The College of Arts and Humanities at Clemson University presents its 2023-2024 Annual Report, highlighting facts, events and accomplishments from the College's inaugural year.
College of ARTS AND HUMANITIES
meet the world
ANNUAL REPORT 2023-2024
What’s inside TABLE OF CONTENTS
Leadership Team
Letter From the Dean .............................................................................................................. 4
By the Numbers ...................................................................................................................... 5
The Heart of the No. 1 Student Experience .............................................................................. 6
Shaking the Southland ............................................................................................................ 7
Brooks Center for the Performing Arts ...................................................................................... 8
Nicholas Vazsonyi Founding Dean
Amit Bein Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Affairs
Michael LeMahieu Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Graduate Studies
Pearce Center for Professional Communication ...................................................................... 10
Clemson Writing Lab ............................................................................................................. 11
Humanities Hub ................................................................................................................... 12
Pre-Law Progress .................................................................................................................. 13
New Programs and Leadership .............................................................................................. 14
Class of 2024 Spotlights ........................................................................................................ 16
La’Toya Ritter Maddox Director of Finance and Chief of Staff
Carolyn Porter Phinizy Director of Academic Operations
Julia Dingle Director of Student Services
Faculty Research .................................................................................................................. 18
Transforming Lives ................................................................................................................ 20
Alumni Success .................................................................................................................... 22
Growth Through Giving ......................................................................................................... 23
No. 1 Student Experience
Victoria H. Chapman Executive Assistant to the Dean
John Eby Public Information Director
Heather Davis Chief Business Officer
Double Research by 2035
Throughout this publication the icons on the right denote initiatives that support the aims of ClemsonElevate across the College of Arts and Humanities.
Transform Lives Statewide and Beyond
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By the Numbers
A note from THE DEAN
Departments and Programs
The new College of Arts and Humanities is at the core of the “high seminary of learning” originally imagined by Thomas Green Clemson. This year, that core became more visually stunning with the completion of the Daniel Hall Renovation and Expansion in the heart of campus to welcome Clemson’s largest-ever student body. As I met with our students, faculty and staff to set the path forward, four pillars emerged that distill the essence of what we contribute to the broader Clemson community: writing, pre-law, ethics and a special student experience. Writing is in our DNA, whether it be the Department of English or Languages, or any of the other humanities disciplines. Our Writing Lab, the Pearce Center for Professional Communication and the new Professional Communication and Information Design cluster of courses work together to ensure that all Clemson students are equipped to communicate effectively and articulate their ideas coherently. No matter the field, leadership requires excellent writing skills. Pre-law speaks to the age-old question of what to do with a humanities degree. The legal field has long been a place where humanities students thrive. With a strong network of successful alumni, the University’s only pre- law advisor, innovative legal education programs in History and Philosophy and extra-curricular activities like moot court and mock trial, our College is positioned to lead the way for Clemson students interested in the legal profession. Ethics , housed in our Department of Philosophy and Religion, is an essential component of everything we think and do. At a time of rapid change, we must prepare students to consider ethical standards a facet of innovation as artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering and technological transformation break through barriers previously unimaginable.
Department of English B.A. English M.A. English
Department of History and Geography
B.A. History M.A. History Ph.D. Digital History
Student experience aligns with Clemson Elevate, the University’s ambitious new strategic plan. More times than I can count, students from all over Clemson have shared with me the joy and fulfillment they feel in performing arts groups such as Tiger Band. Reading and discussing literature in English classes, studying film in World Cinema, reflecting on eternal questions of philosophy and religion – these open thrilling new vistas and realms. Students and faculty engage in deeply enriching conversations that give meaning to the phrase, “There’s something in these hills.” Yet others describe singing in choir or playing in one of the many ensembles as an anchor of their Clemson experience, keeping them on track and filling them with belonging, purpose and well-being. We in the College of Arts and Humanities aim to transform the lives of our students in the hopes that they in turn will transform the lives of others, making a difference in South Carolina and the world beyond. Go Tigers!
Department of Languages B.A. Modern Languages B.A. Language and International Business B.S. Language and International Health Department of Interdisciplinary Studies B.A. Global Black Studies B.A. Women’s Leadership B.A. World Cinema Ph.D. Rhetorics, Communication and Information Design Department of Performing Arts B.A. Performing Arts Audio Technology concentration
Credit Hours
Enrollment
88,000 *
118 1,103 1,022
Graduate
Undergraduate Majors
* Figure is finalized at the end of summer session in August
Undergraduate Minors
196
57
Full-time Faculty
Staff Members
40 13
Total Research Awards July 1 2023 – May 30 2024 $687,002
Music concentration Theatre concentration
States Represented
Department of Philosophy and Religion B.A. Philosophy B.A. Religious Studies
Nicholas Vazsonyi, Founding Dean
Total Research Expenditures July 1 2023 – June 30 2024 $993,219
Countries Represented
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Shaking the Southland
Courses Taught
The Heart of the
NO. 1 STUDENT EXPERIENCE Clemson’s academic core Beyond our degree programs, CAH embraces its role of providing general education and service courses across the University student body, ensuring that every student is equipped with a strong foundation paired with professional and technical skills.
