Emeritus College

2024 Emeritus Day & New Faculty Recognition

New Emeritus Faculty Members Recognition, April 17, 2024

On Wednesday, April 17, 2023, the Emeritus College celebrated its 21st celebration with a special ceremony and luncheon.  President James Clements and Senior Vice President and Provost Bob Jones welcomed 18 new emeritus/a faculty members to the college, five retiring faculty, and four affiliate members. We honored three professor emeritus faculty posthumously, H. Roger Grant, Kevin Lee James, and Joseph Earl Stewart with their families and colleagues.

Sterling K. (Skip) Eisiminger, Professor Emeritus of English and an I. Dwaine Eubanks Fellow was the honored speaker for the day, Reflections on Aging and Clemson Trivia.  Skip arrived in Clemson in 1968, and  his only move during his time at Clemson was across town. His publications include a book of verse, a book of word games, a children’s book, and two collections of essays. In his forty-two years as a teacher at Clemson, he taught over nine thousand students in twenty-nine different courses. In retirement, he participates in the Conversations with International Student program and its testing of English language competency. Has served in the CU Veterans’ Writing Project and has offered classes at OLLI since 2012.  At the Emeritus College he hosts a monthly EC Trivia morning with all proceeds directed toward the Emeritus College Undergraduate Student Scholarship, and provides weekly puzzles for EC Happenings, a weekly college newsletter.

New Emeritus Faculty

Jean A. Bertrand

Professor Emerita of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and Interim Dean for Undergraduate Studies

Thomas Edford Cousins

Professor Emeritus of Glenn Department of Civil Engineering

Julia Alice Frugoli

Alumni Distinguished Professor Emerita of Genetics  

H. Roger Grant

Kathryn and Calhoun Lemon Professor Emeritus of History   (Posthumously)

David James Hartmann

Professor Emeritus of Performing Arts

Kevin Lee James

Professor Emeritus of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and Founding Director of School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Posthumously)

Karen A. Kemper

Associate Professor Emerita of Public Health Sciences

Harry Delos Kurtz, Jr.

Associate Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences

Walter Batchelor Ligon, III

Associate Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Pamela E. Mack

Associate Professor Emerita of History and Geography Coordinator of Science and Technology in Society

Anthony Louis Pometto, III

Professor Emeritus of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences

Gwynn M. Powell

Associate Professor Emerita of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management

Margaret Barlow Ptacek

Professor Emerita of Biological Sciences

E. Jeffery Rhodehamel

Professor Emeritus of  Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences

Edward Joseph Rock

Associate Librarian Emeritus of University Libraries

Raymond D. Sauer

Professor and Chair Emeritus of Economics

Benjamin R. Stephens

Professor Emeritus of Psychology

Joseph Earl Stewart

Professor Emeritus of Political Science (Posthumously)

Lonnie Lee Thompson

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Bruce Allen Whisler

Professor Emeritus of Performing Arts

Brett A. Wright

Dean Emeritus College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences and Professor Emeritus of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management

Retired Clemson Faculty

James H. Blake

State Director of the SC Master Naturalist and Senior Extension Associate, Retired

Rita Mae Haliena

Senior Lecturer of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Retired

Rebecca Ferraccio Kaminski

Senior Lecturer of Literacy, Retired

Vladimir Matic

Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Retired

David Schmueser

Senior Lecturer of Automotive Engineering, Retired

Clemson University Affiliate Members

William Hiott

Executive Director and Chief Curator, Historic Properties, Retired

James Pepin

Chief Technology Officer, Retired

Flora Riley

Executive Director Michelin Career Center, Retired

Curt Russell

Information Resources Consultant I, Retired

Debra Sparacino

University Registrar, Retired

Associate Members, Emeritus/a

William Bruehl

Professor Emeritus of Theatre, Stony Brook University

Jere Lee Hodgin

Associate Professor Emeritus of English and Theatre, University of Montana

Kathleen Tiemann

Dean and Professor Emerita, Merrimack College

Honorary Members

Vince Jackson

Honorary Member of the Emeritus College

Robert Hogan, Professor Emeritus of Architecture and served as Associate Chair of the School of Architecture announced the Emeritus College’s annual awards recipients.

The Kenelly-Voss Distinguished Emeritus Award was established by the late John Kenelly to recognize emeritus faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to Emeritus College, Clemson University, the greater Clemson community, and to society. The 2024 Kenelly-Voss Distinguished Emeritus Award was presented to Dr. Dolores A. Stegelin.   

Dee retired in 2017 and currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina.  You would not know she was not in Clemson. She never misses an important Emeritus College event. She and her husband, Forrest, participate in person and by Zoom. Dee’s contributions to the Emeritus College include Serving as the Chair of the Advisory Board from 2022-2023, as a member of the Emeritus College Staff Search Committee (twice) and as the chair of the Fundraising Committee, which she proposed and implemented during her year as chair of the Advisory Committee. Her strategies for fundraising to support emeritus faculty have made a significant difference in our programming and services. Dee is also an active member of several key interest groups in the college including the memoir, prison education, and speaker bureau. She continues to contribute to the college with her seminars. This year she initiated a Task Force to improve the relationships between academic colleges and their emeritus faculty using her own College of Education as a pilot program. Dee’s contributions to the University include continuing her graduate teaching and service on an advisory board for the University of South Carolina. She continues to stay involved in research projects, the play coalition conferences, and the Partners of the Americans, SC Chapter Executive Committee. She currently advises Clemson Education faculty advisors for the Reggio Emilia study abroad program. Dee represents the College of Education on the US Play Coalition Steering Committee; and serves as a liaison between the college and the Institute for Child Success Conference.  Dee is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the South Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children.  She provides leadership for the Global Healing Curriculum Project Co-Leader with Dr. Edgar Klugman, Professor Emeritus- Wheelock College.   Dee also provides leadership for a study group of 20 professionals across the US. and Brazil to develop curriculum learning activities for use in community settings that strengthen intergenerational relationships. In addition, Dee had three major publications in 2023.

