Board of Directors

Our board is composed of dedicated individuals from diverse backgrounds, each bringing unique insights and expertise to our mission. Together, we work to preserve the legacy of beloved author Pat Conroy and to foster a vibrant literary community.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to those board members who have stepped away to address life’s demands, whether they are family matters, job-related responsibilities, or other commitments that require their full attention. Many of these remarkable individuals have been with us since the very beginning, and we especially thank Tim Conroy, Mayor Billy Keyserling, Esther Harnett Shaver, and Victoria Smalls for their invaluable service. We also remember Mihai Radulescu, a founding director who passed in 2024, whose vision and leadership were instrumental in establishing and nurturing our foundation. Together, we celebrate their contributions to preserving the legacy of Pat Conroy and supporting emerging voices in literature.

Kathy Conroy Harvey

Kathy Conroy, the younger sister of Pat Conroy, is a retired Registered Nurse who dedicated 27 years to a prevention program with the United States Marine Corps Tri-Command in Beaufort. A graduate of Beaufort High, she earned her nursing degree from the Technical College of Lowcountry. Since retiring in May 2019, Kathy has become integral to the Pat Conroy Literary Center. She is passionate about gardening and quilting, with one of her quilts on display at the Center. Kathy and her husband, Bobby Joe Harvey, have a son, Will, a jazz musician and teacher in Charleston, and a daughter-in-law, Laura, a behavioral psychologist. They often visit Beaufort to connect with family.

Melissa Conroy

Melissa Conroy, the second oldest daughter of Pat Conroy, was born in Beaufort, SC, and raised in Atlanta, GA. An artist, author, and textile designer, she has published three books, including two children’s picture books, “Poppy’s Pants” and “Grandma is an Author,” as well as “The Lowcountry Coloring Book.” Melissa’s artwork is part of the permanent collections at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. She lives in Ithaca, NY, with her husband, teenage son, and pets, while her daughter attends college. Currently a Senior Lecturer in Human Centered Design at Cornell University, Melissa specializes in textile design and has received grants for her innovative work, contributing to peer-reviewed research on knit structures and soft robotics.

Cassandra King – Honorary Chair

Cassandra King, the award-winning author and wife of the late Pat Conroy, has written five novels, a nonfiction book, and numerous short stories and essays featured in Coastal Living and Southern Living. Her bestselling novel, The Sunday Wife, was a People magazine Page-Turner and received accolades as a South Carolina Readers Circle choice and a top selection by Book Sense. Another bestseller, The Same Sweet Girls, was also a number one Book Sense selection and nominated for SIBA’s Book of the Year. Her memoir, Tell Me A Story, reflects on her life with Pat Conroy. In 2017, she was honored as a Fellow by the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

Marly Rusoff

Marly Rusoff is the founder of The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis and the president of Marly Rusoff Literary Agency. A former publishing executive at Houghton Mifflin, Doubleday, and William Morrow, she has collaborated with hundreds of authors throughout her career. Marly has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including The Loft, Teachers & Writers, and The Anne Frank Center. She met Pat Conroy in her bookstore when he visited Minneapolis and later became his literary agent, orchestrating the publicity launches for his acclaimed books like The Prince of Tides and Beach Music. Marly and Pat shared a friendship that spanned over thirty-five years.

Sean A. Scapellato – Chair

Sean A. Scapellato is an attorney who helps clients in the areas of real estate, estate planning, probate, and education law. Before his legal career, he taught English and creative writing at Porter-Gaud School and the Charleston County School of the Arts, where his students earned national writing awards. A long-time friend of Pat Conroy, Sean credits Conroy’s mentorship for his growth as a novelist and essayist. He continues to publish his work and actively participates as an instructor and panelist at PCLC events. Sean lives in Charleston with his wife, Sara.

Roland Gardner – Vice Chair

Roland Gardner has dedicated his career to enhancing the health and wellbeing of Lowcountry residents. Since becoming the CEO of Beaufort-Jasper-Hampton Comprehensive Health Services (BJHCHS) in 1980, he has transformed the organization into a multi-specialty medical center serving over 17,000 patients across three counties. Roland has received numerous accolades, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award for Health Care and induction into the National Grassroots Policy Hall of Fame. He was also appointed by Kathleen Sebelius to the National Advisory Council for Rural Health and Human Services. A native of St. Helena Island, he currently lives with his wife, Connie, and has two adult daughters. He and Pat Conroy shared a long friendship, often discussing local history and island culture.

