Dr. Gail Awan
President & CEO, Urban League of the Upstate
President & CEO, Urban League of the Upstate Dr. Gail Awan has served as the President and CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate (ULUS) since 2021. Under her leadership, ULUS continues its mission to empower African American communities and underserved individuals across a ten-county region in South Carolina. The Urban League of the Upstate, an affiliate of the National Urban League, has been a vital part of the upstate for over 50 years, focusing on critical areas like education, employment, health, and overall quality of life. Dr. Awan oversees several key initiatives, including The McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life in Greenville, The Jane Edna Hunter Empowerment Center in Anderson, and Studio 9.22, a workforce development program for the film and television industry in Spartanburg. With a doctorate in Management and Decision Science, Dr. Awan is a Schott Foundation Fellow and has participated in prestigious leadership programs such as The Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative, Prisma Health’s Medical Scholars, and Leadership Spartanburg. She serves on the board of the Tryon International Film Festival and the South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service. Dr. Awan has been recognized multiple times in Greenville Business Magazine's "Most Influential" list. She is also the author of two books published by Arcadia Publishing/SC History Press and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.