Category: College of Arts and Humanities

Dear Friends,

As many of you are aware, I have come to the end of my time as dean of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.

I write this month’s column with many memories and an overwhelming sense of gratitude and sincere appreciation for all the staff, faculty, alumni, friends and students who have made my service to the College an opportunity of a lifetime. Success in life is measured by the relationships we make and maintain, the work we do, and the accomplishments made possible through a collective spirit of collaboration and teamwork.

I look back to my first years as dean and recall leading the implementation of an 18 percent budget cut in response to the Great Recession of 2008. One of my proudest achievements was allocating the $3.1 million budget cut without letting go of any faculty or staff, and maintaining quality within each of our academic degree programs. The austerity and lean budgets during this time were difficult to manage and sustain; however, with a supportive leadership team, we were able to weather the storm and our College became stronger through the shared hardship.

The audacious announcement in 1995 to merge the College of Architecture and the College of Liberal Arts was a decision I believe formed the single most distinctive and valuable trait of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. The vision and passionate belief in how disciplines ranging from design and building to the arts and humanities could move forward as a single unit was clearly and thoughtfully articulated and implemented by Founding Dean Jim Barker. At the time, it seemed like an improbable collection of faculty and academic departments that had few commonalities. Since then, we have successfully embraced a shared vision and strategic direction that, through a collective ethos of collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and communication, has evolved into one of the most distinctive, and successful, academic colleges in the United States. I have always felt Jim Barker was our guiding spirit during this transition and I am thankful to Jim for his mentorship, during my time as chair of the Department of Performing Arts, and now as dean of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.

I have no doubt the College gave itself a resounding vote of self-confidence when we elected to remain as one college, with the same structure, in the University’s most recent reorganization.  Our work – and our value as a lynchpin of the ClemsonForward strategic plan – reinforces the notion that the vision, which began as a curiosity in 1995, now seems like a bold statement of national significance and academic excellence.

I am proud to have had the opportunity over these past nine years to work with forward-thinking faculty to create several new undergraduate degrees, including World Cinema, Women’s Leadership, Pan African Studies and now a Bachelor of Arts in Art, in addition to a Ph.D. in Digital History. I am equally proud of the remarkable growth of our existing programs, and the exponential growth of the national and international reputation of our programs and faculty. The fact that our faculty are nationally and internationally recognized teachers, scholars, and artists is undisputed. The fact that our College’s next freshman class is projected to grow by more than 18 percent over last year reassures me that we are on the right track and provides convincing evidence of our quality and strong reputation.

I also am proud to have been part of the evolution of our efforts in the humanities, including the birth of the College’s Humanities Hub and the upcoming new home for the humanities within an expanded and renovated Daniel Hall. This provides further evidence that Clemson is embracing the value of a liberal arts education and it is a testament to the work that we have accomplished over the past several years. I am thrilled to have had a hand in creating the College’s Race and the University initiative at a critical moment in Clemson history.

During my 37 years at Clemson, I have seen the humanities evolve from a collection of departments and faculty focused on the delivery of a quality general education curriculum to four vibrant humanities departments with numerous high-quality degree programs – and continuing pride in delivering quality general education classes. As I’ve often written in this column, the quality of our world-class faculty who discover new knowledge and ways of thinking never ceases to amaze me.

Through the dedicated efforts of many, including our development team, faculty, friends and the administration, we have closed on more than $35 million in private gifts, bequests and other private giving to the College over the past nine years. These fundraising successes are capped by our first Academic Cornerstone Partnership gift of $5 million, which will be announced soon.  I share these amazing successes with gratitude to many, including the Advancement Board for Real Estate Development, CSM Corporate Partners, Clemson Architectural Foundation, Clemson University Tiger Band Association, the Friends of the Brooks Center, the Humanities Advancement Board, and the supporters of Clemson Visual Arts for their dedicated efforts on our behalf, their unselfish giving and devotion to philanthropy. Through their efforts, our students and faculty have resources for academic excellence that would never had been possible without their support. I am grateful to each of you who support the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities in so many ways.

