Author: Karen Land

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

He has taught a variety of courses including German drama, 18^th- and 19^th-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 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 received a promotion to full professor in the Department of Languages. His research and teaching interests include 19^th– to 21^st-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).

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

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 50^th anniversary celebration of the Architecture + Health program at Clemson University.

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

Dear Friends,

There is no doubt summer is almost over – more students are arriving daily, faculty are stopping by the office to say hello, and there is a decided increase in pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Although the number of days remain the same between spring commencement and the arrival of students for the fall semester, I have no doubt that time somehow seems to shrink every year.

I have to admit, however, that through summer, the weekly freshman orientation sessions remain exciting for me to see. Matriculating freshman and transfer students bring wide-eyed enthusiasm to campus for a two-day immersion in academic and social life. I love seeing the students beginning to make friends for a lifetime, meet their academic advisors and navigate campus with a map or iPhone in hand. As faculty also start to appear in greater numbers, there is an unmistakable sense of anticipation from all for the new academic year.

Although the pace of academic life is markedly slower in the summer months, we have news to report, new faculty to welcome and a new year to plan.

Law, Liberty and Justice

I am extraordinarily proud of Felicia Finney, a philosophy major with an emphasis in our Law, Liberty and Justice program who interned at the South Carolina Supreme Court this summer.

This prestigious internship is even more meaningful for Felicia because her grandfather, Ernest A. Finney Jr., was the first African American appointed to the South Carolina Supreme Court since the Reconstruction Era. Finney, who was later elected its chief justice, sadly passed away in December.

In Felicia’s application essay for her internship, she wrote of her dream to become a defense attorney, a dream that “stems from the fact that I believe the law will allow me to create a voice for those who don’t often feel that they are heard.”

The internship is one of several offered through the Department of Philosophy and Religion for students interested in law and government.

A new face in performing arts

We recently welcomed Becky Becker to campus as the new chair of the Department of Performing Arts. Becker, who earned her Ph.D. at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, succeeds David Hartmann.

Hartmann, who successfully completed eight years as chair, is looking forward to returning to his full-time faculty status and professional theatrical design work. I am looking forward to seeing Becker’s thoughtful and strong arts leadership throughout the country begin to impact our students, faculty and programs in the Brooks Center.

Awards of note

Several notable awards and recognitions were announced at the end of the school year and over the summer. I hope you didn’t miss them (and stay tuned for more announcements soon):

• Rhondda Robinson Thomas was announced as the new Calhoun Lemon Professor of Literature;
• Joe Burgett was presented with the 2018 Alumni Master Teacher award at Clemson;
• Michael LeMahieu was awarded an American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship;
• Jae Takeuchi received the Hamako Ito Chaplin Memorial Award for excellence in Japanese language teaching at the college level;
• Benjamin White was granted a summer stipend from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
• Susanna Ashton was awarded the Charles W. Chesnutt Society’s Sylvia Lyons Render Award, along with Bill Hardwig, the co-editor on their recent teaching guide on Chesnutt.
• Anjali Joseph was named the 2018 Researcher of the Year by Healthcare Design Magazine.

Congratulations to all!

Mentoring opportunity

I am happy to share the news that the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities is participating in an online mentoring program here at Clemson. CAAH On Deck is our new program that connects CAAH students with professionals in similar fields. Current students will hear more about this exciting new program in the fall. We are continuing to add alumni to our pool of mentors. If you would like to join the program, please fill out a professional online profile on CAAH On Deck.

Architecture + Health milestone

It is heartening to see the latest national recognition Joseph and her research team have received for their efforts in designing a safer operating room through the RIPCHD.OR (Realizing Improved Patient Care through Human-Centered Design in the Operating Room) project. This honor is a reminder of the important work going on at Clemson in the field of health-related design. It also reflects on the leadership of Architecture + Health director David Allison and the director of the School of Architecture, Kate Schwennsen.

