A Word from Dean Richard Goodstein – May 2017

May 7, 2017

The 2017-2018 academic year is winding down and there is much to report and celebrate. The year has flown by, beginning with opening of the Charleston Design Center in August and wrapping up with the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities commencement ceremony on Friday, when we will welcome the college’s class of 2017. Congratulations to our new graduates!

This month, we take special note of several faculty and staff retirements, including Dana Anderson (School of Architecture), Terry Farris (Real Estate Development), Leora Hall (Philosophy and Religion), Lillian Harder (Performing Arts), Roger Liska, (Construction Science and Management), Tom Oberdan (Dean’s Office), the late Roger Simpson (Languages), Steve Sperry (City Planning and Real Estate Development), and Jim Barker, Professor of Architecture and President Emeritus.

In honor of Jim’s retirement, we have mounted an exhibition of his drawings and watercolors in the dean’s office. This is the first on-campus collection of his work. It’s a remarkable exhibition, and I hope you will have time over the next several months to drop by 108 Strode to view it.

CSArt students with Professor Valerie Zimany (center) and President Clements at the Board of Trustees meeting in April.

There were tremendous accomplishments throughout the college over the past year (and too numerous to list here). I do want to share just a few recent highlights:

• Jessica Martin (AAH Student Services) and Peter Laurence (School of Architecture) graduated after successfully participating in the 2017-2018 President’s Leadership Institute.
• Diane Perpich (Women’s Leadership) was named outstanding faculty member by the President’s Commission on Women.
• Successful accreditation visits were concluded by the Master of Architecture, Master of Landscape Architecture, and Master of Construction Science and Management programs.
• The CSArt students were introduced to the Clemson University Board of Trustees at their April meeting and presented members of the board with specially made ceramic mugs.
• Alumnus Bill Pelham of Greenville pledged $1.2M to various programs in the University, including a significant gift to the School of Architecture.
• The new Spirit of the Tiger sculpture was dedicated at the Butler-Cook Tiger Band Plaza.
• The hard-working and dedicated staff of the college were celebrated at a special luncheon on Administrative Professionals Day.

At the Tiger Sculpture dedication 2017.

Finally, I want to express my gratitude and sincere appreciation for five outgoing department chairs who have dedicated years of service to the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, our students, faculty and staff:

• Roger Liska, Construction Science and Management
• Lee Morrissey, Department of English
• Mary Padua, Department of Landscape Architecture
• Greg Shelnutt, Department of Art
• Charlie Starkey, Department of Philosophy and Religion

Best wishes to all from campus and Go Tigers!

Rick