Another accomplishment that I will always cherish is the opportunity to help acquire a U.S. trademark for our “Fluid Campus” program. I will be forever thankful for the opportunities to regularly visit our campuses and students in Charleston, Genoa and Barcelona during my tenure. Once I saw the transformational power that these off-campus programs provide for our students, I clearly understood the power of the Fluid Campus®️.

At the risk of leaving many things out, I do have some special memories that stand out over the past nine years:

• Introducing Harvey Gantt at the University Convocation in honor of the 50^th anniversary of integration at Clemson.
• The dedication of Lee III, a facility Architectural Digest cited as one of the best examples of new university architecture.
• The addition of a stunning new “front door” to the Brooks Theatre that improves accessibility.
• The amazing work and successes of the faculty, staff and students involved in the Solar Decathlon competition in 2015.
• The outstanding work of our public relations team that gives the College a visual identity and promotes the efforts of our students and faculty.
• Significant improvements to the College’s business operations.
• Two National Football Championships.
• The Centennial Celebration of the School of Architecture.
• The 30^th anniversary of the Clemson Architecture program in Charleston and the 45^th Anniversary of the Daniel Center in Genoa.
• The successful fundraising, design and completion of the Tiger Band Plaza.
• Producing the opening ceremony of the “Will to Lead” capital campaign.
• Service to Clemson as the founding chair of the Stewardship Task Force.
• The friendships that have been forged with current and former department chairs and academic deans in the College.
• The relationships I have made with literally hundreds of faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the College.

In my time at Clemson, I have seen extraordinary change. The sense of community, shared purpose, and focus on the undergraduate experience will always be valued. As Clemson has successfully evolved to a Top 25 university with R1 research productivity, I am thrilled to have been part of this legacy.

Finally, but most importantly, I am extraordinarily grateful to my wife, Cissie, and my three daughters for their unending support, patience and help maintaining a sense of balance, love and family. Without their help, I would not have survived 20 years in higher education administration. Having a little extra time with my family – which now includes five grandchildren – will be part of my next chapter.

As Joe Sherman, Class of 1934 said, “There’s something in these hills.” It’s been a remarkable journey. From a 29-year-old assistant band director to an outgoing college dean, this has been the journey of a lifetime and I am grateful to everyone who has shared this amazing ride.

With best wishes and gratitude to all – Go Tigers!

Rick

Dear Friends,

The College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities honored its third class of inductees into our Hall of Fame on March 8 when 11 new members were inducted. More than 70 faculty, students, staff and friends were on hand to honor this year’s class and were treated to performances by the Clemson University Jazz Combo and String Quartet.

I was honored to help recognize this year’s inductees who were nominated by departments in the College. Each inductee was presented a remarkable print that President Emeritus Jim Barker sketched of Hardin Hall, which shows a reflection of Tillman Hall in a window. Each member of the Hall of Fame will be honored in perpetuity on a plaque in the dean’s office.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees are:

• John Butler
• William A. Caldwell
• Elizabeth Carney
• Steven Grosby
• C. Douglass Harper
• Peter R. Lee
• Frank Lucas, FAIA
• Barry Nocks, FAICP
• Thompson E. Penney, FAIA
• Marilyn Thompson
• Robert A. Waller

Please join me in offering congratulations to each inductee who joined 25 other distinguished members of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities Hall of Fame. Each one of them has made transformational contributions to the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities during their lifetime.

…

Last month, I had the privilege of hosting 21 friends and alumni of the College in a visit to the Charles H. Daniel Center for Building Research and Urban Studies in Genoa, Italy. The Italian portion of the trip included the annual “Villa” party, visits to the marble works in Carrara and the villages of Portofino and Cinque Terre. In France, we visited Nice and the Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul de Vence. We also stopped in the Principality of Monaco.

I am indebted to Silvia Siboldi Carroll, the administrative director of the Genoa Center  (and a recent Clemson honorary alumna!), for organizing the trip, along with our amazing development team. As I mentioned at one of our dinners, most people never get to see all the sights we saw in a lifetime – let alone in a week. It was a memorable trip for everyone.