This month, the graduate program in Architecture + Health marks its 50th year. The Architecture + Health studio will now carry the name of program founder George C. Means Jr., thanks to the latest gift from Ben and Becca Rook of Greenville. The Rooks’ generous long-term support of this program and its faculty will have a lasting impact on Clemson students. In addition, their gift will ensure that for years to come our students will know the Means name and his reputation as an extraordinary teacher and mentor. We are most grateful to the Rooks.

I close with the sad news of the June passing of Sybil Miller. Sybil was the departmental staff member who served as the “front door” for students and faculty in the Department of Performing Arts. Sybil was a tremendous asset for the department and will be missed by all.

Best wishes to all as we build up to the beginning of the 2018-2019 academic year. I wish all of you a refreshing and restful end to the summer.

Go Tigers!

Rick

An invitation to our alumni and other Clemson friends:

Want to help the next generation of students succeed?

Join CAAH On Deck, a new online mentoring program that connects students in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities and professionals in similar fields.

Here’s how it works: All you have to do is fill out a professional online profile on CAAH On Deck. Students will be able to search CAAH On Deck to connect with mentors whose interests and expertise match their own career aspirations.

All communication between students and mentors takes place through CAAH On Deck. You can decide how many students you’d like to mentor and whether you’d like to advise students on a short-term or long-term basis.

You can customize your experience and your privacy is protected. Short-term mentoring may involve answering questions from students about how to write a cover letter or resume or how to apply for internships or balance life and work. Longer-term mentoring connects professionals with students for regular visits in-person or through video links.

We hope you’ll join us and set up your profile. Our students want to realize their dreams, and you can help them achieve them.

Current Clemson University students will be learning more about the program this fall.

We’d love to CU On Deck! Click here to join!

Dear Friends,

Greetings from just outside Disneyland in Anaheim, California. As you may have seen above, I am honored to have the opportunity to spend a few weeks rehearsing some of the finest college musicians in the United States as music director of the 2018 Disney All-American Band.  The quality of the student musicians in the All-American College Band is world-class, as is the Walt Disney Company.

During my 30-year relationship with Disney, I’ve noticed two striking similarities between Clemson and Disney. First is a laser focus on customer service. At Clemson University, we are determined to provide our students with a world-class educational and living/learning experience, one which gives our graduates a full set of tools to succeed in life and make the world a better place. The Disney Company offers guests a one-of-a-kind experience they will never forget, and one that cannot be replicated outside the park. Disney’s focus on customer service is unparalleled and its attention to detail is truly remarkable. A culture of customer service pervades everything – the custodial staff, management, meticulous landscaping and stunning entertainment and attractions.

The second similarity I have noted this week is branding, and a neverending quest to protect the brand and everything that it stands for. When you see Walt Disney’s famous signature or Mickey Mouse’s ears, you know it represents a company that provides world-class entertainment and family experiences you can trust. When you see the iconic Clemson tiger paw, you know it represents a high-quality, Top-25 public university and athletic teams that are always competitive. Building a brand takes decades. Protecting the brand is a 24/7, 365-days-a-year job that, as we all have seen recently, can be jeopardized in a blink of an eye.

I am thrilled to spend a few weeks in California, and appreciate the opportunity to help spread the Clemson brand west and to support the best live entertainment company in the world.

STEAM rises at Artisphere

In May, a large contingent of Clemson students and faculty showcased our collaborative work in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) at Greenville’s Artisphere festival. An annual highlight of Artisphere is the Clemson STEAM tent, where interactive, educational demonstrations are on full display. Approximately 75 student and faculty volunteers worked together the weekend after graduation to highlight our student and faculty projects.

Thousands of visitors explored and participated in activities that featured several projects that grew out of research in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. Visitors programmed drawing robots in “R2D2 Meets Rembrandt,” developed by Barbara Ramirez. They learned how to draw in one- and two-point perspective, and how to transform ideas from paper to reality in “2D Drawing to 3D Models,” developed by Shannon Robert, Will Avery and Matthew Leckenbusch. Guests played the Clemson carillon bells remotely in “Coding for the Carillon: Automating Clemson’s Bell Tower,” developed by Linda Dzuris and a team of Creative Inquiry students. Visitors experienced how theater lighting affects color perception in Tony Penna’s “Color Booth,” and they explored how to create shape-shifting structures and materials through origami. In addition to all of these activities focused on STEAM education, Valerie Zimany led student and faculty volunteers from the Clemson Department of Art as they spent Artisphere weekend presenting live demonstrations.

