Month: September 2014

Dear Friends,

I often talk about the pillars of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities’ strategic mission – the four Cs: Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Communication. I believe the college has the distinction of providing extraordinary educational and research contributions to Clemson’s strategic mission through the college’s diverse degree programs and general education contributions. As a Top-20 pubic university, our strategic goals resonate through each of our 11 departments and 34 degree programs.

Recently – and after hearing Fran Mainella, former director of the National Park Service speak – I have come to understand that another “C” might be added to our mission: Courage. Students in many of our programs major in areas in which their career paths are unknown. For us, the four years in an undergraduate degree program, on top of providing the educational and social tools necessary for lifelong success and fulfillment, allow students to mature and face the unknown with courage gained through their experiences at Clemson. If we can enhance a student’s ability to be a highly educated collaborator, creator, critical thinker and skilled communicator while gaining courage for the unknown, the Clemson experience will be one that is the envy of colleges across the United States.

One current project that is the embodiment of the college’s mission is our entry into the U.S. Department of Energy’s prestigious 2015 Solar Decathlon Competition. The Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. Our School of Architecture won a preliminary competition to be one of 20 select schools invited to compete. A multi-disciplinary team of students, faculty and staff from all five colleges has been hard at work preparing our entry for the competition next fall in Irvine, Calif. Our goal is to win – a goal that will take a concerted effort and broad support. I hope you will join our efforts and support in any way you can toward a goal of $1.5M in funding needed for the project. To show your support, please visit this website.

I am equally proud of the students and faculty who have been working on our “Race and the University” initiative. The series of events are designed to create a greater awareness and encourage open conversations about Clemson’s history as it relates to race and diversity. The initiative opened with a well-attended “See the Stripes” event last week that featured poetry, spoken word, music and dance and acknowledges Clemson’s complex past while celebrating our inclusiveness and diversity. I hope you will be able to attend one or more of the many upcoming Race and the University events.

It has been an amazing start to the 2014-2015 academic year.

Best wishes and Go Tigers!

Rick

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The start of the academic year is always a time of renewed energy and enthusiasm. Whether it’s Tiger Band beginning band camp, the buzz of students and faculty returning to campus or the lack of parking, one can’t help but get excited about the new year in Tigertown (and fall weather to come).

Clemson begins its 122^nd academic year with more than 3,400 freshmen and 1,200 transfer students on-campus. Off-campus, we welcome back our students, faculty and staff in our Greenville, Charleston, Genoa and Barcelona programs. There is a special excitement on campus this fall with construction projects throughout campus including the Watt Family Innovation Center and the core campus replacement of Johnstone and Harcombe Dining Hall and plans being finalized for the Douthit Hills housing development. Additionally, several new parking lot improvements and other beautification projects are nearing completion.

Many of you may have seen the news that Clemson University is ranked #20 in public universities in the U.S. News and World Report rankings that were released this week. This achievement and attainment of the university’s 2020 vision is due in no small part to the outstanding work being accomplished in CAAH.

This is also a fitting tribute to President Emeritus and Professor of Architecture Jim Barker’s inspired efforts over the past 14 years. He set this goal upon taking the presidency, and it is gratifying for his leadership to be recognized with this achievement.

The U.S. News and World Report recognizes Clemson’s initiatives in “writing in the disciplines” for the 12th consecutive year, and identifies the University as one of 11 institutions of higher learning in the nation that “make writing a priority across all disciplines.” This recognition points directly to the work being done in CAAH and the outstanding work in all disciplines, including the Department of English and the Pearce Center for Professional Communication.

The College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities is hosting a series of events this year exploring race and the university. We hope to engage the campus with a series of events, exhibitions and discussions with the goal of creating greater awareness of our history as it relates to race and diversity. I hope you will join us in some of these activities.

The Brooks Center and Department of Performing Arts recently hosted Work Light Productions technical rehearsals of George and Ira Gershwin’s Nice Work If You Can Get It. The cast and crew spent two weeks at the Brooks Center in preparation for their upcoming national tour. Fifteen Clemson students served as production interns for the rehearsals and six Clemson alumni have full-time positions with Work Light. Congratulations to the faculty and staff for this real-life internship and student engagement opportunity.

As the fall semester and football season is off and running, I hope to see you at an upcoming alumni event, football game, Lee Hall exhibition, Brooks Center production, lecture or other event sponsored by the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. It’s a great time to be at Clemson.

Thank you and Go Tigers,

Rick

Salvador A. Oropesa has been named chair of Clemson University’s Department of Languages.

Oropesa received his Ph.D. from Arizona State University and has served on the faculty at Kansas State University since 1992, most recently as professor of Spanish and American ethnic studies and department head.

His areas of research specialization include peninsular and Mexican literature, culture and social history, and cinema. His most recent publication is “Literatura y comercio en España: las tiendas (1868-1952). Estudios culturales,” published by Universidad de Málaga.

“We welcome Dr. Oropesa to this important leadership position in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities,” said Dean Richard Goodstein. “He brings a remarkable record as a scholar, excellence in the classroom and experience in higher education administration to the Department of Languages.”

Oropesa began his duties July 1.

Clemson Department of Languages

Clemson’s Department of Languages enrolls approximately 280 undergraduates in three degree programs – Language and International Health, Language and International Trade and Modern Languages, with emphasis areas in American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.