…

Plans for the renovation and expansion of Daniel Hall are proceeding nicely. The “new” Daniel will extend to the south with a 60,000-square-foot classroom expansion, student-centered collaborative spaces and a new 250-seat auditorium. I share in the excitement that this new focal point for the humanities will be transformative for Clemson. Groundbreaking is expected in about a year.

…

Last week, I also visited the launch of the next phase of Rhondda Thomas’ “Call My Name: African Americans in Clemson History, 1825-1973” project. Thomas, the Calhoun Lemon Professor of Literature in the Department of English, has initiated the “Call My Name” project to research and document the stories, contributions, and honor the legacy of six generations of African Americans in Clemson history. Her work has been transformational in understanding Clemson’s history and I invite you to visit a website devoted to this work:  https://spark.adobe.com/page/wQoPG.

…

Finally, as we approach the end of the hiring season for faculty who will join us next year, I have been thrilled to see the quality of applicants who are competing for jobs in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. With the applicants’ extraordinary credentials from some of the top universities in the world, it’s no doubt our students – and Clemson University’s strong academic reputation – are in good hands.  I will be excited to announce a new Pearce Professor of Communication, a new director of our Rhetorics, Communication and Information Design Ph.D. program, and new directors of the Historic Preservation and Real Estate Development programs, and several other new faculty appointments – soon.  Each of these applicants has gone through a rigorous interview process that includes a “job talk” and meetings with students, faculty, staff and administrators. Clemson’s academic brand has never been stronger and I am excited for the future.

In closing, I wish you a joyous April and Go Tigers!

Rick

Dear Friends,

I often get asked what the favorite part of my job is, and, depending on the day of the week or time of day, it changes. Although most of my days are spent in meetings, every day is different and brings about new opportunities to learn about the College, our faculty, students, staff and alumni.

One of my favorite annual events is Fusion, which spotlights outstanding work by students from the College’s nine departments. I especially enjoy meeting new faculty and candidates who are visiting campus for the first time. Being able to brag about Clemson and the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities from my longtime perspective is a joy, and something I never tire of. The opportunity to hear from faculty about their latest research or creative endeavor is another highlight of my day-to-day routine, as are the interactions I have with students who come by my office.

Considering all the aspects of my job, I most enjoy events where I have a chance to connect faculty with students and alumni. One such event occurred last week during our annual Fusion event. As I mentioned in my remarks that evening, Fusion reminds me of “show and tell” we all remember from our childhood – but on steroids. Student work, from each of the College’s nine departments, was on display and I was extraordinarily proud of the mentorship of our faculty and the quality and variety of the student projects that were presented. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank our Student Services group, led by Cari Brooks, and our CAAH Student Ambassadors for their work behind the scenes to make Fusion an annual success.

Intercontinental partnership

Global engagement is one of the highest priorities of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities and I am proud of our status as a campus leader in study abroad participation.

To expand our global education efforts across three continents, two professors in landscape architecture helped form a global partnership with universities in Egypt and China.

To formalize the relationship, a signing ceremony was held on campus to launch the World Design Studio. Faculty and other representatives from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, and Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, China, formally confirmed the World Design Studio partnership at a luncheon ceremony.

The visiting students, Clemson Landscape Architecture students and other guests also had the opportunity to visit key sites in Charleston, conduct research, meet with local civic leaders and take part in a series of discussions concerning rising sea levels and localized flooding in and around Charleston. I am grateful to Hala Nassar and Robert Hewitt for their dedicated work putting this new partnership together.

A milestone in Charleston

Last week, the Clemson Architecture Center in Charleston celebrated its 30th anniversary. Numerous faculty, staff, and former CAC.C faculty joined Charleston governmental officials, members of the Charleston business community, patrons and service learning “clients” to help commemorate the event.

The celebration included a look back at the many successes of Clemson’s presence in Charleston and a look ahead to the future of off-campus architecture education and the importance of student opportunities through the Fluid Campus.

