. Victor has served the Boy Scouts of America
on the board of directors and as district commissioner.
He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and
served two years as president of the African American
Association while a student and says that his years
at Upstate were marked by active and involved
participation.
Tracey Jackson
Many USC Upstate students
have found that professors
can be a great connection for
finding summer internships
or research opportunities
and even landing that first
job. Tracey Jackson is one
such alumnae who launched
her successful career with the help of an Upstate
professor. A cum laude graduate in political science,
Jackson credits Dr. Ron Romine with helping her find
her first job as a campaign coordinator for the Harris for
House campaign. Tracey is now the executive director of
Piedmont Care, Inc. Located in Spartanburg, Piedmont
Care is a nonprofit organization providing HIV and AIDS
care, prevention and advocacy. Piedmont Care provides
outpatient medical care, medication, transportation,
nutrition, housing, insurance assistance and other
services to local community members living with HIV/
AIDS. Tracey considers the growth of Piedmont Care
as one of her greatest accomplishments. Under her
vision and leadership, Piedmont Care grew from a
volunteer-run clinic that was only open one day a week
to a full-time clinic with eight staff members. In addition
to her busy professional life, Tracey maintains an active
civic life, serving as treasurer of The Snail’s Pace, on
the family selection and support committee for Habitat
for Humanity, as a volunteer and member of Fernwood
Baptist Church, and as a member of the Board of
Advisors for USC Upstate’s Center for Women’s and
Gender Studies.
David Miller
Banking is David Miller’s life
passion. While a student
at Upstate, he founded
the University Business
Society with guidance from
Dr. Lilly Lancaster. After
graduating with a BS in
business administration with a concentration in
Alumni Profiles
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