College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Lucy Duncan is an entrepreneur, diplomat, and geopolitical consultant. She is the founder, President, and CEO of Safe Ports, an innovative leader in sustainable solutions, logistics, inland port development, port security, disaster relief training and preparedness, and geospatial/environmental solutions serving federal and commercial organizations.  

As founder of Diplomatic Resolutions, (DRI), Lucy represented Silicon Valley firms, including Cisco Systems, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Iridium, and Microsoft, regarding international business development and advocacy advisory matters. DRI advised the winning technology companies on the modernization of the central banks of China and Russia, and successfully initiated telecommunications privatizations in the Middle East and South America.  

Global relationships at DRI led to establishing Safe Ports as the first U.S. Defense Logistics Depot inside an active War Zone in Kandahar, Afghanistan. In recognition of perfect performance metrics, Safe Ports was awarded the prestigious Best Small Business and Best Woman-Owned Business awards in support of America’s warfighters in Afghanistan. 

As a committed philanthropist, Ms. Duncan has served as President of the Museum of the Americas, and on the boards of Spoleto USA, the Council of World Regions, the SC Medical University’s Hollings Cancer Institute, the College of Charleston School of Language, Culture & World Affairs, and The Citadel’s School of Humanities and Social Services Advisory Board. She joined the Board of the National Museum for First Responders and was nominated to the Capital Campaign for the National Coast Guard Museum in New London, CT.

Lucy is a lifelong equestrian who started taking riding lessons at the age of five and has risen through the competitive ranks. She enjoys spending time with her Spanish Andalusian, Reina. 

Born in New York City, Gerry Eisenberg began her career as an operatic soprano under the tutelage of Juilliard’s Daniel Ferro, She has sung principal roles with opera companies in America, South America and Israel.

After arriving in Aiken with her daughter and husband, Dr. Richard Eisenberg, founder of Aiken Neurosciences, she joined the board of The Augusta Opera Company to assist in promoting fully staged, with orchestra, opera performances in the CSRA. When the company ended, her interest in art and design became rather more global.

I designed a major home renovation project that became the front page feature of the New York Times Art and Design section. Additionally, I was an inaugural board member (Vice President) of the Juilliard in Aiken project and its original concept creator.

With a tremendous love for Jazz and improvisational Jazz performance, Eisenberg went on to create a significant charity fundraising platform titled “An Evening of New York Jazz”. This project brings to Aiken many of New York’s finest professional Jazz musicians to perform with Eisenberg, with all proceeds going to a designated charitable organization such as The Red Cross, Great Oak Riding Academy, Leukemia Lymphoma Society of South Carolina, United Way, and most recently, Aiken Senior Life Center. These concerts have gained wide popularity and are always completely sold out.

Eisenberg is proud that the performances have raised tens of thousands of dollars, which remain in Aiken. 

• MBA in Business Management
• B.S. in Management Information Systems and Industrial Engineering

Craig Hershovitz serves as senior vice president of operations at Jackson Healthcare Government Services. His areas of responsibility include managing the implementation of services, billing, receivables, and payments, and supplier relations, as well as technical solutions through Healthcare Workforce Logistics (HWL) and other affiliates of the business.

With more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare staffing industry, Mr. Hershovitz has held leadership roles in business development, information technology, operations, and implementation. His deep project management experience includes leading significant initiatives that have successfully solved organizational staffing problems through technology and process design.

Other executive positions held by Mr. Hershovitz include vice president of operations for HWL, and vice president of operations and business development at MedTrust, a leading federal government healthcare staffing provider. During his tenure at MedTrust, he launched a mentor program that resulted in the creation of several successful joint ventures and the capture of over $300 million in business. Before that, Mr. Hershovitz was vice president of hospital operations at Cross Country Staffing, leading its PMO, Account Management team and Managed Service Program (MSP), which was instrumental in growing that portion of its business to over 30 percent of the division’s revenue.

