Allen University News January 8, 2015 Senator Clementa C. Pinckney names the 145th Founders Day Speaker for Allen University The Honorable Clementa C. Pinckney will be the keynote speaker for Allen University as it hosts its 145th Founders Day Celebration on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, at 10:00 in the John Hurst Gymnatorium. David S. Broder, columnist for The Washington Post, described Senator Pinckney as a "political spirit lifter" for his dedication to advancing his district and for miraculously not becoming cynical about politics. Senator Pinckney served four years in the South Carolina House of Representatives. In November 2000, he was elected to represent the citizens of district 45 in the South Carolina State Senate and serves on the following standing committees: Banking & Insurance, Corrections & Penology, Education, Finance, and Medical Affairs. Senator Pinckney was educated in the public schools of Jasper County. He is a magna cum laude graduate with a degree in Business Administration from Allen University. He received a Masters in Public Administration from the University of South Carolina. He has done further studies at Princeton University as a summer research fellow in the fields of public policy and international affairs. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Senator Pinckney began preaching at the age of 13. He is the former President of the South Carolina Conference Branch Young People's Division. He is also the former Pastor of Youngs Chapel AME Church in Irmo, South Carolina; Jericho and Porter's Chapel AME Churches in Beaufort, South Carolina; Mt. Horr AME Church, Yonges Island, South Carolina; and Campbell Chapel AME Church in Bluffton, South Carolina. He is currently Senior Pastor of the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Senator Pinckney is married to Jennifer Benjamin, and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Eliana and Malana. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.