Summer 2024 190 Sections
More than 750 students joined performing arts groups hosted by the Department of Performing Arts in 2023-2024, led by the 350 members of the Tiger Band. Through groups ranging from the Clemson Players to the Clemson Symphony Orchestra to Cantorei, students foster both their artistic talent and a sense of belonging. Tony Stapleton ’76, a founding member of the CU Tiger Band Association (CUTBA), expressed the importance of the band to his Clemson Experience at this year’s CUTBA reunion. “I had some things happen in my personal life and I considered dropping out – but being in that band, having a purpose, being around all those close friends, really helped guide me through,” Stapleton said. The impact of Tiger Band on Clemson culture was also reflected this year when the Clemson University Alumni Association named Tiger Band Director Mark Spede an Honorary Clemson Alumnus. In a letter of support for Spede’s nomination, President Emeritus Jim Barker wrote, “Very few people arrive on our campus as a Tiger. Mark Spede is one of the few. His energy, commitment to excellence and his skills as a teacher have shaped thousands of Tiger Band members and Clemson Alumni.” “I’m convinced that if I hadn’t been in Tiger Band, I would have never graduated Clemson…”
1,615 *
Fall 2023 710 Sections
Spring 2024 715 Sections
*Excludes individual instruction, such as private lessons and dissertation courses
International job fair unites languages, business and engineering More than 150 Clemson University students attended the German and Spanish in International Business and Engineering Conference in Spring 2024 for networking opportunities, panel discussions and a job fair. BMW Principal Lecturer of German Lee Ferrell continues to serve as the lead organizer and founder of the event, which has been running for 13 years. The deputy Consul General of Mexico and the Mexican ambassador to Germany offered remarks.
17th Clemson Literary Festival Mojave American Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natalie Diaz headlined the 17th annual Clemson Literary Festival in March, celebrating Clemson’s rich literary scene organized by students in the Department of English. It remains the only entirely student-run literary festival in the U.S., according to festival director John Pursley. The festival featured a book fair and readings from students, faculty and visiting writers.
Emmy-award winner enhances choral experience Emmy Award-winning composer Jake Runestad’s residency with the Department of Performing Arts in April was a resounding success, providing students with numerous learning opportunities through teaching clinics ahead of Clemson University Singers and Cantorei premiering his new choral piece “El Aire Baila” in concert. In Fall 2023, the Choral Program commissioned a new work from Runestad for Cantorei and the piano. The department arranged for him to work with students through guest lectures, a masterclass and rehearsals before the CU Singers and Cantorei concert.
Women’s leadership class transforms into empowerment movement An idea in a women’s leadership class has transformed into an effort to promote empowerment across the Clemson University campus. People Advancing Women’s Empowerment (PAWE) was recognized as an official University club in Spring 2024. The club hosts a speaker series of professional women in leadership roles, networking events with other women’s organizations at Clemson and community work with area service organizations. Any Clemson student can join PAWE. Emmy Award-winning composer engages students in one-of-a-kind
No. 1 Student Experience
No. 1 Student Experience
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By the Numbers
Former Brooks Center Director and Professor Emerita Lillian “Mickey” Harder was honored with the highest civilian award in the state of South Carolina in Spring 2024 for her lifetime of dedication to the arts. The Order of the Palmetto, established in 1971, recognizes citizens for extraordinary lifetime service and achievements of national or statewide significance. Harder taught in the Department of Performing Arts for 24 years, began an endowed chamber music series in memory of her late parents, served as the director of the Brooks Center for 21 years and was named an honorary alumna of Clemson University in 2017. She and her husband, Byron Harder, established an endowment to create the Lillian and Robert Utsey Chamber Music Series at Clemson in 1986, the only endowed chamber music series in South Carolina. The endowment stipulates that concerts remain admission-free for all. Since 2003, recordings of the Utsey Chamber Music Series have been broadcast more than 100 times on National Public Radio’s (NPR) “Performance Today,” the most popular daily classical music radio program in the United States, reaching more than 26 million listeners.
Total attendance at all Brooks Center, Bellamy Theatre and off-campus events
36,891
K-12 children attended Tri-ART education performances
9,033
68
Total arts performances
29
Total outreach events
The CU Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Visiting Assistant Professor Kimberly Souther pose for a photo with an appreciative Brooks Theatre audience during their April 16 concert.
Brooks Center director emerita awarded Order of the Palmetto
Brooks Center celebrates its 30th season
Brooks Center for the Performing Arts recognized as one of nation’s Best College Theaters The Brooks Center for the Performing Arts was named one of the 20 Best College Theaters in the U.S. by College Rank for its architectural design, world-class performances and other unique features in February 2024. The No. 13 ranking placed Clemson University ahead of the University of Florida, Penn State University and the University of Maryland. The ranking summary noted that the center’s architecture “is infused with a modern flair” and that “it continues to be a jewel in Clemson University’s crown.”
