Paula Harper Bethea

Biography:

Paula Harper Bethea was born in Hampton County, South Carolina and graduated from Estill High School. In 1975, she graduated from the University of South Carolina, with honors, and moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina in 1977. Paula is Director of External Relations for McNair, and is active in numerous local, state and national organizations.
Paula serves as Chair Emeritus of the United Way of America's Board of Governors, having been Chair in 1996-1997. As a member of the Board of Governors, she served as Chair of the National Initiatives Committee, the United Ways' Leadership Conference, and the Community Impact Committee. She was also the United Way Liaison to the NFL and a member of the Board of United Way International. In addition to her national leadership, Paula serves as a former Chair of the United Way of South Carolina, and former Chair of the United Way of Beaufort County.
Paula chairs the Board of The Drummond Center at Erskine College, is Chair of The Caring Coins Foundation on Hilton Head Island and is Chair of the Board of the Hilton Head Regional Medical Center. She is a Board Member of First Financial Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary, First Federal of Charleston, and she is a Founding Board Member of the Palmetto Institute where she serves as Secretary. She is a life member of Independent Colleges and Universities of South Carolina; a member of the Board of the MCI Heritage Classic Foundation; a member of the Board of the MUSC Foundation at the Medical University of South Carolina where she chairs the Nominating Committee and Vice Chairman of the Board of Presbyterian College. She is a past Chair of the Board of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Columbia College (1998-2000) and of the Heart and Vascular Center at the Medical University of South Carolina.
She was one of nine South Carolinians chosen to establish the South Carolina Education Lottery, and is now the chairman of the Centers for Economic Excellence Board, as well as a member of the Board of the South Carolina Competitiveness Council.

Lottery Chief to Lead Bank Board
CHARLESTON, South Carolina (February 4, 2010) -- Local news sources reported today that the head of South Carolina's lottery has been tapped as chairwoman of the boards of directors at First Federal of Charleston and its holding company.............................Subscribers

New Director Betting on Lottery's Future
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (September 27, 2009) – According to a local media report new education lottery chief Paula Harper Bethea faces the expectation that she will be able to keep more than $1 billion a year in revenue flowing into the state's lottery games..................Subscribers

At Work Today for Education – Lottery's New Executive Director Takes the Lead
Paula Harper Bethea Chosen
COLUMBIA, South Carlonia (September 23, 2009) – A new leader is taking the reins at the South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL). Paula Harper Bethea accepted the offer to direct the Lottery following the unanimous recommendation by the Board of Commissioners.......................Subscribers

Bethea to Lead South Carolina Lottery
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (September 22, 2009) -- Columbia’s Paula Harper Bethea has been named executive director of the South Carolina Education Lottery......................Subscribers

South Carolina Lottery Gets New Interim Director
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (July 9, 2009) - The South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) now has an interim executive director, news reports today..
The news source said former Lottery Commissioner Paula Harper-Bethea accepted the job Wednesday afternoon..........................Subscribers