Dear CAFLS Family, Friends, and Alumni,
As we enter a new year, I’m excited to share the remarkable progress and ongoing initiatives within the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences (CAFLS) at Clemson University. Our commitment to our land-grant mission drives transformative change, empowering our students and benefiting communities across South Carolina and beyond.
This past fall showcased significant accomplishments by our faculty, staff, and students. This momentum is reflected in our Fiercely Forward campaign, which is guiding strategic investments in our people, programs and places to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead. Despite uncertainties about federal funding, our research funding has grown impressively, with record increases in both requested and awarded sponsored research dollars. Notably, a five-year, $18.6M project, “Hurricane Helene Watershed Response Services in North Carolina,” funded by the U.S. Forest Service, will involve 12 CAFLS faculty and support 40 graduate and undergraduate students. Additionally, Dr. Jeff Adelberg from the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences secured a $1.2M award from the Gates Foundation to enhance banana multiplication techniques, which also relate to strawberry and sweet potato production.
We are proud to celebrate the achievements of our exceptional faculty. Dr. Jane Dever, a professor in Plant and Environmental Sciences, was inducted into the Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame for her significant contributions to cotton research and genetics. Dr. Jeryl “Jeri” Jones, Emeritus Professor in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, received the American College of Veterinary Radiology Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions and mentorship in veterinary radiology. Dr. Gilbret Miller, retired Clemson Extension vegetable specialist, was honored with the Order of the Palmetto for his mentoring of young farmers.
Our students continue to excel, transforming lives in the process. Ms. Ally Brawner, an M.S. student in Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, is pioneering a nanotechnology-based therapy for heart disease, while Mr. Jacob Johnson is advancing cotton farming through gene editing research.
Our collaboration with the South Carolina Governor’s School has flourished, with 26 alumni now enrolled at Clemson, enriching our community and paving pathways to higher education in agriculture and natural resources.
I’m pleased to announce new leaders in CAFLS. Dr. Soledad “Sole” Peresin began her role as the Patricia “Pat” Layton Endowed Director of the Wood Utilization + Design Institute (WU+D) in August, bringing over 20 years of experience in transforming biomass into high-value solutions. Dr. Ramesh Jeganathan also joined us this summer as the chair of the Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, bringing over 25 years of academic and leadership experience from Auburn University.
Lastly, our two regulatory units, Livestock and Poultry Health (LPH) and Regulatory Services (RS), continue to monitor and prepare for various invasive threats. For example, RS staff members manage South Carolina’s Yellow Legged Hornet eradication program and Asian Longhorn Beetle monitoring and quarantines. Likewise, LPH continues to focus on the looming threat (reemergence) of the New World Screwworm and on ongoing issues with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), both of which pose a threat to our livestock operations.
Looking ahead, we expect to complete the new FEC building by April 2026, enhancing our educational and research facilities. We are also forming six strategic planning implementation teams focused on key areas outlined in our Boundless Impact strategic plan.
As we move Fiercely Forward, I encourage you to stay connected with CAFLS. Your support is vital as we strive to transform lives through education, research, Extension, and regulatory services. Thank you for being an integral part of the Clemson Family. Together, we continue to make a lasting impact.
Go Tigers!
Dr. Matthew T. “Matt” Holt
Dean, College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences
Vice President, Public Service and Agriculture
Clemson University