To everyone’s surprise on Friday night, I presented CAC.C Director Ray Huff with a framed copy of the new Fluid Campus trademark we received from the United States Patent Office.

In closing, I am saddened to report on the passing of Dr. Larry Lee Bauer. Larry was a friend, patron of the Brooks Center, and lover of the arts. He and his wife, Betty, established the Bauer Family Scholarship to support a performing arts student and I am grateful to the Bauers for their belief in our students and their loyal and longtime support of the arts at Clemson.

Best wishes to all for a warm and wonderful March.

Sincerely, and Go Tigers!

Rick

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

As the afterglow of the National Championship has begun to subside (but not by much) and the routine of classes, homework, assignments and studio projects has settled in, the spring semester is well under way – and spring temperatures are in the forecast!

It is hard to believe that less than a month ago the Clemson Tigers won their third national football championship, and second in three years. My wife and I were honored to travel with Tiger Band to the National Championship, and we couldn’t have been prouder of the students, faculty and staff who represent our university with such distinction and class. The 355 Tiger Band members had a remarkable post-season, including the rain-soaked ACC Championship, an 18-hour drive (each way) to support the team at the Cotton Bowl and then traveling to Santa Clara, California, and returning as National Champions. Tiger Band represents the best of Clemson University, with academic majors from across the University and sharing a common goal of excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the stands.

To cap off a remarkable season, we learned this week that Tiger Band has been selected as one of only five bands to be chosen for a video presentation at the upcoming College Band Directors National Association Marching Band Showcase. Tiger Band is in rarified air as we join Arizona State, Ohio State, Michigan State and Texas State for this honor. Congratulations to the students, Director of Bands Mark Spede, Assistant Director of Bands Timothy Hurlburt and the entire Tiger Band staff on a job well done and this national distinction.

CAF and HAB host joint reception

Last week, the first joint event sponsored by the Clemson Architectural Foundation and the Humanities Advancement Board was held at the Cigar Factory in Charleston and featured the city’s longtime former mayor, Joe Riley. Clemson alumni from across the state and region attended the event at the Clemson Design Center in Charleston, and heard a great talk and insights offered by former Mayor Riley. I have no doubt he would win another term, or three, if he were to run again. My gratitude to Lee Morrissey, interim associate dean of CAAH, for initiating this joint presentation.

Hanahan supports historic preservation students

While in Charleston, we celebrated a major gift to our historic preservation program by Bessie Hanahan. Bessie hosted a large group of students, faculty, and friends of our preservation program at her beautiful home, which has been thoroughly renovated with extensive research provided by Richard (Moby) Marks and our HP students. Bessie’s transformational gift is dedicated to student scholarships and she challenged the attendees to help support our students and future students through the gift of scholarships. I want to thank Bessie for her philanthropy, leadership and vision for the future, and hope you join me in promoting student scholarships.

In closing, I join former students and colleagues in sadness at the news of Peter Lee’s passing. An Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Architecture, Peter was a beloved professor and his memory will be preserved in perpetuity by his induction in the CAAH Hall of Fame this spring.

Go Tigers!

Rick

Dear Colleagues,

Happy Holidays! It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror and the holiday season is upon us. For most of us on campus, the holidays are a time to put the fall semester in perspective, recharge for the spring semester, spend some valuable time with family, friends and enjoy some rest and relaxation. With my family scattered among Atlanta, Denver and Connecticut, I am grateful to have time to see my children and grandchildren over the holidays.

The past month has been a whirlwind. With world-class guest speakers on campus, end-of-semester projects being completed, term papers on the horizon, and the accelerating push to December commencement, I am privileged to see the growth of our students and how our faculty impact their lives on a daily basis. Through the lens of our student workers, I never tire of hearing about the day-to-day Clemson experience. For each of them, the pride and enjoyment of being a Clemson student is extraordinary.