From iconic Broadway hits to family-friendly favorites, from triumphant orchestral masterworks to the invigorating energy of tap, the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts brought an array of top-tier talent to the Clemson campus and community for the 2023-24 season. In its first full season under the leadership of Executive Director Janice Crews, the center welcomed artists and acts including Ulysses Owens Jr. and Generation Y, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical,” the Peking Acrobats and the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. The Brooks Center for the Performing Arts was established exactly 30 years ago through the determination and generosity of students, faculty, staff and the Clemson community. This 87,000-square-foot facility has served as a professional roadhouse for three decades, hosting world-class professional music, theatre and dance performances throughout the academic year in its spacious yet intimate 979-seat proscenium auditorium.
The Brooks Center and the College of Arts and Humanities spearheaded Clemson University’s celebration of Women’s History Month with three performances of the classic American story, “Little Women,” along with other themed events. The Clemson Players put on three shows of the “Little Women” adaptation by Kate Hamill in the Brooks Center Auditorium in March 2024. College of Arts and Humanities Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Michael LeMahieu’s One Big Book class (HUM 3060) incorporated the classic 1868 novel into his course, as did other University classes. Louisa May Alcott scholar Gregory Eiselein of Kansas State University was on campus for a guest lecture on all things “Little Women,” and Clemson’s World Cinema program publicly screened director Greta Gerwig’s 2019 Academy Award-nominated film adaptation of the book in the Watt Family Innovation Center Auditorium.
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College Rank names Brooks Center for the Performing Arts to their list of 20 Best College Theaters in 2024.
‘Little Women’ events highlighted Women’s History Month in Clemson
No. 1 Student Experience
No. 1 Student Experience
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Pearce Center for Professional Communication
The Pearce Center promotes effective communication as an integral part of the Clemson educational experience. It offers undergraduate client-based internships, professional development for graduate teaching assistants and faculty writing workshops. More than 6,000 students have been served since the Pearce Center opened its doors in 1989, continually honoring the legacy of Roy Pearce ’41.
Clemson Writing Lab hits major milestone
By the Numbers
The Clemson Writing Lab marked its 40th anniversary in September 2023 with a celebration in Cooper Library. The Department of English established the Writing Lab in 1983 as a program designed to support students in their ENGL 1030 courses, also known as first-year composition. Since then, it has expanded its services to support undergraduate and graduate students, staff and faculty writers across the full breadth of courses and disciplines offered at Clemson University. As the Writing Lab grew over the years, it also changed locations from its original home in Daniel Hall to the Academic Success Center in 2012, to the third floor of Cooper Library in August 2022. The new space is the largest the lab has ever had, allowing it to host workshops, write-ins and more student appointments. Both space and technology have helped the Writing Lab increase its impact, as it now supports writers with a combination of in-person and Zoom appointments, along with email feedback.
Over the past decade, the Writing Lab has hosted over 26,000 appointments and supported over 10,000 writers. During the 2023-24 school year, the lab held a total of 1,449 student appointments and supported 850 undergraduate and graduate student writers representing every undergraduate program at Clemson and eight graduate programs. A survey of students who used the Writing Lab indicated that 96 percent would return. In August 2023, the Writing Lab received Center Recognition and Certification of Excellence from the Southeastern Writing Center Association. This certification was crafted for writing centers by writing centers and evaluates writing support based on a series of factors including appointments, programming, professional development and community impact. In 2023, Writing Lab Director Chelsea Murdock developed a new strategic plan, “Constellate,” to align its future with Clemson Elevate.
Visual Information Design (VID) Eight VID interns provided peer tutoring for visual- and design-based projects, partnering with Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, CU Navigate, Cultivate San Antonio, Office of Global Engagement and South Carolina Watermedia Society. Client-Based Program The Client-Based Program is a partnership between classes and community partners that helps students build communication skills through real-world projects. In 2023-2024, the CBP grew from four to ten faculty members with around 400 students participating. Writing Across the Curriculum The Graduate Writing Across the Curriculum Fellows and Practicum Fellows enrolled 36 graduate students from 19 departments, and five graduate students completed the WAC practicum. In Summer 2023, Clemson University hosted the International Writing Across the Curriculum (IWAC) Conference, organized by Pearce Center Director Cameron Bushnell. IWAC is a biennial conference for scholars from the United States and abroad to gather together and continue conversations around how writing and language impact student learning, with a strong emphasis on second-language learners. For IWAC 2023, 261 attendees from eight different countries participated. Of that total, 174 were in person and the remaining 87 were virtual.