The 2024 Class of I.D.E. Emeritus College Fellows was created to honor emeritus faculty members each year who steadily render valuable service to the Emeritus College and to Clemson University without compensation.  It is named in honor of I. Dwaine Eubanks, a former Executive Director of the Emeritus College.

Dr. Pamela A. Havice

Pam retired in 2019 after serving Clemson for 19 years as a Professor of Educational and Organizational Leadership.  In service to the Emeritus College,  Pam currently serves on the Emeritus College Advisory Board, the Undergraduate Support Committee, the Membership Task Force and the Task Force charged with the development of the college’s Purpose Statement.  She has also participated in several panel discussions.  This semester Pam is serving on a Task Force to develop strategies for connecting emeritus faculty with her home College of Education.

Dr. Kathy N. Headley

Kathy retired in 2021 after serving Clemson for 34 years as a Professor and Senior Associate Deam in the College of Health, Education and Human Development. In service to the Emeritus College, Kathy is currently a member of the Advisory Board and since joining the Emeritus College.  As a member of the Moments and Memories task force, she served as an editor for the book and was instrumental on its successful publication. She also served on the By-Laws Revisions Taks Force, and the 20th Anniversary Celebration Task Force.  Kathy chaired the Task Force to develop guidelines and procedures for membership applications and is currently a member of the task force to develop plans for improving relationships between emeritus faculty and their home departments and college.

Dr. Thomas J. Kuehn

Tom Retired in 2020 from Clemson as a Professor and former Chair of the Department of History. In service to the Emeritus College, Tom currently serves as a member of the EC Advisory Board, the Awards Committee, and the Programming Committee.  He also presented a virtual tour, which was the highlight of last fall’s series. In service to the University: Tom was instrumental in the development of a Phi Beta Kappa Society here at Clemson and served as an officer in the society from its conception until his retirement.

Dr. Rosanne H. Pruitt

Rosanne retired in 2018 after serving Clemson for 17 years as a Professor of Nursing, former Director of the School of Nursing and Associate Dean of The College of Health, Education and Human Development. In service to the Emeritus College: Rosanne serves as a member of the Advisory Board, the Programming Committee, and the Membership Task Force.  She always volunteers to help at the Emeritus College events from setting up, selling EC sway, to cleaning up afterwards. Her willingness to volunteer and to serve the college makes a significant difference in the programs, services, and commitment to the emeritus faculty and college.  In service to the University: Rosanne was named a Clemson University Service-Learning Fellow and received the Elliott Award for Outstanding Service to Off-Campus, Distance and Continuing Education.

David V. Scherrep (Lt. Col. Retired)

Dave retired in 2002 after serving Clemson as an Associate Director of Cooperative Education.  He is also a retired Lt. Col. In the US Army.  In service to the Emeritus College: Dave co-developed the exciting Coffee House series which occurs each month for emeritus faculty to gather and share music.  The program hosts additional music events throughout the year as well and helps to promote and increase the numbers of faculty who participate. In service to the larger community, Dave is active in the Clemson, Anderson, and Oconee communities. He and his partner in the New Tricks Trio engage residents in nursing homes and assisted living communities across the area. Dave has found that music brings people together and music for older adults is joyful. 

Dr. Diane G. Smathers

In service to the Emeritus College, Diane began her association with the Emeritus College as the Emeritus College founding director in 2004. She adopted the initial creation and organization of the Emeritus College concept as initiated by Jerry Reel. Diane’s additional 10 years of hard work resulted in the formation of our highly successful Emeritus College. She worked tirelessly to solicit administrative and financial support in the early years, working with other colleges and university units to emphasize the critical role that the Emeritus College could play in the university  community.  Diane sought opportunities for promoting the Emeritus College on campus and seeking opportunities for retired faculty to continue to support academic endeavors and continue their invaluable service to students and the university community. She is currently serving as Chair of the Emeritus Faculty Creative Works Display Committee.  Diane’s contributions to Clemson University include being selected the Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Member for the Clemson Chapter as well as serving as National President of Phi Kappa Phi, serving on the national board for 9 years and as inaugural chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees for 2 years.  As an emeritus faculty member and appreciate being able to maintain your Clemson e-mail and ability to get a FREE parking permit … thank Diane.

Jonathan D. Black , 2024 Emeritus College Undergraduate Scholarship Recipient

 Jonathan D. Black, a senior psychology major from Charleston, South Carolina was honored as the 2023—2024 scholarship recipient. During his time at Clemson, he has been a member of the Clemson University Symphony Orchestra and has participated in Dr. Kaileigh Byrne’s Creative Inquiry Lab, where the research focused on online privacy decision making. After graduating in May, Jonathan will begin preparations to apply to graduate school, with the hopes of eventually obtaining a doctorate and pursuing psychology research.   The Emeritus College faculty contribute annually to fund undergraduate students.