Department of Languages Professor Emerita Clementina Adams was inducted into the College of Arts and Humanities Hall of Fame in a formal ceremony at the Madren Center on March 6, 2020.
This year, the College of Arts and Humanities welcomed eight new members to the CAAH Hall of Fame. Since its founding in 2017, the CAAH Hall of Fame has recognized exceptional individuals who are leaders in their profession or have made a significant impact on the educational, research and service goals of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.
Professor Emerita Adams was nominated by the Department of Languages for her invaluable and continuing impact on the department, the profession, and the community. Dr. Adams was a valued member of the Languages Faculty from 1989 until 2014, during which time she designed, developed and implemented the innovative Language and International Health program along with Clemson University colleagues Sandy King, Hugh D. Spitler and Rachel Mayo. Dr. Adams also pioneered the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Department of Languages. Among her many honors at Clemson, Adams received the Board of Trustees Faculty Excellence Award twice. In retirement, she continues to volunteer as a medical interpreter for Hispanic patients.
Dr. Adams’ husband, Paul Adams, and daughter, Lauren S. Miller, were present at the ceremony.
About Clementina E. Adams
Dr. Clementina E. Adams earned a “Licenciatura” (M.A.) in Spanish Philology and Literature (1969) at Atlántico University, Barranquilla, Colombia. As an Organization of the American States (OAS) Scholar she earned a master’s degree in Instructional Design and Development (1974) and a doctorate in Instructional Systems (1984), both from Florida State University. She was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in 1978.
Dr. Adams taught Spanish at Gallaudet University (1980-85), the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (1985-86) and Clemson University from 1989 until her retirement as Professor Emerita in 2014. Her research includes three books, eight book chapters, 43 articles in peer-reviewed journals and 31 funded grants. She has received numerous awards and served on advisory boards at the regional, state and national levels. At Clemson, she served on the Faculty Senate, Athletic Council, and Tenure and Promotion Committee. Dr. Adams received the Board of Trustees Faculty Excellence Award twice and the Service Alliance Faculty Fellow Award three times.
Dr. Adams designed, developed and implemented the Language and International Health program along with Dr. Sandy King from Languages, and Dr. Hugh D. Spitler and Dr. Rachel Mayo from Health Science. Dr. Adams served as founding director of the program (2004-09), which produced 213 graduates by fall 2019. Dr. Adams also pioneered the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Department of Languages offerings. Currently, that section has 21 majors and 75 minors.
In 2004, Dr. Adams completed medical interpreter training in Oakland, California. She has volunteered as a medical interpreter for Hispanic patients in the Upstate for more than a decade through the Joseph F. Sullivan Center. In 2015 she was certified as a Medical Interpreter by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCICH) and continued to volunteer through fall 2019.
More about the CAAH Hall of Fame induction ceremony from The Newsstand.
