College of Arts and Humanities

CAAH celebrates its newest tenured professors

Richard E. Goodstein, dean of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities at Clemson University, recently announced the promotions of seven faculty members.

These professors – and the newly tenured faculty from the other six Colleges at Clemson – were recognized by President James P. Clements and Provost Robert H. Jones at a reception on Sept. 4 at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts. Dean Goodstein also hosted a dinner in their honor last month.

. . .

Amit Bein
Amit Bein

Amit Bein has been promoted to full professor in the Department of History. Bein, an expert on late Ottoman history and the early Turkish Republic, teaches courses on the history of the modern Middle East.

“I feel honored to have the opportunity to teach and publish on the modern Middle East and have a deep sense of gratitude to my colleagues in History and in the College of AAH for creating an intellectual and workplace environment that is conducive for my teaching and research interests,” Bein said.

Bein, coordinator of the undergraduate program in history, received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 2006. His first book, “Ottoman Ulema, Turkish Republic: Agents of Change and Guardians of Tradition” (Stanford University Press, 2011), explores intellectual debates and political movements within the religious establishment during the closing years of the Turkish Republic.

Bein’s second book, “Kemalist Turkey and the Middle East: International Relations in the Interwar Period” (Cambridge University Press, 2017), examines the engagement and ties between Turkey and the Middle East during the period between the two world wars.

. . .

Nic Brown
Nic Brown

Nic Brown has received tenure and a promotion to associate professor in the Department of English. Brown primarily teaches courses in creative writing.

“My grandparents lived in Clemson when I was growing up. It boggles my mind to imagine what they would think about the fact I just received tenure here,” Brown said. “It boggles my own mind, to tell you the truth. What luck!”

Brown is the author of the novels “In Every Way,” “Doubles” and the story collection “Floodmarkers,” all published by Counterpoint. Brown’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, Garden & Gun and the Harvard Review.

His work has been anthologized in several collections, including “Best Food Writing 2015” and the New York Times-bestseller “Good Dog.”

A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and Columbia University, Brown has served in the past as the Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi.

. . .

Ufuk Ersoy
Ufuk Ersoy

Ufuk Ersoy received tenure and a promotion to associate professor in the School of Architecture. Ersoy, who joined the faculty in 2012, teaches architectural history, theory and design.

“To achieve the high measures of Clemson University gives me honor; and, tenure opens a new page for my research and teaching motivation,” Ersoy said.

Before coming to Clemson, Ersoy taught at the University of New South Wales in Australia, the University of Pennsylvania and Izmir Institute of Technology in Turkey.

Ersoy completed his master’s degree in architecture, his master of science degree in architectural history and theory, and his Ph.D. in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. At Clemson, Ersoy acted as the primary editor of the commemorative volume “100 Years of Architecture: Southern Roots + Global Reach Centennial Proceedings.”

. . .

Anjali Jospeh
Anjali Jospeh

Anjali Joseph has received tenure and a promotion to full professor in the School of Architecture. Joseph is the Spartanburg Regional Health System Endowed Chair in Architecture + Health Design and is director of the Center for Health Facilities Design and Testing at Clemson.

“I am so honored to be recognized as a tenured professor in the School of Architecture and to teach in the graduate program in Architecture + Health,” Joseph said. “I feel fortunate to be a part of this incredible group of faculty and students and to build a meaningful body of research that will help improve the health and well-being of all who receive health care.”

Joseph focuses on using simulation and prototyping methods to research and test the effectiveness of promising design solutions that may impact patient safety in high stress health-care environments.

Joseph currently serves on an independent review panel on military medical construction standards for the U.S. Defense Health Agency. Joseph earned her bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi, India, her master’s degree in Architecture from Kansas State University and her Ph.D. with an emphasis on Architecture, Culture and Behavior from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

. . .

Johannes Schmidt
Johannes Schmidt

Johannes Schmidt received a promotion to full professor in the Department of Languages. Schmidt’s research interests range from 18th- and 19th-century German literature and philosophy to German drama and music.

He has taught a variety of courses including German drama, 18th- and 19th-century German literature, the culture and literature of exile, humanities seminars on drama, World War II, the Shoah, and German language and culture courses at all levels.

With Rainer Godel, Schmidt is the co-editor of the International Herder Yearbook, a bi-annual, peer-reviewed professional journal of the International Herder Society.

Schmidt earned his bachelor’s degree in Germanistics, Linguistics and Economics at the University of Konstanz in Germany, his master’s degree in Germanic Languages and Literatures at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and his Ph.D. in German Literature at the University of Hamburg in Germany.

In 2006, Schmidt was elected treasurer-secretary (North America) of the International Herder Society. He also served as the president of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German from 2003-06.

. . .

Will Stockton
Will Stockton

Will Stockton has received a promotion to full professor in the Department of English. Stockton’s primary research interests include Renaissance literature and queer theory.

“I’m honored to be promoted to professor of English here at Clemson,” Stockton said. “Our university’s commitment to supporting innovative research in not only STEM fields, but also the humanities and social sciences represents the best of forward-thinking visions in higher education.”

Stockton’s research encompasses Shakespeare, Milton, queer theory, psychoanalysis, Christianity, poetry and poetics.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in English and political theory at the University of Virginia, his master’s degree in English and his Ph.D. in English at Indiana University Bloomington.

