The CEO of Nephron Pharmaceuticals has resigned from the University of South Carolina’s presidential search committee, a company representative confirmed to the Chronicle.

Lou Kennedy, who leads the company headquartered in West Columbia, resigned in a Monday letter addressed to Dr. C. Dorn Smith III, chairman of the USC Board of Trustees.

Nephron provided a statement from Kennedy addressing her resignation:

“While I was appreciative of the opportunity to serve as an advisor to the search committee, and have great respect for colleagues on it, I have developed concerns with certain trustees and their approach to the process.”

In the letter, a copy of which was provided to the Chronicle, Kennedy references comments Smith made to her last week in Atlanta, saying he called her inclusion on the committee a “courtesy.”

“It sounded to me, the way Dorn was commenting, they already had the fix in,” Kennedy told The State, according to a story on Nov. 17. “I don’t want my name attached to that. I worked hard on this. I read over 80 or more (resumes). I did the research. The other committee members did the research. But when you’ve got a chairman yelling at the third-largest donor ‘you’re just a courtesy here, your vote doesn’t count,’ … that’s just wrong. Not only is it impolite, it’s just wrong.”

The Chronicle requested comment from Smith, but hasn’t received a response.

The university began formal interviews with presidential candidates in Atlanta on Nov. 9, per reporting from The State.

“I would be remiss if I did not address directly with you a concern I have after our work last week in Atlanta,” Kennedy writes

“When you said, during Thursday’s meeting, that my invitation to be part of the search process was a ‘courtesy,’ I felt as though it diminished the priorities I brought to the table.

“As far as I am concerned, that is unacceptable.”

The university is seeking a new president after its previous leader, Bob Caslen, resigned in May amid controversy surrounding plagiarized comments in remarks at USC’s graduation ceremonies. Harris Pastides, who retired as president in 2019, is serving as the interim president.

The 2019 search that resulted in Caslen’s hiring was criticized by many as highly politicized, and led to outcry and protests among students and faculty about the nature of the process and concern about his academic credentials.

“While I acknowledge your apology,” Kennedy’s letter continues, “I want to reiterate: this is a unique opportunity for the Carolina community — and that includes members of the board — to stand up and embrace the chance to consider candidates for this critical role, who reflect the diversity that makes our state and university great.

“I believe this as strongly today as I did when I originally said it, months ago, and I hope it is a sentiment we all share.”

The Search Committee issued a statement through USC spokesperson Jeff Stensland.

“The Presidential Candidates Search Committee is abiding by university policy and is in the process of narrowing the field of candidates,” it reads. “We expect the Board will have the opportunity to speak with several of the candidates soon.”

“Outside of members of the Search Committee, Trustees are unaware of the names or backgrounds of any candidates,” the statement continues. “Lou Kennedy is a devoted and loyal alumna of our university, and we regret that she has resigned from the Presidential Search Committee. The university appreciates her steadfast support of our mission.”

Nephron’s impact on Lexington County and South Carolina at large is considerable.

“We have 1,200 full-time employees, 600- to-800 part-time employees and 100 interns and apprentices,” Kennedy said at a Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce breakfast in September, where she also highlighted the coming Nephron Nitrile glove plant, a $100 million, 250-job plant coming to the company’s West Columbia campus.