Congratulations to all of our participating students and faculty for representing Clemson with such distinction.

College awards

The 2018 class of Creativity Professors was announced at last month’s end-of-year faculty/staff meeting. In the School of the Arts, Anthony Bernarducci (Performing Arts) was announced, as was David Lee (Architecture) from the School of Design + Building and Ben White (Philosophy and Religion), who will represent the School of the Humanities. Congratulations to these deserving faculty members.

I also announced the peer-reviewed Dean’s Excellence faculty and staff award winners:

• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching: Rachel Moore (History)
• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research: Angela Naimou (English)
• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service: Jan Holmevik (English)
• Dean’s Team Player Award: Shannon Baldwin (Dean’s Office)
• Dean’s Customer Service Award: Nancy Martin (Brooks Center)

Congratulations to each of these faculty and staff members for being recognized by their peers for their outstanding contributions to the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities!

Promotions and tenure

Finally, I want to recognize and congratulate these faculty members whose well-deserved promotions were recently announced:

• Amit Bein (History), promotion to full professor
• Nic Brown (English), tenure and promotion to associate professor
• Ufuk Ersoy (Architecture), tenure and promotion to associate professor
• Anjali Joseph (Architecture), tenure and promotion to full professor
• Johannes Schmidt (Languages), promotion to full professor
• Will Stockton (English), promotion to full professor
• Eric Touya (Languages), promotion to full professor

• Kim Misener Dunn (Languages), promotion to senior lecturer
• Michael Hannen (Philosophy and Religion), promotion to senior lecturer
• Allison Hinds (Languages), promotion to senior lecturer
• Eric Lapin (Performing Arts), promotion to senior lecturer
• Ellory Schmucker (Languages), promotion to senior lecturer
• Robert Stephens (Philosophy and Religion), promotion to senior lecturer
• Kenneth Widgren (Languages), promotion to senior lecturer

In closing, best wishes to all from the “Happiest Place on Earth,”

Rick

Ray Huff, director of the Clemson Architecture Center in Charleston, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and founder of  Huff + Gooden Architects, delivered this keynote address April 6, 2018, in Memorial Auditorium, which adjoins Tillman Hall at Clemson University. Huff has graciously allowed us to share his stirring remarks in written form.

By Ray Huff, FAIA

We are here today to honor and celebrate your achievements. This is a proud day for you, for your family, and for the university. You are being recognized for outstanding accomplishments. For standing above the crowd. For a dedication to purpose…. and today, the university community honors you.

I am humbled on this special day to be asked to provide a congratulatory message. In preparing my comments, I thought long about what I may have wanted to hear today if I were in your place. So, I asked myself what “wisdoms” am I able to convey in the spirit of this august occasion. How might I draw from my own experiences that might convey a sensibility honed over 70 years.

It’s been more than 50 years since I first visited this venerable institution. As I look back over my shoulder, I can trace so much of who I am and what I’ve become to that early experience. So, please indulge me and allow me for a moment to share a story. My story, for I would like to think it has bearing on this very moment.

In this great room, I sat with other first year students – Rats, we were affectionately called – for orientation. This very room. A room figuratively built by Benjamin “Pitchfork” Tillman.” At the time, I did not know his story and his connection to Clemson. Unbelievably, despite growing up in Charleston, I had never heard of Clemson University until Harvey Gantt desegregated the college in 1963. Which, by the way, must have truly upset Mr. Tillman. You might ask, “how could you, in high school preparing for college, not have ever heard of this widely regarded state institution?” Well, you need to understand that at that time, South Carolina consisted of parallel universes. One for white people and one for people of color.