Congratulations are due to the participants of the Writers’ Harvest, an annual celebration of creative writing sponsored by the Pearce Center and the English Majors Organization. Writer’s Harvest is held each fall, and this year attracted a large audience to the Self Auditorium. I want to thank Senior Lecturer Mike Pulley, from the Department of English, for his leadership of this event, which celebrated its 10^th anniversary this year. The celebration of creative writing helps support the Paw Pantry and Loaves & Fishes charities, and I am thankful for the growth of this excellent project that merges creative writing with charitable giving.

Last month, I had the opportunity to visit the College’s Charleston-based programs at our beautiful Cigar Factory facility.  I attended the biannual Historic Preservation Steering Committee meeting, visited our faculty and staff at the Cigar Factory, and took a tour of the amazing work being done by the craftsmen and women at Urban Electric. I am grateful to Founder and CEO Dave Dawson for sharing his time and recounting his entrepreneurial efforts in building a world-class lighting company that started as a small downtown Charleston lamp store.

Last week the Department of History hosted a conference that focused on Abraham Lincoln’s “Unfinished Work.” Organized by the Judge Mathew J. Perry Professor of History, Vernon Burton, more than 35 internationally acclaimed scholars gathered to explore the many dimensions and legacies of Abraham Lincoln within the context of modern American society. The conference brought students, faculty, staff, visiting scholars, schoolteachers, high school students and other members of the general public to campus for critical insights into Abraham Lincoln’s legacy. Congratulations are due to Dr. Burton and the Department of History for the success of this conference, which brought significant national attention to Clemson. I also want to recognize the assistance of Peter Eisenstadt, Georganne Burton and our history students. It, too, was heartening to see sponsorships come in from so many corners of our College, the University and beyond.

For the past three years, the Georgia/Carolinas Precast Concrete Institute Foundation (PCI) has sponsored an architectural studio focusing on the utilization of pre-cast concrete. Visiting campus last month was Peter Finsen, Executive Director of the PCI, and Greg Force, President and CEO of Tindall Corporation and member of the PCI Foundation Board. At a dinner celebrating the PCI/Clemson partnership, we learned that the PCI Foundation will be renewing their partnership with the School of Architecture. We truly appreciate the PCI Foundation for their support of our students and faculty and this outstanding example of a research partnership that benefits both our faculty and our students.

Also in November, Clemson hosted the national accreditation team for our undergraduate and graduate Landscape Architecture programs. The visit allowed us to showcase our outstanding student work, receive a critical overview of our programs in Landscape Architecture, and hear recommendations to improve our instructional content and delivery. Many faculty and staff were instrumental in making this visit a success and we look forward to receiving a positive accreditation recommendation later this spring.

We also received excellent news last month that our City and Regional Planning degree earned a full five-year reaccreditation. Congratulations to the faculty and staff in the CRP program, under the direction of chair Dr. John Gaber, who helped make this full-term accreditation possible.

Finally, I am happy to report that the Daniel Hall renovation and expansion is on track. The building committee met last month and heard presentations from three finalists to become the general contractor for the project. The “new and improved” Daniel Hall will feature a significant addition to the south of the current site, a complete renovation of the existing space, new student-centered teaching and learning spaces and a student-friendly outdoor plaza. Pending final approvals, construction is scheduled to begin in March 2020 with a projected completion date of August 2022. We are all looking forward to this important addition to the College’s instructional space.

In closing and, especially during this time of reflection and celebration, I want to wish all of you a happy holiday season.

Go Tigers!

Rick

Dear Friends,

As the calendar turns to November, the temperatures are falling, leaves are beginning to fall and our Tigers continue to shine. I am happy to report that the past month has been memorable, with many notable achievements by our faculty, students and staff.

Many of you were here for homecoming and it was great to see so many friends, former students and alumni. Standing on the ladder at the 50-yard line preparing to direct “The Star-Spangled Banner,” I was reminiscing about how transformational Clemson has been for so many students, faculty and staff and how privileged we are to share this special place.

I want to offer a special note of congratulations to Anthony Bernarducci, who was the “Professor of the Game” at homecoming. Bernarducci was honored for his extraordinary work as the director of choral activities in the Department of Performing Arts.