Among his books are “Members of His Body: Shakespeare, Paul, and a Theology of Nonmonogamy” (Fordham University Press, 2017), “Brimstone” (Queer Young Cowboys, 2015), “Crush” (co-authored with D. Gilson; Punctum Books, 2014) and “Sex Before Sex: Figuring the Act in Early Modern England” (edited with James Bromley, University of Minnesota Press, 2013).

. . .

Eric Touya
Eric Touya

Eric Touya received a promotion to full professor in the Department of Languages. His research and teaching interests include 19th– to 21st-century French and Francophone literature and culture, and interdisciplinary approaches to literature, art, media, theory, culture, economics, ethics and society.

Touya also is the academic advisor for the French and International Trade program and the study abroad program in Paris and Normandy.

“I am happy to hear the news and to serve as teacher, mentor and scholar for this great university,” Touya said. “I am grateful to all the students and colleagues and to my wife and daughter for their support.”

Touya is a recipient of the prestigious Chevalier des Palmes Academiques, awarded by the French government.

Touya received his diplôme d’etudes approfondies in comparative literature at the Universite de Paris IV, Sorbonne, and his Ph.D. in Romance languages and literatures at the University of Chicago.

He is the author of “Musique et poétique à l’âge du symbolism” (L’Harmattan, 2005), “French-American Relations: Remembering D-Day after September 11” (University Press of America, 2008), “Francophone Women Writers: Feminisms, Postcolonialisms, Cross-Cultures” (Lexington Books Publishing, 2011) and “The Case for the Humanities: Pedagogy, Polity, Interdisciplinarity” (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016).

A Word from Dean Richard Goodstein – September 2018

Dear Friends,

The start of every school year is undoubtedly the most exciting time to be on campus. Anticipation for the new year, football and cooler weather permeates campus. Faculty return from their summer activities with renewed enthusiasm and every student starts the year as a straight-A student.

One of my favorite events at the beginning of each academic year is our College’s new faculty orientation.  In mid-August, 25 of our new faculty met in Lee Hall, where the program was followed by a buffet lunch. The highlight of the morning was getting to know the credentials, background and multidisciplinary interests of our incoming faculty members. You will be reading about many of them in the coming months – in the meantime, I can tell you that we continue to attract world-class scholars, artists, designers and teachers to the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.

Tiger Band reunion comes with a surprise

Dean Richard E. Goodstein
The Tiger Band reunion was a time to share memories and thank Jim and Barbara McCabe for their generous support. Image credit: Jacob Dean

Last week I had the honor of a lifetime when I was surprised by Jim and Barbara McCabe’s $100,000 gift to Tiger Band in my honor. The announcement came at the first Tiger Band alumni reunion, and was I humbled by the generosity of the McCabes and the opportunities their philanthropy will give to band students. I had no advance warning of the announcement and was completely fooled by my wife and others, including my office coordinator Susan McCall. There had been an elaborate scheme to surprise me, and I finally figured out the real reason my oldest daughter and her family were in town. I am grateful to Jim and Barbara for their gift and a night I will never forget – thank you!

Another highlight for me every school year is the first day of band camp. More than 350 members of the 2018 Tiger Band gathered in the Brooks Theatre and had the opportunity to meet the band staff and their fellow bandmates. The evening began with an appearance by Coach Dabo Swinney, who shared almost 45 minutes of inspirational messages and gratitude with the band. The meeting was followed by the traditional “running down the hill” by band freshmen and words of welcome from President James P. Clements, Athletic Director Dan Radakovich and me. Congratulations to Director of Bands Mark Spede and his outstanding staff on the start to another great year!

Milestones

Other high points over the past month include the 50th anniversary celebration of the Architecture + Health program at Clemson University.

Means family
We were honored to host the family of George C. Means Jr. at the Architecture + Health 50th anniversary celebration. Here they are joined by Becca and Ben Rook, whose recent gift ensured that the program studio will carry the Means name. Image credit: Jacob Dean

About 70 alumni of the program came to campus for some or all of the events, where they were joined by more than 80 honorary alumni, special guests, faculty and staff, family members and current students. Together they celebrated a generous $100,000 gift to the program from Ben and Becca Rook of Greenville, and the legacy of program founder George C. Means Jr. The Rook gift named the Architecture + Health studio in honor of Means. We are grateful that Means’ sons, Kenneth and Calvin, were able to attend, in addition to their wives and two of George Means’ grandsons. Thanks again to the Rooks and to the director of the Architecture + Health program, David Allison, for making it a memorable anniversary.

I also hosted a dinner last month to celebrate the newly tenured and promoted faculty members in the College. Congratulations to the following faculty for reaching this career milestone:

  • Amit Bein, History
  • Nic Brown, English
  • Ufuk Ersoy, Architecture
  • Anjali Joseph, Architecture
  • Johannes Schmidt, Languages (German)
  • Will Stockton, English
  • Eric Touya, Languages (French)

Finally, I had the privilege to end my summer as music director of the 2018 Disneyland All-American College Band. The band members completed their final performances in the park and attended a farewell banquet.  I am grateful to the Disneyland Creative Entertainment team for supporting the All-American College Band for 48 years and the opportunities the program has created for student musicians. During that time, more than 1,000 students have participated in the program, including two former Clemson students, Maureen Maney and David Agee. It was a great end of the summer for me.

In closing, I want to express my best wishes to all for the start of a new school year and I hope to see you sometime this fall in Tigertown.

Go Tigers!

Rick

Disneyland All-American College Band
The 2018 Disneyland All-American College Band wraps up the summer season.