Eboni S. Nelson

Associate Professor of Law

Contact Information Room 305 USC School of Law 701 Main Street Columbia, South Carolina 29208 v 803-777-5011 Email

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Eboni Nelson to chair the South Carolina State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights

Professor Eboni Nelson was recently asked to chair the South Carolina State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, a commission of the US federal government charged with the responsibility for investigating, reporting on, and making recommendations concerning, civil rights issues that face the nation.

The South Carolina State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights is one of 51 State Advisory Committees - one for each state and the District of Columbia. Each is composed of citizens familiar with local and state civil rights issues. The members assist the Commission with its fact-finding, investigative, and information dissemination functions.

Individual members of these committees are recommended by the regional director of their area, approved by the Staff Director, and voted upon at a regular meeting of the Commissioners. Their term of office is 2 years, but they can be reappointed.

Professor Eboni Nelson was appointed to the Committee in January 2008. Since that time, they have investigated, reviewed and drafted reports related to desegregation of public school districts in South Carolina as well as parental notification and supplemental educational services under the No Child Left Behind Act. Their investigations have included hearings as well as town hall meetings. As a member of the Committee, Nelson has also been asked by the Commission to provide her input regarding the most important civil rights issues facing South Carolina now and over the next several years. My response concerned the lack of equal educational opportunities provided to socioeconomically disadvantaged students as well as students of color within the state.

After the appointment of then chair Mignon Clyburn to the Federal Communications Commission by President Obama, Nelson was asked by her and the Southern Regional Director, Peter Minarik, to chair the Committee effective August 2009. She stated, “I was honored that they thought of me, and I assured them that I will assist the Committee in any way that I can as we continue to address civil rights issues affecting the citizens of South Carolina.”