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Visual Information Design Interns
undergraduate students received experiential learning opportunities through internships, service-learning and client-based classes
432
community and university clients 39
168,610 41
graduate students from 24 departments earned Graduate Writing Fellowships
edited words for faculty and student publications
Pearce Internships Twenty-five undergraduate interns provided design, website and social media support to community and Clemson University clients this year, including Blue Ridge Innovation Entrepreneurship Foundation (BRIEF), College of Arts and Humanities, Pearce Center, EmersonRose Heart Foundation, Office of Experiential Learning, Clemson Free Clinic, Pickens County Habitat for Humanity, Pickens County Humane Society, Office of Global Engagement, Ripple of One, Tiger Tales, UPIC, Writer’s Harvest and Young Voices of the Foothills.
Undergraduate Support
Graduate Support
Impact
1,449 777 1,200
162 73 21
Appointments
Appointments
852%
Undergraduate Writers
Graduate Writers
increase in usage since last year
New Writer Registrations
Graduate Programs Served
No. 1 Student Experience
No. 1 Student Experience
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Pre-law progress
Humanities Hub
Clemson students in the William Howell Pre-Law Society met on February 29, 2024 to network and learn from faculty at the University of South Carolina’s Joseph F. Rice School of Law.
With the generous support of the Humanities Advancement Board, the Clemson Humanities Hub continues to promote and sponsor the community outreach, scholarly, and teaching activities of the Humanities. Under the leadership of Director James Burns, the “HumHub” leads cross- disciplinary research initiatives and provides a platform for conversations that combine multiple cultural, historical and legal perspectives. Domestic violence survivor, headlines 3rd annual Law and Humanities series Kim Dadou Brown, a domestic violence survivor who spent 17 years in prison after she killed her abusive boyfriend, spoke at Clemson University as the guest of the Clemson Humanities Hub in March 2024 during its 3rd Annual “Lectures in Law and Humanities” series, sponsored by Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC. Brown is one of the main subjects of the 2021 documentary, “And So I Stayed.” Her lecture headlined a series of three Humanities Hub events for members of the community interested in the theme of domestic violence and its legal ramifications. As a precursor to her public address, the Humanities Hub and World Cinema program hosted a screening of the award-winning documentary. Civic Engagement & Voting Rights Teacher Scholars Program The Hub served as the principal investigator on several grants, including a $500,000 Mellon Foundation grant to create a national hub to support the development of civic education materials in higher education with the Office of Undergraduate Studies. The Civic Engagement & Voting Rights Teacher Scholars program serves as an avenue for faculty to collaborate on creating classroom teaching materials. The Teacher Scholars design, create and disseminate pedagogical materials for use in college courses nationwide.
Liberty, Law and Justice concentration continues growth
A new legal history emphasis for history majors In 2022, the Board of Trustees approved a proposal by the Department of History and Geography to add a new emphasis area in Legal History. Led by Associate Professor Lee Wilson J.D., Ph.D., the legal history emphasis for students pursuing a B.A. in history offers a sequence of courses in history, philosophy and political science that also covers legal history from the English Reformation to modern U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Perhaps most importantly, courses in the emphasis area will introduce students to historical methodologies that are particularly useful in evaluating and crafting legal arguments.
2023-2024 HumHub Sponsored Events
Nowhere has the demand for pre-law education at Clemson been more pronounced than in the rapid growth of the Liberty, Law and Justice concentration within the B.A. Philosophy degree program. From 2021 to 2024, direct applications to the Liberty, Law and Justice emphasis have grown 89 percent (147 to 278), now forming the vast majority of applications to the philosophy degree. It is important to note that applications to the standard B.A. Philosophy track increased during this period as well.
Student gatherings for the Global Black Studies Program
Lunches for participants in the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Teagle-Teaching Transformative Texts workshops Planning sessions for the Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR) chapter and other events.
Humanities Advancement Board Members
Pre-Law Advising CAH Pre-law advisor Tim Garrison assists students of all majors across the University in achieving admission to law school. In the last academic year, Garrison advised almost 300 pre-law students. A total of 123 Clemson students were accepted to law school in 2023.
Betsy Goodale Andrew Hand Joseph H. Hood, Jr.