In the greatest of forums, known euphemistically as the Black Barbershop, I once heard a fellow customer excitedly telling us of a classmate of his, who was returning to Charleston after a long and apparently distinguished military career. The customer was very animated. Excited. Incredulous even. So proud. His classmate had journeyed far and wide since high school. Achieving the military rank of full colonel. At the end of his service career, he was returning from whilst he’d come. The customer was beside himself with pride for he had not been especially successful in his own life from what I could ascertain. Though while so very proud of his classmate, he was nonetheless exasperated. Finally, in the middle of his histrionics, he abruptly stopped. And after a long pause… he said with incredulity, “Nobody told me I COULD be a colonel.”

No one, during his childhood, his schooling and later, believed enough in him, to tell him He, TOO, Could Have Been A Colonel. Imagine, if only anyone cared….

“NOBODY TOLD ME I COULD BE A COLONEL”

Like I said, I grew up in a different South Carolina than what you see today. The South Carolina of my youth was a segregated place where some thought then, and even now, that old Pitchfork Ben was a man of decency and courage. I was fortunate however. My mother, an elementary school teacher, came from a family of academics. She completed her Master’s of Education at University of Pennsylvania in the late ’50s as a single parent, and did her post-graduate work at University of Miami. My grandfather was a college professor for 40 years. My grandmother was the first black state social worker in South Carolina. Yes, I came from relative privilege.

But, even so, my personal horizon was supposed to be pre-programmed. I was supposed to go to what we now refer to as a “historic black college or university.” When I told my guidance counselor I wanted to study at Clemson, she told me that I should not apply to Clemson; that I would not succeed there.

Fortunately for me, I was either too innocent or naïve to know I wouldn’t. And why not?

For reasons that are still inexplicable to me, I chose architecture. Although I knew next to nothing about it. At the time, if one wanted to study architecture at Clemson, you had to first take a standardized examination in addition to the SAT. The Architecture Aptitude Examination was mandated for any prospective architecture student. So, my mother and I drove to Clemson and I sat for the exam on a Saturday in the spring of my senior year in high school. The exam was completely baffling to me. Intended to test one’s aptitude for the arts, sciences, language, visualization, and other essential disciplines one supposedly needed to be an architect.

Well, despite all, my background did not prepare me well for this manner of testing. I was not especially successful. But, despite that I was accepted to study architecture and my personal enlightenment began.

On my first day of my freshman class, I exited the food line at Harcombe Dining Hall, and stood there with tray in hand, bewildered. I’d never been around that many white people in my life. Then someone called out and invited me to his table where he was sitting alone. Like all the others he was white. He said, “have a seat.” Then, “you don’t remember me, do you?”. I didn’t. He said, “well, I delivered newspapers to your house for years.” His name is, believe it or not, John Quincy Adams, really! His welcome was re-affirming in ways I cannot properly put in words to this day. I’ll never forget his generosity. His simple act reinforced me and my belief that I too belonged here. After all, he had been my paperboy!

This “high seminary of learning,” Clemson, gave to me the gift of knowing that I could do anything. One of the greatest gifts a university can bestow is an Awareness of a larger world out there and preparation to enter that world. A world of knowledge, curiosity, insight, and lessons, to be garnered…

… it all began with that most elemental of gestures… empathy.

50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. Dino Harvey, a fellow student, and I hitchhiked to Atlanta to attend Dr. King’s funeral. We had a dime between us. A truck driver picked us up and dropped us off on the outskirts of Atlanta. After a short while, a muscle car full of young men with cigarette packs tucked in a fold of their tee shirt sleeves offered us a ride. Dino and I looked at each other and said, “Dr. King, we know you’re up there, so please make sure these boys do the right thing.” You have to understand the moment. King was just assassinated. Cities across America were burning. Mistrust was everywhere. Fear and anger filled the air around us. Here we are, two young black students in suits sitting in a car with four young white men, who on the surface couldn’t be more different then us. Yet, as we entered Atlanta, we talked with them about Dr. King. They did not agree much with King’s positions. They weren’t convinced the races could be fully integrated. But still, they were willing to listen to us and then they drove us deep into the black district of Atlanta so we could get to the funeral on time… tolerance.

