A Word from Dean Richard Goodstein – November 2014

November 2, 2014

Tiger Band Plaza dedication

Dear Friends,

Greetings from campus! The fall semester has roared through midterms, Homecoming has come and gone and we continue to enjoy a spectacular fall here in the Upstate.

I had the privilege to welcome a large contingent of alumni, friends and family back to campus last week to help dedicate the John H. Butler and Bruce F. Cook Tiger Band Plaza. With the addition of this beautiful new plaza, the Tiger Band outdoor facility becomes the premier college marching band rehearsal space in the country. (See photos and video of the event.)

The celebration was bittersweet for many of us, as my mentor and longtime colleague, Bruce Cook, passed away just a few days before the event. Bruce will be remembered by many for initiating many Tiger Band traditions, but he will always be cherished by those of us who knew him as embracing the idea of the Clemson Family long before it became a catchphrase. Our thoughts and prayers go to Bruce’s family.

Earlier this week, we learned that the School of Architecture is ranked in the Top 20 in DesignIntelligence’s 15th annual “America’s Best Architecture and Design Schools” issue that was released November 3. The graduate program is ranked 18th overall and in the Top 10 of public universities. I am also proud to report that Kate Schwennsen, professor and chair of architecture, was listed as one of the “30 Most Admired Educators for 2015.” According to DesignIntelligence, “Kate Schwennsen has brought renewed energy and focus to Clemson’s program. A strong advocate for the profession with a clear vision for the school, Schwennsen brings the practical world in the academic world for a more integrated educational experience.  She has a very good personal connection with students; she is dedicated to helping them prepare for the profession.”

Warm congratulations to the students, faculty and staff in this outstanding program! Stay tuned for more about this exciting news in the December issue of CAAH Monthly.

After visiting a number of classes over the past month, I can say without hesitation that we have an amazing faculty who stretch our students’ creativity and critical thinking. Over the past several weeks I have seen firsthand the inspired teaching that goes on every day in the college. I can attest to the extraordinarily high level of intellectual, creative and artistic engagement that our students receive from our faculty on a day-to-day basis throughout the college. It is also clear to me that our faculty’s high level of peer-reviewed research and creative activities are successfully translated to the classroom and engage our students in important ways.

I am very proud of the recognition the college has received through several alumni and faculty awards that were recently announced. First, congratulations go to the recipients of this years “Roaring Ten” award for young alumni. Four of the ten recipients are AAH graduates: Mary Dempsey (Communication Studies), Brian Ammons (Communication Studies), Steven Foushee (Construction Science and Management) and Raven Magwood (Communication Studies). Additionally, two of our faculty have been recognized in the first five football games as “Professors of the Game.” Congratulations to Joe Mazer (Communication Studies) and Charles Starkey (Philosophy and Religion) for their recognition.

Erwin Center dedication

Finally, I want to thank Joe and Gretchen Erwin for their vision and generosity in creating the Erwin Center for Advertising and Communication. This new center in Daniel Hall, dedicated last month, will pair industry professionals with Clemson students in order to teach creative advertising methods, brand building and how to reach customers through emerging technologies and insightful content strategies. The Erwin Center is an excellent example of how industry can partner with Clemson in order to give students a running start in their careers. We are grateful to the Erwins for their philanthropy and belief in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. (Photos of the dedication here.)

It’s been an extraordinary month.

Best wishes and Go Tigers!

Rick