Emelia Howell Chris Loebsack Carl Lund Erica Lasselle McElhaney Jonathan Polson
In 2023, CAH graduates enrolled in law school at: Where our graduates are heading
College of Charleston University of Georgia Harvard University Louisiana State University
Mercer University University of South Carolina University of Virginia William & Mary
Lowndes Pope Pam Robinson Nicholas Vazsonyi
No. 1 Student Experience
No. 1 Student Experience
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HISTORY IN THE MAKING: the new Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
New Leaders
College of Arts and Humanities selects Amit Bein as associate dean Professor Amit Bein was selected as the new Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs for the College of Arts and Humanities. Bein served as chair of the Department of History and Geography from 2020-2023 and has been a Clemson University faculty member since 2006. He is tasked with, among other duties, guiding the College toward achieving the University’s strategic goal of doubling research by 2035. Bein is a distinguished scholar in his own right, holding a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University. He is an expert on late Ottoman history and the early Turkish Republic. During his tenure as department chair, Bein oversaw increased enrollment in the undergraduate history major and the History M.A. program. He also presided over the launch of the nation’s first Ph.D. in Digital History and the development of the legal studies emphasis in the history major. Joseph Mai chosen to lead Department of Languages Professor of French Joseph Mai was appointed as chair of the Department of Languages in June 2023. He holds a Ph.D., M. Phil. and M.A. in French Literature from Yale University. Mai writes about French and Francophone Film and (visual) media studies, film philosophy and contemporary French literature. He began his career at Clemson in 2004 as an assistant professor of French. Prior to Clemson, he was a visiting assistant professor at Tulane University and a teaching fellow at Yale. The Department of Languages provides courses in American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Latin. Stephanie Barczewski moves from acting to permanent chair of Department of History and Geography Professor Stephanie Barczewski moved from serving as acting chair of the Department of History and Geography to full chair in December 2023. Since arriving at Clemson in 1996, Barczewski has been a leader in productivity in the department in publishing eight books, 19 articles and chapters and participating in more than 50 conferences. A professor of modern British history, Barczewski is Clemson University’s Carol K. Brown Scholar in the Humanities. She is currently researching the peculiarities of the British natural environment. Benjamin White named Department of Philosophy and Religion chair Associate Professor of Religion Benjamin White became the chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion on June 15, 2024. He is a scholar of ancient and modern interpretations of the New Testament, the reconstruction of Christian origins and the development of early Christianities. He holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Th.M. from Duke University. White has taught at Clemson since 2011.
This year marked the historic launch of the new Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, uniting a diverse group of degree programs from across CAH into a single unit that celebrates academic innovation. The new department houses three Bachelor of Arts programs: Global Black Studies, Women’s Leadership and World Cinema. It is also the new home of the thriving Ph.D. in Rhetorics, Communication and Information Design. Prior to this academic year, these programs were unhoused and operated directly under the supervision of the previous College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. The creation of the new department opens the door for faculty appointments dedicated to these programs under the supervision and guidance of a department chair. The new department was envisioned and championed by Founding Dean Nicholas Vazsonyi.
“This department not only provides a much-needed home for our existing interdisciplinary programs, but serves as an incubator for future programs, and as a platform for faculty and students from across Clemson to meet, exchange ideas and engage in meaningful study and research,” Vazsonyi said. Interim Chair Cameron Bushnell ably led the department in its inaugural year. In Summer 2024, Lisa Melançon began as the department’s founding chair. Melançon comes to Clemson from the University of South Florida, where she was a Professor of Technical Communication and Interim Chair of the Department of English. She is a leading researcher in the rhetoric of health and medicine, and brings experience and expertise concerning programmatic issues in technical and professional communication, research methodologies and user experience.
Lisa Melançon Founding Chair Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
Master of Music Education program announces 2025 start With approval of the Board of Trustees, the Department of Performing Arts is introducing a new Master of Music Education (MME) program, designed to advance the careers of working educators. The summer-only model is intended to meet the needs of music teachers, especially those working in K-12 schools. Classes are scheduled to begin in Summer 2025 under the direction of Associate Professor and Director of Music Anthony Bernarducci. B.A. Philosophy adds emphasis in Medicine, Health and Human Values The Department of Philosophy and Religion unveiled a new emphasis area for philosophy majors intended to prepare students for careers in medicine. The new medicine, health and human values emphasis combines courses in philosophy, biomedical ethics, and biological sciences to prepare students for medical school or healthcare career tracks. According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, philosophy majors have among the highest rates of acceptance to medical school in recent years.
No. 1 Student Experience
No. 1 Student Experience
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Leading the CLASS OF 2024
Finding harmony: Evan Dwinnell
Uniting health and the humanities: Madeleine Wolfe
Closing language gaps in healthcare: Rund Abdelnabi
Madeleine Wolfe made the journey to Clemson from Massachusetts seeking to help others, becoming a language and international health major. Following advice from her emergency physician mother, she earned her EMS certification to work with the Clemson University Fire Department during college. To further explore how she could help those around her, Maddie turned to Clemson Rural Health. Maddie’s research centered on understanding the impact of prescription produce on health outcomes in patients living with or at risk for diabetes. After graduation, Wolfe plans to pursue medical school.
Rund Abdelnabi’s academic success story is one of dedication and perseverance, starting with her family’s emigration from Jordan to the United States. Rund graduated with a degree in language and international health, prepared to help English, Spanish and Arabic speakers surmount language gaps. Her six-month study abroad trip through Clemson University’s Córdoba Center in Argentina provided real-world linguistic experience to improve Rund’s Spanish and inspired her to pursue a career as a physician assistant.
Despite his modest personality, Denver native Evan Dwinnell made a name for himself around campus as a masterful musician and songwriter. He was the lead singer of “Take Two,” a six-piece rock band that jams in downtown Clemson dives, and played at the inaugural Clemson Music Fest. Evan was a trumpeter in the University Jazz Band and played jazz piano at the President’s House. A performing arts major with a concentration in audio technology, he recorded the soundtrack used by the Clemson Players in its spring performance of “Little Women” on antique 19th- century pianos, uniting the arts and humanities at Clemson during his senior year.