Major milestone

Last week the Department of City Planning and Real Estate Development celebrated its 50^th anniversary with an event in Greenville, which was attended by more than 50 alumni. It was great to see so many successful planning professionals whose successful careers were forged by their Clemson experience. I want to thank John Gaber, chair of the Department of City Planning and Real Estate Development, and his staff for their dedicated work to make this a truly special event.

Sound and vision

Last month I had the opportunity to meet with several young architecture alumni in Seattle and share some memories with them and Professor Emeritus John Jacques. The Pacific Northwest is home to many successful Clemson architecture alumni, and I was thrilled to see their Tiger Pride on full display.

Mentorship opportunities

I am pleased to announce that the new online mentoring program in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities is up and running. The CAAH On Deck program aims to help our current students cultivate important networking skills. It also provides our alumni and professional partners a meaningful way to stay connected to their Clemson Family.

Through CAAH On Deck, we hope to foster a culture of mentorship in CAAH, with even our newest students having the confidence to reach out to professionals in their fields for advice and support.

Students can now use the Quick Connect feature in CAAH On Deck to be matched with mentors the platform recommends, based on the filters selected. For example, if a student wants to connect with a lawyer who majored in history and now lives in Charleston, CAAH On Deck will find the person in the program who most closely matches that request.

Our new director of CAAH Student Services, Cari Brooks, tells me additional features will continue to roll out. In January, we will launch our first formal CAAH Professional Partners mentor pairing; students and mentors will be matched for a three-month mentorship experience, all of which will be guided by and conducted through the online platform.

We welcome both students and mentors to join CAAH On Deck. And if you have thoughts to share or any questions about this mentorship opportunity, please email Cari Brooks directly at cabrook@clemson.edu.

Growth in the College

I want to highlight the remarkable enrollment growth in the College over the past year.  Our undergraduate enrollments are up 13 percent over last year, highlighted by a 28 percent jump in History majors, 19 percent in Construction Science and Management, 10 percent in English and 7 percent in Architecture. Within graduate studies, I was thrilled to see a 17 percent increase in our Real Estate Development program. The evidence is clear that programs in the College are attractive to undergraduate and graduate majors considering today’s changing job markets and career opportunities.

New rankings

In September, we learned that DesignIntelligence ranked our Master of Architecture as one of the top 10 accredited graduate programs in Architecture at a public university. They also recognized Clemson University among “Most Admired” programs, placing the Master of Architecture at 22 and Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at 18 among private and public institutions.

In recent weeks, DesignIntelligence announced Clemson University as a standout in their new category: “Most Hired From.” In Architecture, Clemson was ranked 6^th among schools of its size (private and public institutions with 70-99 total graduates, including both undergraduates and graduate students). Landscape Architecture was ranked 5^th among the schools with 20-34 graduates.

The new DesignIntelligence rankings are a testament to the quality of our faculty and the students who complete our programs. We greatly appreciate the industry partners that return to Clemson again and again when they are hiring. Congratulations to all!

A final note

I am saddened to report on the recent passing of Margit M. Sinka, a professor emerita of German in the Department of Languages. Sinka retired in 2007, but continued to conduct study abroad programs on Holocaust Remembrance until 2016. We will miss her many contributions to Clemson University over more than four decades. A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clemson.

With best wishes from campus – Go Tigers!

Rick

Dear Friends,

The calendar says this is fall semester; however, with warm and humid weather over the past month, we are truly looking forward to the golden lights, crisp nights and the promise of daytime temperatures that will soon begin to fall along with the leaves.

It’s been an extraordinary month, as I write from Victoria, British Columbia, having spent the past several days in Seattle at the International Conference of Fine Arts Deans and hosting a Clemson alumni reception on Saturday evening.

I want to recognize several outstanding College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities students who have recently impressed us with their creativity and original thinking.

