A Word from Dean Richard Goodstein – February 2017

February 3, 2017

Dear Friends,

In Tampa with Tiger Band supporters Ed Evans, Cindy and Larry Sloan.

National Champions! Wow – that has such a nice ring to it! I was fortunate to attend the National Championship game in Tampa last month and couldn’t have been prouder of our team, our Tiger Band and the Clemson Nation. It was a amazing game with a storybook ending.

I have no doubt that success on the football field – the national visibility it brings to Clemson and the way Coach Swinney runs the football program – translates to positive outcomes for our academic programs. Applications for freshmen admission are up – in our case, way up – and interest in all things Clemson extends beyond football to include Clemson academics and Clemson research. If you missed this story on the Clemson website, check it out!

Clemson’s proud of all its champions, whether they’re forged in the athletic arena, in classrooms or in laboratories

In Tampa, I was inspired (and amazed) to learn the story of Charlotte Colt, Tiger Band lead snare drummer, who marched in the game with an extremely painful torn ACL. Charlotte is a great example of what one person can accomplish when she sets her mind to it and sees it through. She is an inspiration. Best of luck to Charlotte as she pursues the next phase of her education. (Read more about Charlotte’s story and her incredible determination and perseverance here.)

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Brooklyn Garrett crowned Miss Clemson University 2017. (Photo by Jacqui Stephens.)

Congratulations also to Brooklyn Garrett, who was crowned Miss Clemson University 2017 on Saturday. Brooklyn is a CAAH Student Ambassador and a double major in women’s leadership and philosophy. We are proud of you, Brooklyn!

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A shout out to two of our undergraduate humanities degrees –  the B.S. in Language and International Health (L&IT) and the B.A. in Language and International Trade (L&IH). These two programs epitomize what I mean by “applied humanities,” combining a liberal arts degree with professional training in health or business.

The L&IH program is jointly administered with our colleagues in public health sciences and is available in Spanish and Chinese. Students learn public health theory and practice, as well as communicative competence in their target language and its culture, literatures, health environments and multicultural issues. Graduates have gone on to positions with such employers as the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children, the International Mission Board and Compass Professional Health Services. Others are pursuing advanced degrees at such institutions as the University of Virginia (nursing), UNC (health administration) and the University of Alabama (dentistry).

The L&IT degree is available in Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. The program combines intensive foreign language study with a professional business concentration in one of the following areas: applied international economics, international trade or tourism. Students who choose this major immerse themselves in another language and culture and learn how to live, work and succeed in business environments in diverse cultural settings. Recent grads have secured spots with Michelin, GE and Procter and Gamble. Others have gone on to grad school at the University of South Carolina School of Law (JD), the IÉSEG School of Management in Paris (management) and the London School of Economics (MBA).

Of special note, most students in both programs complete an internship abroad. I am proud of that achievement. Learning to live and work in another culture is critcally important to thriving in a global economy. Kudos to both programs for their success in placing graduates in great jobs and great grad schools!

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In closing and with a sad heart, I write to let you know that Roger Simpson, senior lecturer of Spanish, died Saturday morning at Greenville Memorial Hospital. Roger’s family is planning a visitation this evening (Monday) at Brown Oglesby Funeral Home in Seneca (101 East North Second St.) from 6-8 p.m. A graveside service is planned for Tuesday at Oconee Memorial Park (1923 Blue Ridge Blvd., Seneca) at 11 a.m. Roger joined Clemson’s faculty in 1999, after having taught at the high school level for 14 years. He was a graduate of Clemson, with a B.A. in Modern Languages and an M.Ed. Roger was actively engaged in the life of the Department of Languages and was loved by colleagues and students alike. My sincere condolences to Roger’s family and to all of his friends here at Clemson. The College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities will long feel his loss.

Best wishes to all for the month of February,

Rick