Brenda Howard named SC State’s 2025 Staff Employee of the Year

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Brenda L. Howard has been named South Carolina State University’s 2025 Staff Employee of the Year.

Howard is the administrative coordinator in the Office of the President at SC State.

Howard will celebrate 25 years of service to SC State in August, having worked in the Office of the President from the beginning. Prior to her current role, she was an administrative assistant.

She is married to Henry Howard. They have four children, Dekera, Darell, Dominique, and Dejoria, and seven grandchildren, Deonte, Nikeese, Jahdiel, Jared, Ayana, Darell Jr. and Davion.

A panel of her peers selected Howard as SC State’s overall Staff Employee of the Year from winners representing the university’s six administrative divisions. Howard is the Staff Employee of the Year for the President’s Division.

The awards were presented Sunday, March 2, during SC State’s annual Founders Day Program in Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

Representing the other divisions are:

• Shantell Green, Public Service & Agriculture Division Staff Employee of the Year. Green is a fiscal analyst III for 1890 Research & Extension.
• Latoya Preston-Branch, Finance & Management Division Staff Employee of the Year. Preston-Branch is the human resources manager in the SC State Office of Human Resources.
• Albert J. Shuler, Academic Affairs Division Staff Employee of the Year. Shuler is the assistant director and chief arranger for SC State University Bands.
• Phyllis Wade, Student Affairs Division Staff Employee of the Year. Wade is the student services coordinator for SC State’s Office of Residence Life and Housing.
• Sam Watson, University Advancement and Strategic Communications Staff Employee of the Year. Watson is SC State’s director of University Relations.