On Oct. 2, we celebrated student artists who contributed works to the “NextUp Invitational” exhibition, now in its third year within the dean’s suite. Our staff looks forward to seeing the skills and creativity our BFA students demonstrate each semester, as established in their Art Foundations classes. The show is installed by student interns, who learn many aspects of what it takes to create and curate an exhibition as part of their education in the Department of Art

I was thrilled to have a great turnout for the reception, and honored to meet several parents who traveled to Clemson to attend. A best of show award was presented to Carrie Bull of Lexington, South Carolina, for her work “Anchored With (Faulty) Intention.”

All of us who work in Strode Tower will continue to enjoy the art in the NextUp exhibition each day until the show comes down in January. We hope that at some point in the semester, you might stop by between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to enjoy it, too.

Duckenfield Scholars

October began with a presentation by the 2018 Duckenfield Scholars. The Honors College program, which is named for Christopher J. Duckenfield, allows two Clemson students to attend summer school at Oxford each year.

This year we were proud that both of the scholars who were selected had majors in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. Jessica Harris is a double major in Philosophy and Economics. Hannah Jane Pearson is majoring in English and Languages: American Sign Language, which are both degree programs within CAAH.

Both students received high praise for their outstanding work in England over the summer. Hannah completed a critical analysis of Jane Austen’s “Mansfield Park.” She had the opportunity to visit Jane Austen’s house and see the writing table where Austen penned “Pride and Prejudice.” Jessica did a deep dive into climate change, examining the benefits of advanced interventions from both an economic and human perspective.

Those who were able to attend their Duckenfield presentation were not only impressed with their research, but their enthusiasm and sense of fun.

I encourage our honors students to learn more about the Duckenfield program and consider applying for 2019.

A new season

As the seasons change, there too are significant changes in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. I am pleased to announce these recent appointments and new roles;  Please join me in congratulating all of them:

• Constancio Nakuma, CAAH senior associate dean of academic affairs, has been appointed acting associate provost for academic affairs in the Office of the Provost. Among his duties, Constancio is responsible for supporting teaching and learning excellence at Clemson University, as well as the stewardship of education policies, accreditation and faculty scholarship. For more than a decade, Constancio has served our College as a professor of French, chair of the Department of Languages, associate dean and, most recently, senior associate dean. We wish him well as he contributes his considerable skills at the University level.
• Lee Morrissey has been appointed interim associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, after assuming the role in an acting capacity in mid-August. He is a professor of English, past chair of the department and is the founding director of the Humanities Hub.
• Brian McGrath, a professor of English, has been appointed interim associate director of the Humanities Hub. Brian will assist with bringing humanities programming to Clemson and also raising awareness of the humanities during Lee’s interim service to the College.
• Cari Brooks has been appointed the new director of CAAH Student Services. Brooks has served as the interim director since the departure of Jessica Martin. She will lead our student services team, which is responsible for recruitment, advising and global engagement in our College. Cari has served as Student Services coordinator since 2017. She also helped launch the CAAH On Deck mentoring program. We look forward to her leadership of Student Services.
• Margaret Owens has served on the Clemson University development team since 2012. In her role as an executive director of development, she will now play a greater part in connecting alumni, friends and supporters of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities with the ways they can support the needs of our students and foster the excellence of our faculty.

Silvia!

We were fortunate to have Silva Siboldi Carroll, her husband Mark and son David with us for several days in September.

Over the years, Silvia has become the spirit and heart of our Fluid Campus program in Genoa as its administrative director. Students and alumni of architecture tell us their time studying at the Charles E. Daniel Center for Building, Research and Urban Studies – or the “Villa” – has been both life-changing and life-affirming. We know their fondness for Genoa and the Villa is no small part due to the warmth and vitality with which Silvia approaches a wide range of duties, from ordering food to making sure our students are surrounded with exceptional teachers and staff.

Silvia was on South Carolina soil – in towering heels, of course – to be recognized by the Clemson University Alumni Association at a dinner in her honor. Silvia is now an honorary alumna of Clemson, and has a ring to prove it!

I am proud that her loyalty, devotion and service to Clemson has been officially recognized. Of all of our exceptional alumni, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this honor.

Happy autumn and Go Tigers!

Rick

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