“NOBODY TOLD ME I COULD BE A COLONEL”

Remember, this was the ’60s, a time of tremendous social upheaval in America. The world seemed upside down – Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, ’60s Generation – in so many ways that you simply wanted to “drop out”, as the adage proclaimed.

My first job in Florida was with a large architecture firm that designed high rise after high rise without passion, commitment, or integrity. This was untenable to me. However, an extraordinary architect lived and practiced right across the street from where I lived. For months, I approached him about a job but he was not in position to hire. Finally, I went to Don with a proposal: if he’ll allow me, I would work nights for free. I knew this would be a pivotal time for me becoming an architect. After a couple of months, he hired me full time and I attribute much of my professional design sensibilities to that experience… tenacity.

“NOBODY TOLD ME I COULD BE A COLONEL”

Eventually, I returned to Charleston and established a design practice. But, I knew that in returning to my hometown I would not be the same unformed person that left a dozen years ago. Charleston was a place that valued conformity and placidity, and still does. I vowed then that I would return as my Own Man. An Educated Man. A Man of Ideas. Not simply someone beholden to old precepts.

Over time, I built an international architecture practice with offices in Charleston and New York with another Clemson graduate, Mario Gooden. Our primary interest involved exploring architecture and its relationship to culture, memory, and knowledge. We were not in the “business” of architecture, we sought to make architecture an arbiter of the public domain and to reflect the values and ideals of our communities and of our time.

In 1987, President Barker, then dean of College of Architecture, approached me to establish a new Clemson center in Charleston, which became the Clemson Architecture Center (CAC.C). After 30 years, the CAC.C is housed in the new Clemson Design Center in Charleston, a historic mill building accommodating 100 students in five different master’s and undergraduate programs. The CDCC is dedicated to Clemson’s mission of public service, research, and preparing young people like yourselves to be empathic, tolerant, tenacious citizens of the world.

“NOBODY TOLD ME I COULD BE A COLONEL”

In the field of architecture and in many other disciplines, the days of where you simply operate alone in a vacuum are over. Done.

We all now operate globally and simultaneously in a sphere that is not bounded by synthetic borders. We are confronted with so much information and we have had to adapt to operating seamlessly in multiple environments and contexts, simultaneously.

But, don’t let people tell you that things are all going bad. That WE are losing our way. WE are simply re-aligning. Civilizations always have. And will always continue to do so. Don’t despair… do something.

Some of you have all too often heard disparaging comments about being a Millennial. It is said, “you’re obsessed with technology. You’re unmotivated. You don’t want to work hard. You don’t even want to buy a car… You’re not ready for the challenges ahead.”

Let’s put this misrepresentation to rest….

Every preceding generation has thought the current generation unworthy, unfocused. It’s a cycle. Just like everything else. It just moves faster. Don’t be dismayed by the naysayers.

Like generations before who faced untold hardships such as wars, social upheaval, economic collapse, and other devastating events, you too will face seismic challenges. In a time of uncertainty, wayward leadership, and a climate of animosity, the burden is on you to reshape this world into a place of decency, empathy, and tolerance.

Now, I’ve told you a bit about myself, but today is not about me, it’s about you and what you have accomplished. About your commitment.

About your willingness to put aside the mundane to be your best.

Look about this room…. what do you see? A potpourri of tones, genders, and cross sections of the Clemson family, all with purpose and so much yet to discover.

Determine what really matters.

Figure out for yourselves what’s important and build scaffolding to strengthen your beliefs

Look what you have already accomplished. You are being honored for being extraordinary.

Be Empathetic.

Be Tolerant.

Be Tenacious.

Remember…

You are the future

Open your eyes

Open your hearts

Release your spirit

Listen to yourself

Make your life mean something

Determine what REALLY matters.

 Are you going to make a difference? ……I’d say YES.

