Meet Our Team

A dedicated team enables SCICU to successfully serve South Carolina’s independent colleges and universities. They are here to assist members, students and families, and the general public in all matters related to independent higher education in South Carolina. 

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Emma Reynolds Reabold joined the SCICU team in September 2023. As Vice President for Development and Campus Services, she oversees fundraising and development and works with leadership on our 21 member campuses to deepen SCICU’s support of students and faculty.

In this recently-created role, Emma draws on a decade of experience in higher education, most recently as Associate Director for Peer Leadership and Administration with University 101 at the University of South Carolina. Her leadership in the program helped it achieve U.S. News and World Report’s #1 ranking for First-Year Experience at a Public University. Her experience in higher education includes academic advising and coaching, peer leadership, curriculum and training development, and administration support.

Hailing from Darlington, S.C., Emma has deep ties to higher education in South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from SCICU member institution Presbyterian College. Emma earned a Master’s in Counselor Education and Student Affairs from Clemson University in 2015. She is currently working on a Ph. D in Higher Education Administration at the University of South Carolina and anticipates completion in Spring 2026.

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Brenda Torrence joined the SCICU staff in January 1988, serving as an administrative assistant, then later as office manager and vice president – business affairs.

Currently as director of finance and administration, Brenda manages all the accounting and financial functions of the organization, including the disbursements of scholarship and grant monies. Brenda also serves as the SCICU secretary and treasurer for the Board of Trustees and oversees other events and projects for the organization.

Prior to joining SCICU, she was assistant vice president and branch manager at First Union National Bank with responsibility for several Columbia branch locations. Brenda resides in Lexington and has one son.

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Shay Shealy West joined the SCICU staff in July 2015 as media/communications specialist and was promoted to director of communications in 2017. Her role encompasses internal/external communications, including specialty publications supporting legislative advocacy, monthly newsletters, social media management, website content curation and maintenance, database management, research, and technical support for marketing and special events/programs.

A native of Leesville, S.C., Shay graduated magna cum laude from Erskine College in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and minor in government. She also earned an MBA with concentrations in marketing, management information systems, corporate finance, and financial institution management in 1988 from the University of Georgia. Shay has served on the Erskine College Alumni Board of Directors and was named a Frances Cardwell Distinguished Alumni Lecturer, also at Erskine College. While at Erskine, Shay was a recipient of the E. B. Kennedy academic/leadership scholarship, editor-in-chief of The Mirror newspaper, and served two terms as president of the South Carolina Press Association-Collegiate Division.

Shay’s professional background includes marketing and research across multiple industries. Her experience includes leading national marketing research, database marketing, and sales support in the financial services and restaurant industries. She also served as a city executive with Wachovia. Shay’s advocacy for children and adults with autism and intellectual disability includes includes serving as secretary for the Executive Committee of The ARC of South Carolina.