Mr. Hershovitz holds an MBA in Business Management from St. Joseph’s University and a Bachelor of Science dual degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) and Industrial Engineering from Drexel University.

Matthew Jay is Chief Operating Officer at PC Techware, a cybersecurity and IT firm that helps businesses securely scale through innovative, straightforward technology solutions. With over 20 years of leadership experience in business development and operations, Matthew guides clients confidently through cybersecurity challenges and technology-driven growth.

A dynamic and engaging speaker, Matthew frequently shares his insights on cybersecurity, ethical AI implementation, and business innovation at industry conferences, universities, and local business events. Matthew is a member of InfraGard (INMA), an FBI-affiliated group dedicated to protecting critical infrastructure through public-private collaboration. As an active participant in regional economic growth, Matthew also serves as an ambassador for the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce. He contributes to initiatives with the Aiken and Augusta Metro Chambers. He has participated in the Georgia Academy of Economic Development and is currently a member of the Leadership Augusta Class of 2026. 

Matthew blends strategic innovation with an approachable, people-focused mindset to empower businesses and communities. He earned his degree in Graphic Communications from Clemson University in 2003.

Tammie Newman is an experienced communications professional with a diverse background in various roles related to public relations, event management, and community engagement. Currently serving as a committee member for the Communications and History committees at Leadership Aiken County Inc., Tammie is also the Innovation and University Engagement Program Coordinator at Battelle Savannah River Alliance. With over 15 years of expertise in pageant judging, emceeing, and coaching, Tammie has been integral in promoting and celebrating local athletic talent through past positions like Director of Communications and Public Relations for the South Carolina High School League. Additionally, Tammie has hosted the "LIFT Me Up" podcast and worked as a lead concierge for the prestigious Masters Golf Tournament. Tammie's educational credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from USCA and multiple certificates from Aiken Technical College and Midlands Technical College.

Justin Wheelon is an Emmy® Award-winning professional director and actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows. A proud alumnus of the University of South Carolina Aiken, Justin has also returned to teach filmmaking classes at USCA, sharing his industry knowledge with the next generation of storytellers.

His work has been featured in national television commercials for major clients, including directing multiple Super Bowl commercials. His online ads have generated millions of views, and his films have screened at Oscar®-qualifying festivals worldwide.

Justin is the Founder and President of the SOUTHERN CITY INSTITUTE®, which hosts filmmaking classes and workshops for kids and adults. He also founded the Southern City Film Festival, annually rated among FilmFreeway’s “Top 100” festivals. In addition, he is a partner and co-founder of the Emmy®-winning Oak Film Co., a film production company that creates feature films and national commercial work.

With over four decades of experience, Dr. Wyatt has built a distinguished career in research and development, specializing in planetary sciences and large-scale government research programs. He currently serves as the program manager for NASA research centers at Amentum Services Inc., a role he has held since 2017. His experience includes over 20 years as chief advisory scientist and program manager at the United States Department of Energy National Laboratories. He has also held academic roles, including part-time lecturer and instructor at Augusta University from 2017 to 2019, adjunct faculty at Clemson University from 2004 to 2017, and college lecturer at Augusta University from 2016 to 2019. Additionally, he served as program manager for research, technology, and innovation in energy and earth sciences at AECOM from 2015 to 2017, chief technical adviser at Halliburton from 2014 to 2015, and director of science research at URS Corporation from 2009 to 2014.

Dr. Wyatt’s professional affiliations include chair of the international science fair committee for the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, president of the division of environmental geosciences within the energy minerals division of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and memberships in the American Geophysical Union and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. His educational background includes coursework in biology and theology at Lipscomb University in 1973, a bachelor’s degree in zoology and ecology and a Bachelor of Arts in physical geography from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, both earned in 1980, a Master of Science in geology and geophysics from Vanderbilt University in 1985, and a PhD in geological and earth sciences from the University of South Carolina in 1995.