Randy Lowell graduated from the College of Charleston as a political science major in 1995. Since then, Mr. Lowell has enjoyed a successful legal career and he currently serves on the College of Charleston’s Board of Trustees.
Education and Work History
After graduating from the College of Charleston, Mr. Lowell earned his J.D. and M.P.A. from the University of South Carolina. In addition, Mr. Lowell received his M.A. from American Military University, an LL.M. from The George Washington University, and his Professional Certificate in Corporate Finance from the New York Institute of Finance. He has practiced law in South Carolina for the past 15 years. He is currently an attorney at Willoughby and Hoefer, P.A., focusing in the areas of administrative law, environmental law, and economic development. He often works on industry related projects, including handling regulatory and litigation issues for clients such as South Carolina Electric & Gas, the South Carolina Ports Authority, Continental Tire, Greenville Water, and the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Additionally, Mr. Lowell serves as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law.
What do you do as a board of trustee member for the college?
I joined the board in February 2015 so I am still the new kid on the block and still learning. The College is like a city within a city, and the board looks at the big picture and tries to make the strategic decisions and create a policy direction for the President and the administration. We try to do that with input from everybody. I have discussions with faculty members, students, members of the administration, and fellow board members. We are in constant communication to try to find the best direction for the College to continue moving forward.
How has your Political Science Degree helped you to get where you are today?
The Political Science degree opened my eyes to new perspectives on how to look at problems, how to look at opportunities, and how to consider different viewpoints. The biggest thing is that the degree helped me form critical thinking skills.
How do you see a Political Science degree as valuable?
It is valuable because it contributes to the two most important skills you need in the real world to be successful, which are communication and perspective. The two things you need to succeed are that you’ve got to understand other people’s perspectives and viewpoints and you’ve got to be able to communicate with those people. Those two skills are critical and the political science degree helps blend both of these together. A History major may give you a deeper perspective, and an English or Communications major may provide more focused and broader skill set for communicating, but if you want to blend all of the above you study political science.
What would you say is your biggest success thus far?
My biggest success is convincing my wife to marry me.
Do you have any advice for current Political Science students?
Get out there and do it. Be involved. There is no substitute for experience.
Do you have any advice for students considering law school or any other graduate programs?
When you make the decision to pursue law school or a graduate program, you need to be prepared to step up your game because everyone at those levels is a high achiever.
This interview was conducted by senior political science major Kaitlyn Bush.