 And remember:

“NO ONE TOLD ME I COULD BE A COLONEL.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.

Dear Friends,

We have reached the end of the 2017-2018 academic year and sighs of relief and cheers of joy are resonating throughout campus – from students and faculty alike!  In the words of T.S. Eliot, noted British author and poet, “April is the cruelest month.” Although we know Eliot spent time at Harvard and Oxford, it’s unlikely he faced the types of grading deadlines, end-of-year pressures and other academic rituals that are common at the modern university.

April was also one of our happiest months, as we paused to celebrate student achievements, congratulate upcoming graduates, recognize faculty accomplishments, celebrate the work of our staff, reflect on all of the successes of the prior year, and look forward to a summer that takes on a slightly more relaxed pace. Faculty members often use the summer to travel, reset their research agenda and plan for the upcoming year. Before long, however, next year’s first-year students will arrive for summer orientation, and the cycle of the academic year will be renewed.

Looking back over the last several weeks, I am amazed at how many activities and student events we enjoyed. This year’s Lit Fest was a huge success, with Paul Beatty and other great authors giving inspired readings. Our music and art students presented their capstone projects with amazing creativity; our design students completed their final projects with remarkable ingenuity; and many of our students submitted term papers that demonstrated their research achievements.  On my way across campus yesterday, the academic year was beautifully captured as I saw two coeds posing with their mortarboards and Deshaun Watson jerseys in front of the Tiger Cub. What a great picture!

From my office, I see students saying goodbye for the summer and taking the unmistakable “end-of-the-semester” stroll across the library bridge. As we transition into the summer, I am reminded that the absence of students on campus is temporary, but we can look forward to fewer meetings over the next two months and possibly less traffic.

Campus accolades

Congratulations are in order for a number of CAAH students and faculty who are receiving University-level awards this week:

• Alumni Master Teacher Award – Joe Burgett, Construction Science and Management
• Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award – Matthew Leckenbusch, Performing Arts
• Frankie O. Felder Graduate Student Award – Deborah Wingler, Ph.D. program, Architecture + Health Concentration in Planning, Design and the Built Environment
• Thomas Green Clemson Award for Excellence – Cynthia Haynes, English
• Phil and Mary Bradley Award for Mentoring in Creative Inquiry – Arelis Moore de Peralta, Department of Languages

I also want to recognize Jan Holmevik of English, who recently took the gavel as the new president of the Faculty Senate and Matt Powers of the Landscape Architecture program, the most recent CAAH graduate from the President’s Leadership Institute. Congratulations to all these members of the College who have been recognized by their peers for their outstanding teaching, research and/or service to Clemson University.

I close with the sad news of the passing of Nick Peck, the longtime Tiger Band announcer and author of band’s signature “The Band That Shakes the Southland” tagline.  Nick was one of the first people I met upon my arrival at Clemson and he will be missed by all of us in the Clemson family.

Congratulations to the Class of 2018 and best wishes to all for a fun, productive and relaxing summer.

Sincerely,

Rick

Dear Friends,

Where did March go? As we come into the full bloom of spring, it’s a pleasure to reflect on the last few weeks and attempt to understand how time can accelerate with such abandon. I look at the calendar and have a hard time processing how there are less than 15 days remaining in the spring semester. It seems like football season just ended and we were enjoying the holiday break – now the end of the year is upon us.

March is one of the most enjoyable months of the academic year (and not just because of spring break)! It is a month filled with opportunities to meet candidates who are visiting campus for positions in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. The incredible power of the Clemson national brand is reaffirmed as I talk to the impressive candidates from across the country, and sometimes from across the world, who want to join our faculty. (A candidate even came from Australia for an interview).

One successful candidate is Dr. Becky Becker, who will be joining us as our new chair of the Department of Performing Arts this summer. Dr. Becker is currently Professor of Theatre and Assistant Director of the Center for Global Engagement at Columbus State University in Georgia. She is very active in the Kennedy Center American Theatre Festival and the Southeastern Theatre Conference, and has expansive experience in global engagement through her service as the study abroad coordinator at her school.