The Class of 2024 entered higher education at an uncertain time. Faced with the first global pandemic in generations, our students demonstrated remarkable resilience, creativity and dedication throughout their academic journey. We are grateful for the mark they left on Clemson and are eager to see what they go on to accomplish next. These are a few of their stories.
Helena Harte was named the Norris Medal winner in Spring 2024, becoming the second humanities major in the last three academic years to earn the top honor of the graduating class. A double major in political science and history, Harte was recognized for her exceptional scholastic achievement and leadership ability. She studied abroad with the Dixon Global Policy Scholars Program in Paris and traveled to Spain with the Honors College. Harte is now living in Paris to earn her master’s in international affairs at the American University of Paris, a school started by the U.S. Department of State and one she learned about while studying abroad.
CAH Class of 2024 By the Numbers
Top of the Class: Helena Harte
in-state students 58.8%
When Ansley Hollingsworth walked across the stage at Clemson University during her graduation ceremony in May 2024, she was in familiar territory. During her Clemson career, she nailed the notoriously hard to sing national anthem at a total of 16 graduation ceremonies — including her own. After graduation, Ansley returned to her home in the Charleston area to fulfill her career goal of becoming a voice teacher, a career she’s well qualified for.
370 18
226 Total Graduates
Honors graduates
Clemson University graduates were CAH minors
4 doctoral
19 masters
The Voice of Graduation: Ansley Hollingsworth
Data includes Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and projected Summer 2024 graduates
203 undergraduate
No. 1 Student Experience
No. 1 Student Experience
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Faculty Research
Clemson English professor receives $60,000 fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities Assistant Professor Maziyar Faridi received a $60,000 fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to write a book on poetry and cinema during the Pahlavi dynasty. Faridi, of the Departments of English and Interdisciplinary Studies, was the only professor in South Carolina to be awarded a faculty fellowship by the NEH, which supports humanities projects across the country. His scholarly interests lie in the interrelationship between politics and aesthetics. The grant allows Faridi to spend a year focusing on his book project, “Rhythms of Relation: Decolonizing Identity in Iranian Modernism.” Faridi’s book focuses on the last Iranian dynasty that ruled from 1925-1979.
Esteemed scholar, professor passes away after release of 40th book H. Roger Grant, the Kathryn and Calhoun Lemon Professor in the Department of History and Geography for 27 years, passed away unexpectedly in Fall 2023. A scholar who published 40 books on American history, transportation and railroads, Grant died on November 17, 2023, exactly 11 days before he was to turn 80 years old. He had planned to retire at the end of the Fall 2023 semester. In Grant’s final days, he was celebrating two milestones: impending retirement and the publication of his 40th book. Released this summer by Indiana University Press, “Sunset Cluster: A Shortline Railroad Saga” walks readers through the five Iowa “sunset cluster” railroads that lasted less than a decade. His final work will be published posthumously in 2024, according to his family, focusing on the history of midwestern railroads.
Paul Buyer explores world music in new textbook
Pictured: Clemson University Assistant Professor Melvin Villaver
Clemson English professor’s research leads to recognition of a stop on the Underground Railroad A previously overlooked stop on the Underground Railroad has been recognized by the National Park Service thanks in part to the scholarship of Professor Susanna Ashton in the Department of English. On September 16, 2023, U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn (SC-06) joined Ashton and representatives from Audubon South Carolina and the National Park Service at Audubon’s Center and Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest to commemorate the designation of Four Holes Swamp as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program. Four Holes Swamp — a blackwater tributary to the Edisto River — contains Beidler Forest, which hosts the largest stand of virgin bald cypress trees anywhere on earth and serves as a sanctuary to more than 140 species of birds. Audubon South Carolina’s effort to have the site’s historical significance recognized was sparked by Ashton’s work. Her research into the stories of enslaved people led her to identify the author of the anonymous “Recollections of Slavery by a Runaway Slave” as James Matthews of Dorchester County, South Carolina. Scan here: Endowed professor delves into the deep history of the barcode Jordan Frith, the Pearce Professor of Professional Communication at Clemson University, celebrated the release of his new book by tattooing a barcode on his left bicep. The tattoo happened to be the ISBN of his book, “Barcode,” which dives into the technology that has existed for nearly 50 years and connects billions of physical objects and digital databases. Published by Bloomsbury and part of the “Object Lessons” series, Frith’s latest book is a tight read stuffed with nuggets of barcode minutiae. The purpose of the series is to expound on the potentially mundane – think the remote control, questionnaire or egg – and develop digestible takeaways of its cultural impact for a broad audience. The book tracks the history of barcodes, which ranges from the first product scanned with an official Universal Product Code – a pack of Wrigley’s gum in 1974 – to the emergence of QR codes as a replacement for paper menus during the COVID-19 pandemic. His book has been featured on CNN, Slate and The Atlantic, among other news outlets.
