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.
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.
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.
Darryl Laffitte
A South Carolina native and Columbia College graduate, Darryl Laffitte has been a devoted resident of Beaufort for over 26 years, where she lives with her husband, Dr. Lucius Laffitte. Actively involved in her community and church, she also assists in her husband’s medical office. The couple has two children and one grandchild who are central to their lives. Darryl resides in The Pointe area, the former home of Pat Conroy, where he wrote his first book, The Boo. She enjoys tending her beautiful gardens and often serves as an informal tour guide for visitors interested in Pat’s history and legacy.
Ginger Olszewski – Treasurer
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.
Luke Parker Bowles
Luke Parker Bowles serves as chair of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts New York, CEO of Scoundrel Films, and president of production at Story Mining & Supply Co. Previously, he was executive vice president of production for Open Road Integrated Media, representing authors like Pat Conroy and Alice Walker. Originally from London, he studied at the University of London, Yale, and Carnegie Mellon. Luke began his film career at International Creative Management in 1999 and has since developed films for major studios, including Working Title Films, where he contributed to hits like About a Boy and Love Actually. He is also on the boards of the Montclair Film Festival and the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden.
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.
Valerie Sayers – Secretary
Valerie Sayers, a Beaufort native, is the author of The Age of Infidelity and Other Stories (2020) and six novels, including The Powers. A film adaptation of her first two novels, Due East, premiered on Showtime. Her accolades include a fellowship for fiction from the NEA, two Pushcart Prizes, and citations in Best American Short Stories and Best American Essays. Valerie’s work has appeared on multiple “Notable” and “Editors’ Choice” lists from the New York Times and Washington Post. A Kenan Professor of English Emerita at Notre Dame, she is also a member of the South Carolina Academy of Authors.
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.
Amelia Warner
Bio coming soon…