I am also pleased to announce that Karen Land has been promoted to Public Information Director for the College, following Jeannie Davis’ retirement. Karen is well-positioned to provide outstanding leadership for our communication efforts. Prior to her arrival at Clemson, she served as a News and Media Specialist for Arts and Culture at Indiana University.  She has a Bachelor of Arts, Fine Art and Journalism degree from Indiana University and is a passionate advocate for the arts, design and the humanities. I look forward to her promoting news of the good work of our students, faculty and staff.

Last month we dedicated the new public art piece, “Foundation,” in Lee III. It’s a stunning piece of metalwork that beautifully reflects light that changes hour by hour, according to the angle of the sun across Lee Hall. Congratulations to the students and faculty from our Atelier InSite Creative Inquiry project, who facilitated this project and to the artists Volkan Alkanoglu and Matthew Au for their work.

Transformational travel

Speaking of spring break, last month several members of the Clemson Architecture Foundation Board of Directors joined Director of the School of Architecture Kate Schwennsen and me in a site visit to our programs in Barcelona and Genoa. I can confidently report that we continue to give our students transformational educational experiences through our Fluid Campus program. One of the highlights of the trip was an exclusive “backstage tour” of the Gaudi’s incredible Sagrada Familia, where we were able to see how laser imaging and 3-D printing have come together to dramatically accelerate the projected completion date to 2026. A special note of gratitude to Miguel Roldan (Barcelona) and Sylvia Carrol (Genoa) who provide wonderful leadership for our European-based Fluid Campus programs.

Transformational leaders

On March 9 we inducted eight new members to the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities Hall of Fame. Congratulations to this year’s class, who have made significant and lasting contributions to the College:

• Clifton S.M. “Chip” Egan, College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities
• Thomas Phifer, FAIA, School of Architecture
• John Acorn, Department of Art
• Roger Liska, Department of Construction Science and Management
• Art Young, Department of English
• Jerry Reel, Department of History
• Mickey Harder, Department of Performing Arts
• Betsy Goodale, Department of Philosophy and Religion

Above and beyond

You may have heard about our recent encounter with bats in the Brooks Theatre. With the change of weather, a colony of bats became active in the theatre, and we needed to temporarily move some of our April events off-campus. Our Brooks Center production team and administration have gone above and beyond the call of duty. They took swift action to ensure student safety, and to produce performances at alternate sites. Since I did not get bat remediation training in grad school, I am deeply grateful for their work!

I close with news of another national ranking for one of our programs. Our Department of Landscape Architecture was recently ranked 5th in the country by “The Best Colleges” website. Congratulations to the faculty and staff in Landscape Architecture for this prestigious recognition.

To our faculty, staff, students, donors, and friends – thank you for all you do for the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. To our prospective students – I hope you will join us!

Best wishes to all for the month of April.

Sincerely,

Rick

Dear Friends,

February has disappeared and the promise of warm weather has campus abuzz with classes in high gear, faculty immersed in teaching and scholarship, and the spring semester racing toward spring break. Like clockwork, the pace of the spring semester accelerates as the temperatures rise. As both students and faculty look forward to a brief break, the last six weeks of the academic year are filled with the anticipation of final projects, recitals, exhibitions and exams.

One of the joys of academic life is the renewal of the process each year. One class of students goes into the world with the value of a Clemson degree in hand, and simultaneously, we look forward to the next generation of Tigers joining us in August. As the myriad of events that mark the end of another year come and go, we begin to look forward to the next year with student recruitment, fall class scheduling and faculty hiring in process. It’s a cycle that never fails to renew a spirit of rebirth and excitement.

In early February, I was honored to share some of our accomplishments and strategic plans at the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities with the Clemson University Board of Trustees. It was an opportunity for me to reflect on the core values of our College and our opportunities to transform the next generation of students. The report was well-received, and I am appreciative of the support of my colleagues in putting together the report. I was grateful that the board showed their appreciation of the value of the arts, design and humanities within the Clemson mission.