In his 26th year of teaching at Clemson, Paul Buyer published his first textbook, “World Music: Diversity in Styles, Instruments and Culture,” and built an entire course cultivated with audio and visual components for a broad academic audience. The book travels to the United States, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, India, Japan, Indonesia, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Brazil, with a final chapter on “Playing for Change.” Written in an engaging, interactive and concise format, the book allows students to explore diverse musical styles, instruments and cultures through compelling content, musician spotlights and dozens of quality videos, audio recordings and class activities.
Reclamation: Clemson’s Hip Hop professor releases mixtape honoring the forgotten – and conjoined – Godino twins Assistant Professor Melvin Villaver scoured archives to search for any audio records of Lucio and Simplicio Godino, the formerly conjoined twins who were touring musicians. When they died days after being separated in December 1936, media coverage fixated on their anatomical anomalies while giving little attention to their profession. Villaver, who teaches courses in Audio Technology and Global Black Studies, honored the twins — and their music — with his dissertation mixtape, “Harmonic Resurgence,” which he published in February 2024. The 11-track tape clocks in with a run time of slightly under 32 minutes. Since his arrival in Fall 2023, Villaver has operated a fully equipped Hip Hop studio within the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, providing students with a dedicated space for training in music production. (pictured on page 18)
Double Research by 2035
Double Research by 2035
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Every Campus a Refuge hosts Narratio for stories from resettled refugee youth Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR) hosted Narratio: Art and Stories in Spring 2024. Narratio’s flagship program, the Narratio Fellowship, is an annual storytelling and leadership program that provides refugee youth with the tools and resources to share their narratives and creative works on the world stage. The public experienced photography, film and poetry created by Narratio Fellows. Department of English Associate Professor Angela Naimou said the events, which included an interactive storytelling workshop, were co-sponsored by the Humanities Hub, Department of English and Department of Languages, among other groups. Writing class partners with nonprofit to support trafficking survivors Jasmine Road, an Upstate nonprofit that works to rebuild the lives of sex trafficking survivors, received a $10,000 grant in Spring 2024 from Bank of America after Department of English Senior Lecturer Will Cunningham and his Fall 2022 Business Writing class spent a semester crafting an application. The nonprofit is South Carolina’s first long-term residential program for adult women survivors of sex trafficking, prostitution and addiction. With the help of the Pearce Center for Professional Communication, three subsequent classes taught by Cunningham have continued the effort with Jasmine Road, providing students with a remarkable experiential learning opportunity that aims to further transform the lives of trafficking victims. Students typically spend three weeks writing a research report on Jasmine Road in breakout groups at the start of the semester and then submit different deliverables each week, culminating in a grant application. The partnership is set to continue into the 2024-25 academic year.
Transforming Lives Statewide and Beyond
Declamation Contest celebrates 50 years and counting Nearly 400 students from South Carolina and Georgia piled into Daniel Hall on a fall Saturday morning to recite chosen selections in their respective studies — Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese, American Sign Language, Russian, Latin, Italian and German — for the Clemson Declamation Contest which, this year, celebrated its 50th anniversary. Su-I Chen, principal lecturer of Chinese and the director of Language Lab, became involved in the contest as a part-time lecturer in 2006. She has served as contest director since 2012. Participating in the contest isn’t the only worthwhile experience for middle and high school students. Some of whom are prospective Clemson University students on their very first college campus tour. Dean Vazsonyi, himself a Professor of German, observed: “It is encouraging to see this level of statewide engagement with foreign languages. Clemson should be proud if this longstanding tradition that often also draws students from North Carolina as well as Georgia.” Clemson ASL recognized by Martha’s Vineyard history museum A partnership between Martha’s Vineyard and Clemson University American Sign Language Assistant Professor Jody Cripps and his students led to a special recognition for the group. The historic connection between Martha’s Vineyard and the deaf community was the subject of a four-month exhibition at the iconic island’s Museum this past year. Cripps led more than a dozen ASL students to Massachusetts as part of a Creative Inquiry to initiate a community outreach program to help revive Martha’s Vineyard Signed Language (MVSL).
Ripple effect: Clemson students amplify local nonprofit’s message to help area families in need What initially started as a Fall collaboration between an Upstate nonprofit and a Department of English practicum in writing class at Clemson extended into the Spring semester with students supporting a team dedicated to aiding impoverished families in achieving financial independence. Ripple of One connected with Pearce Center for Professional Communication Assistant Director Ashley Fisk’s students to sharpen the neighboring Oconee County organization’s social media marketing presence. Executive director Stephanie Enders and her 10-woman staff wear many hats in fundraising and operations roles. But Enders said there was a need for help in the online realm. The faith-based nonprofit, founded in 2010, aims to incentivize families to move beyond government assistance to help parents focus on education and work readiness, financial and emotional stability and physical health. Clemson students helped share the nonprofit’s message in managing Ripple of One’s Facebook account to provide consistent posts about success stories and other opportunities. Video teasers were produced to provide updates to donors and volunteers. Students also gave a facelift to the nonprofit’s branding kit.
