Representative Jerry N. Govan, Jr.

A Native of Orangeburg, Rep. Govan is the son of the late Roberta & Jerry N. Govan, Sr.  A 1976 Graduate of Orangeburg-Wilkinson H.S., he is a proud Alumnus of South Carolina State University where he received both his B.A. Degree in Political Science and a Masters of Arts in Teaching .

His professional work experiences include: the US Department of Navy, SC Dept. of Health & Environmental Control and South Carolina State University where he also served as Director of the Small Business Development Center. Additionally he served as Primary Prevention Specialist for the Tri-County Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Coordinating the Pre-Trial Intervention Program for the 1st Judicial Circuit and later, Orangeburg County’s People’s Assault on Drugs Community Anti-Drug Task Force, School District Parent Educator, Parenting & After-School Coordinator, Literacy Consultant and Dropout Prevention Coordinator and recently retired as County Attendance Supervisor for Orangeburg Consolidated School District’s 3, 4 and 5. Representative Govan and his wife are Owners of The Govan Agency, LLC specializing in Life, Auto and Commercial Insurance.

Rep. Govan has a long and distinguished track record of service to the community appointments and organizational affiliations include: (2004-05 Lt.Governor) Division 21 Carolinas District, Kiwanis International, (Past President, Board Member), Kiwanis Club of Orangeburg; Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five Foundation, Claflin  University Board of Visitors, Executive Board, South Carolina SAEP II Project on Effective School Leadership and National Black Caucus Institute Financial Literacy Task Force. In 2012 he was selected as a South Carolina Educational Policy Fellow and in 2015 named as a Policy Health Fellow by the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health.

Rep. Govan has been recognized by several organizations for his service to include the following: South Carolina Association of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Directors,Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunities, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Mothers Against Drunk Driving, SC Association of School Administrators Adult Education Directors Division, Claflin University, Edisto-Area Benedict Alumni Club, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.,South Carolina State University, SC Education Association, NationalBlack Caucus State Institute, The Links Inc., American Business Women’s Association, S.C. Alliance ofAfter-School Programs, SC Commission on Higher Education and the prestigious Dick Riley Award by the National Dropout Prevention Center. In 2015 he was honored by several organizations for his leadership as Chairman of the SC School Safety Task Force, and in 2015 was appointed by House Speaker Jay Lucas to serve as a member of the Educational Reform Task Force as the result of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Abbeville vs. South Carolina lawsuit.

First elected to the South Carolina House Nov. 1992, Rep. Govan is the 2^ndranking member of the South Carolina House, and Chairman of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, only the first House member in the history of the Caucus to be elected twice as its Chair. In addition he is the Senior ranking memberof the House Education & Public Works Committee, K-12 and Public Safety Sub-committees, State House Committee (Vice Chair) & House Operation & Management Committees (1^stVice Chair), and Ad Hoc committee on School Climate and Safety, a member of the National Conference of State Legislator’s Education Committee and a 2018 appointee to the Early Learning Opportunity Gaps Advisory Group and National Center for Dropout Prevention Advisory Board.

Rep. Govan is married to the former Wanda E. Gibson of Estill, SC.  They have four daughters, Shawntara, Jeri Nicole, Lawanda, Gabrielle and five precious grandchildren, Kamryn McKenzie, Tony Michael III, Tyler Mason, Taylor Matthew and Jasmine Mya. He and his wife are currently members of The Historic Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church of Orangeburg where he serves as an Associate Minister.