The Board of Trustees recently presented three CAAH faculty with the 2017 Award for Excellence, in acknowledgment of significant national accolades. History professor Maribel Morey was honored as an Andrew Carnegie Fellow, and Victor J. Vitanza and David Blakesley of English were honored as Rhetoric Society of America Fellows. Among the board’s 2017 Staff Awards, Linda Tindal was named Student Choice winner. Tindal is coordinator for the women’s leadership and Pan African studies programs, in addition to her work on behalf of two president’s commissions.

Last week we received more excellent news with the announcement that English professor Rhondda Robinson Thomas had won a Whiting Public Engagement Fellowship. The award will allow Thomas to create the traveling museum exhibition “Black Clemson: From Enslavement to Integration” around her groundbreaking research on the history of Clemson.

I am extraordinarily proud of all of these members of the CAAH family and their awards.

Jeannie Davis, who has been the College’s public information officer for the past 12 years, retired at the end of February. Jeannie has been instrumental in the college’s brand, messaging and spirit and will be missed by all of us. She has been the voice and heart of the college and a trusted member of my leadership team. I wish her joy and happiness in retirement.

In closing, I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement of our students, faculty and staff. It’s a great time to be a Tiger.

Sincerely,

Rick

Dear Friends,

Our students, faculty and alumni constantly remind me of their talent, creativity and thoughtful interpretations of the world around us through their inspired work.

Over the past month, I had the opportunity to see several noteworthy projects that provided tangible evidence of how the college’s focus on collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and different forms of communication are resulting in world-class research and artistic accomplishment.

At the same time, I was struck by how critically important our work in CAAH is at Clemson. Research by industry thought leaders such as Google, IBM and the World Economic Forum indicates that employers are looking for graduates with a balance between “hard skills” in technology and the personal attributes that enable them to interact effectively in the workplace – the strong communication and collaboration skills we focus on in the College.

In January, I was proud to see Todd Anderson’s woodcut print interpretation of the shrinking glaciers in Glacier National Park on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This is a remarkable accomplishment as The Met rarely acquires art from living, academic-based artists. All 15 copies of Anderson’s co-authored book “The Last Glacier” have been acquired, not only by The Met, but also the Library of Congress, New York Public Library, Yale, Wellesley, and of course, Clemson! For an inside look at Todd’s process, see the 2017 Clemson World magazine article “Thin Ice.”

Our design programs in Charleston are thriving in their new home at the Cigar Factory. The latest accomplishment was the January unveiling of a full-size mock operating room that was the product of a $4.1M grant from the Department Health and Human Services to improve healthcare through human-centered design. In the transformational project spearheaded by Anjali Joseph and David Allison, Clemson faculty and students are developing a safer, flexible operating room that focuses on the changing needs of doctors, nurses and patients.  Clemson is partnering with the Medical University of South Carolina. The project, “Realizing Improved Patient Care Through Human-Centered Design in the OR,” has already won two national awards for conceptual design and the reimagined operating room will be installed at MUSC’s Ambulatory Surgery Center in the future. As industry professionals agreed at the unveiling, Clemson’s Health + Architecture program is unparalleled in the country.

Last week, best-selling author Ron Rash gave an inspired reading of some of his poems and an extended piece from an upcoming novel. Ron, who earned a Master of Arts in English from Clemson, paid tribute to his college mentors, including three influential members of the Clemson faculty who recently passed away: Frank Day, Bill Koon and Roger Rollin. Ron said he “owes so much to this university.” His writing provides deep insights into the roots of Appalachian culture, and I am grateful to him for sharing his time and work with an enthusiastic audience.

Finally, be sure to watch for an upcoming “Clemson Moments” commercial during the Winter Olympics that will feature Rayshad Dorsey, a 2017 architecture grad who is now attending Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design on a full-ride scholarship.

It’s a great time to be a Clemson Tiger, and I offer you warm wishes for February.

Sincerely and Go Tigers,

Rick