American Sign Language community rallies to support first ClemsonLIFE student Taylor Freeman made history in Fall 2023 as the first Clemson student with Down syndrome to complete an American Sign Language (ASL) course. Her path to enrolling in lecturer Tasha Goodrich’s class united multiple members of the Clemson Family, each encouraging her to learn a new and expressive way to communicate. A junior with ClemsonLIFE, Freeman is in the post-secondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities that prioritizes job skills and independent living. She learned from a distinguished group of professors as Clemson is home to the premier ASL program in South Carolina and a leader in the Southeast. ASL faculty continue to support the South Carolina Educational Interpreting Center in a five-year cycle thanks to $1.4 million in funding from the South Carolina Department of Education. The center, which trains interpreters working in K-12 schools with specific skills for educational interpreting, is the only one of its kind in the nation. $1.4 Million
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Transform Lives Statewide and Beyond
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Clemson history graduate overcomes vision impairment to practice law at prestigious law firm Ryan Uhle ’19 was diagnosed with a form of cancer called retinoblastoma and lost the ability to see at 2 years old. The magnitude of that life-altering diagnosis hasn’t stopped the Aiken, South Carolina, native from already achieving more than some could ever imagine. Uhle arrived at Clemson in 2015 to major in history. He was guided by service dogs Kappa and Steffi, who were alongside him for two years each. After earning his degree, Uhle enrolled at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law and interned at the Nelson Mullins law firm at the close of his first year. He’s been one of the firm’s youngest associates since the fall of 2022, focusing on e-discovery, business, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation.
Celebrating ALUMNI SUCCESS
Growth Through Giving
Clemson University earned the All-Steinway School designation from Steinway & Sons in September 2023, made possible by generous philanthropy by alumni. The designation is an elite accolade for institutions committed to providing the world’s finest pianos to their students, faculty and visiting artists. In April 2023, the Department of Performing Arts announced the beginning of its “Pathway to Steinway,” which was set in motion by a gift from Kaye and Bob Stanzione. Their generosity combined Kaye’s passion for the piano with their continued legacy of giving to Clemson. During the summer of 2023, the Stanziones had the opportunity to visit the Steinway & Sons factory in New York to watch the manufacturing process. The All-Steinway School designation also creates new opportunities for friends of Clemson performing arts to give and earn recognition for their support of instrument maintenance, scholarships and more. Clemson is one of around 250 select schools worldwide to carry the designation
Clemson named an All-Steinway School after significant investment in the performing arts.
Performing arts alumna appears in two Netflix films The on-screen acting career of Adrian Eppley ’15 continued to gain momentum in 2023 with roles in Netflix productions The Hill and Pain Hustlers . Her resume includes roles in two Lifetime movies ( Who is Killing the Cheerleaders and Just What the Doctor Ordered ), Netflix’s Echoes , Nickelodeon’s Fantasy Football and a recurring role in Delilah on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
Philosophy graduate begins studies at Harvard Law Sylvia Wu ’21 began her studies at Harvard Law School in Fall 2023. As a Clemson student, Wu was a member of the National Scholars Program and double majored in philosophy and mathematics. Since graduation, Wu worked as an analyst for Compass Lexicon and as a summer law clerk for the United States Attorneys’ Office in Oakland, California.
Law firm commits to funding 150 law school test prep courses for pre-law Clemson students.
Distinguished performing arts alumnus debuts composition celebrating 30 years of the Brooks Center In honor of the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts’ 30th anniversary, composer and distinguished performing arts alumnus, Michael Geib ’07 performed his original composition “Tigertown Dreams” with the Clemson University Symphony Orchestra in April 2024. Geib, a double bassist, was in residency for a week to perform and work with Clemson performing arts students. He balances a vigorous touring and recording schedule with teaching privately through the University of Central Oklahoma and Geib Musik.
A generous gift from a Clemson University alumnus’s law firm will pay for 150 law school admission test (LSAT) prep courses for students aspiring to enter the profession. The Loebsack & Brownlee Pre-Law Fund for LSAT Testing was established in Summer 2024 through a gift from managing partner Chris Loebsack ’93. The firm committed $90,000 over three years. Loebsack has been an ardent supporter of law and the humanities at Clemson for years. He served as chair of the Humanities Advancement Board, and his Charlotte-based firm sponsors the annual “Lectures in Law and Humanities” series organized by the Clemson Humanities Hub.
Doctoral graduate returns to lead Clemson World In December 2023, Charlotte Lucke Ph.D. ’22 was named the managing editor of Clemson World, the University’s magazine that tells the stories of the Clemson Family through creative and innovative writing, design, photography, video and technology. The Rhetorics, Communication and Information Design (RCID) graduate accepted the role after leading a monthly literary-quality arts and culture magazine based in Greenville.
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