Christopher Ibsen

Christopher Ibsen is the owner and President of Dolphin Architects & Builders, a custom Design+Build residential firm, and Gamble Home Services, a property management company in Charleston. Previously, he was part of the Executive Leadership Team at Piggly Wiggly Carolina Company. Christopher spent his early career in the non-profit sector in various development roles, including Director of Development for Porter-Gaud School and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. He holds an MBA from Duke University and a BS from the College of William & Mary. Christopher is actively engaged in the community as a board member for multiple organizations, including the Sea Island Habitat for Humanity, the Pat Conroy Literary Center, and the Charleston Home Builders Association. He has also held leadership roles in numerous civic and professional activities. Christopher and his wife, Lise, married in 1996 and have two children, Emily and William.

Elizabeth Horn

Elizabeth Horn holds B.A.E., M.Ed., and Education Specialist degrees In English, Education, and Curriculum with an additional certification to teach in gifted and talented programs. Liz taught for 38 years in Mississippi and Georgia, all at the high school level: AP English, honors English, speech, theatre, debate, journalism, and was sponsor of yearbook staffs 20+ years. Liz is a reader and scorer of Advanced Placement national exams as well as state and district writing exams. Liz Horn is currently retired, but working as a lead teacher/volunteer in the Storybuilders program at Lady’s Island Elementary School.

Terri S. Stokes

Terri Stokes is a graduate of USC-Columbia, 1979 B.S. Business Admin, and is co-Owner of Bay Street Jewelers (formerly Fox Jewelers founded in 1941) along with her husband, Mark, having purchased the business in 1991. Terri worked at S.C. National Bank for the CEO in Hilton Head, and the Loan Department in Beaufort, as the bank merged and eventually became Wells Fargo. She is a member of the Baptist Church of Beaufort. An Ambassador for the Pat Conroy Literary Center since the opening, she is also Member of the Rotary Club of the Lowcountry years), Rotarian of the Year 3 times, several past Board positions; past President of the S.C. Jewelers Association; member of the Beaufort Shag Club (past Board member). The Stokes have one son, Brandon, and his wife, Megan, who live in Mt Pleasant with 3 beautiful grandchildren, Watson, Rosie and Patrick.

Ginger Olszewski

After a successful career in department store management, culminating as the General Manager at Belk in Beaufort, Ginger transitioned to the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she served as Member Services and Operations Manager for nearly five years. She officially retired in June to focus on her passions for reading, community service, and travel. Now serving as Treasurer for the Pat Conroy Literary Center, Ginger enjoys reading, spending time in nature and at the beach, baking, and volunteering. Originally from Lancaster County, PA, she has lived in several states before settling in Beaufort in 2008 with her husband, Dave. They have four grown children, ten grandchildren, and live with four cats. Ginger is an active member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Port Royal.

Thomas ‘T.J.’ Belasco

Thomas ‘T.J.’ Belasco taught English literature and composition for 34 years in Cape May County NJ. In 2020, he earned the Cape May County Teacher of the Year and finalist for State Teacher of the Year. He has published articles on finding peace in the classroom in the NJEA Review, as well as compiling a chapter in the book Classroom Toolkit. In addition to his teaching, T.J. also works with students and teachers as a certified mindfulness/meditation teacher (Brach/Kornfield). In his retirement, T.J founded The Mindful Classroom, an initiative designed to give teachers the tools they need to navigate student trauma and avoid burnout. Beyond his work with educators, T.J. continues to mentor the next generation as a college application coach, helping students translate their unique experiences into compelling admissions narratives. He is currently working on his first book, a guide for teachers (and anyone else feeling the weight of a demanding career) to reclaim their purpose and peace. T.J. has called Beaufort home for the past two years.

Mary Martha Greene

Mary Martha Greene has been described as “a skilled and seductive Southern storyteller” . Mary Martha is an award-winning cook, and also enjoys a lengthy career in government relations and politics, including serving on the staff of Governor (and, later, US Secretary of Education) Richard W. Riley, lobbying, political action, business development, and consulting. Throughout her career, Mary Martha has shared her love of cooking, baking, and entertaining to aid her in making friends and influencing people in the legislative, political, and fundraising arenas.

Mary Martha has published two cookbooks/food memoirs, The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All and The Cheese Biscuit Queen Kiss My Aspic by the University of South Carolina Press, and teaches cooking lessons and classes on how to preserve family stories and recipes through food at the University of South Carolina and other locations. Mary Martha divides her time between her hometown of Beaufort, South Carolina, and Columbia, the state capital, where she is a government relations consultant.

Amelia Warner

Bio coming soon…