B-Note January 28, 2016
January 28, 2016
Greetings fellow Tigers!
Well, it was fun while it lasted, and luckily it didn’t last very long. I love snow days on campus. They bring out the child in all of us. Take a look at this video of the students making the most of the snow and having fun.
Last Thursday night, we celebrated the opening of the Watt Family Innovation Center. This state-of-the-art facility, featuring cutting-edge technology, will serve students, faculty and staff of every discipline along with partnering businesses as they work together to introduce new concepts, innovations and research. From the nation’s largest media grid outside to the flexible meeting and classroom areas inside, the Watt Center is like no other campus facility. Share photos of the celebration. Watch video from the event.
As Clemson continues to increase its status as one of the nation’s top public research institutions, the University has appointed Tanju Karanfil to a two-year term as vice president for research, effective on February 1. Currently the associate dean for research in the College of Engineering and Science, Karanfil is an environmental engineer whose research on improving municipal water quality has been funded with nearly $10 million. Karanfil replaces Larry Dooley, who is retiring in May after three years as interim vice president for research and a 31-year career at Clemson. As the new vice president for research, Karanfil will steer the University’s research strategy, which includes working closely with faculty and staff at Clemson and with collaborators in industry and the community. Read more about the University’s exciting research strategy.
The Walmart Foundation and the U.S. Conference of Mayors announced Clemson University as one of this year’s U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund grant recipients for the school’s energy-efficient process for the dyeing of polyester fabrics. Clemson University will receive nearly $1 million. The 2016 round of grants are focused on innovations in textile manufacturing processes. Clemson is one of five universities that will receive grants from the fund to support research proposals that strive to create new manufacturing technologies and reduce the cost of producing goods in the U.S. with the ultimate goal of creating jobs that support America’s growing manufacturing base. Find out more about this important partnership.
The 2016 football schedule has been announced! Says head coach Dabo Swinney, “It is another challenging schedule overall. We will have to be at our best from the first week as Auburn is a very difficult place to play. We saw that in 2010 when we took a National Championship Auburn team to overtime. I like the position of the open date in week eight, closer to the middle of the season than we have had in recent years. It is also just the second time in 24 years we have not had to play consecutive games on the road, which is good for our team and our fans.”
B-Amazed
Clemson students achieve miraculous things inside and outside the classroom. Bioengineering doctoral student Breanne Przestrzelski has received national recognition as an exceptional student who exercises leadership in teaching and learning with a strong commitment to academic and civic responsibility. The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) named Przestrzelski a recipient of the prestigious K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award — one of 10 winners selected from more than 275 nominations from 137 institutions. Przestrzelski also received the Austin T. Moore Award for her contribution to the establishment of the Design Discovery Program. As a University Innovation Fellow, Przestrzelski co-founded the Design & Entrepreneurship Network or DEN, a campus-wide program that pairs students with mentors who help them pursue their entrepreneurial and professional goals — a program recognized at The White House in 2015. Find out more about this amazing student.
Each week I’m amazed at all the advancements Clemson is making for our students, our state and our world. I know our own amazing team is helping to make it all possible. I thank you for your time, talents and dedication to our University. No doubt, I will have the pleasure of reporting more good news next week. Until then, celebrate everything.
Go Tigers!
Brian O’Rourke