Dr. John C. Stockwell
Chancellor of the University of South Carolina Upstate
.jpg "Stockwell Photo")
Dr. John C. Stockwell has served as chancellor of the University of South Carolina Upstate since 1994, leading the University toward its vision as one of the leading metropolitan universities in the Southeast.
Under his leadership, the University has experienced outstanding growth in academic reputation, capital development and public/private partnerships. Enrollments have doubled to nearly 5,500 students, and include a diverse student population with sixty nations represented in the campus community and a minority enrollment of over thirty percent.
Chancellor Stockwell is leading the University toward completion of its campus master plan, approved by the USC Board of Trustees in 1997, including multi-million dollar capital developments in classroom space, academic support facilities, housing, athletics facilities, and, most notably, the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics in downtown Spartanburg. A number of beautification initiatives are underway across the 320 acre campus, complementing the recently completed $50 million highway infrastructure project.
Before coming to USC Upstate, Dr. Stockwell served as provost and chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside; dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at the State University of New York-Cortland; chair of the Department of Speech and Theatre at Indiana State University; and director of theatre at California State University Northridge.
Dr. Stockwell earned his Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in theatre at Bowling Green State University, and his bachelor’s degree from Cedarville College. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management.
He is the founding chair of Spartanburg’s chapter of the Urban League of the Upstate. He serves on the Board of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, and chaired the Chamber Board in 2009. He serves also on the boards of the Arts Partnership, the Community Indicators and others.
John and his wife, Dr. Diane Vecchio, a professor of history at Furman University, have four grown children and recently, their second grandchild.
University Day Speeches
Once every year, with the beginning of each fall semester, the faculty and staff at USC Upstate gather together for the University Day breakfast, where Chancellor Stockwell shares a special message for the upcoming year. Transcripts of University Day speeches from years past can be viewed below.