Author: Beth Schonert

John Gouch, Media Relations
June 7, 2016

CLEMSON — Twenty-four staff members at Clemson University have been selected for the seventh year of the university’s Staff Development Program (SDP).

The goal of the program is to allow staff members to grow personally and professionally while at the same time strengthening their engagement with the university. Participants must complete 150 hours of personal and professional development, university-related service and core curriculum activities geared towards increasing the engagement between participants and the university as a whole. Peer review committees oversee the process and help participants stay on track with their goals.

“It is a great day at Clemson University to give 24 permanent staff members the opportunity to achieve their professional, service, and personal goals in the Staff Development Program,” said Leigh Dodson, Staff Development Program incoming committee chair. “We are thrilled that the University’s Administration continues to advocate for this meritorious program for our own staff at Clemson University!”

The 24 staff members participating in the program for 2016-17 are:

Frederick “Phil” Brooks, Info Resource Consultant I, University Housing & Dining;
Ralph E. “Trey” Burrell III, Agriculture/Animal Associate II, Musser Fruit;
William L. “Bill” Coburn, Lab Technologist III, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering;
Kristina Corbett, Account/Fiscal Analyst III, Office Admin & Research Support;
Toni Crocker, Administrative Assistant, Records & Registration;
Bonnie Duncan, Stu Services Program Coordinator II, Undergraduate Admissions;
Susan K. Eller, Account/Fiscal Analyst II, Student Affairs Business Office;
Talitha C. Ellington, Administrative Coordinator II, CUICAR Partnership Office;
Matthew J. Fischer, Building/Grounds Supervisor II, Crop and Equipment Services;
Shelly Geer, Administrative Assistant, Athletics/Vickery Hall;
Kathy D. Glenn, Administrative Assistant, School of Accountancy;
Cheryl L. Hayes, Administrative Manager I, Parking & Transportation Services;
Kevin V. Hendricks, Information Resource Consultant I, Network Services & Telecomm;
Keith Jones, Info Resource Consultant I, University Facilities:Support Services;
Angela J. “Janet” Lollis, Administrative Coordinator I, Internal Audit;
Joshua Morgan, Program Coordinator II, University Libraries;
Tina K. Parker, Agricult/Animal Associate I, Research Services;
Jodi Redlinger, Account/Fiscal Analyst II, Office Admin & Research Support;
Elise Schnabel, Research Associate, Genetics and Biochemistry;
Barbara A. Smith, Stu Services Program Coordinator. II, Environmental Engineering and Earth Science;
Orenthia S. Smith, Building/Grounds Spec. II, University Facilities:Custodial-Recycle Svs;
Gregory L. Telley, Procurement Specialist I, University Facilities:Support Services;
Harry J. Thomas, Procurement Specialist II, Housing & Dining; and
David VanDeventer, Building/Grounds Supervisor II, University Facilities:Custodial-Recycle Services.
Congratulations to all of our 2016-17 Clemson University SDP Participants!

Stephen Patrick, the Lab Manager in Jim Morris’ lab, has been awarded the College of Medicine Academic Merit Scholarship to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). This scholarship provides full tuition for ALL four years of medical school! Great job, Stephen!

Megan Hunt and Terral Patel presented research in Syracuse, NY on the weekend of April 8th as a part of the 2016 ACC Meeting of the Minds Conference. Megan’s poster presentation focused on the impact of acuL and acuH on Cryptococcus neoformans virulence. Terral’s oral presentation explored the identification of signaling molecules in organelle regulation of Trypanosoma brucei.

Cheryl Ingram-Smith, Ph.D., a member of the Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center (EPIC), was recently awarded a 3-year, $423,966 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She is studying metabolism in Entamoeba histolytica, which causes as many as 50 million cases of dysentery annually, with 50,000 to 100,000 deaths each year. E. histolytica is a water- and food-borne intestinal parasite that is a major public health problem in developing and underdeveloped countries with poor sanitation. This parasite is unusual in that it lacks many of the typical metabolic pathways and relies on scavenging to get many of the nutrients it needs. Entamoeba has several unusual adaptations to its primary metabolic pathway of glycolysis, which is used for the breakdown of glucose. We are investigating the role of two enzymes that may increase the function of the glycolytic pathway to better provide the cell with the energy it needs to live. A better understanding of Entamoeba metabolism during infection may reveal suitable targets for development of additional drugs against this parasite.

Stephen Patrick, a December 2015 Biochemistry graduate that is now the J. Morris Lab Manager, will be recognized at the May 2016 graduation ceremony with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, one of two given annually to Clemson students. This award is given annually “in recognition of the recipient’s influence for good, excellence in maintaining high ideals of living and genuine and disinterested service to others.” A tremendous honor, Stephen – great job!

Cheryl Jones, a student in the Ingram-Smith Lab, successfully defended her PhD thesis, entitled, “Investigating the role of ADP-forming acetyl-CoA synthetase from the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica.” Great work, Cheryl!

Serena Walker, a junior Biochemistry student, was accepted into the Summer Lab Science Program at the Mayo Clinic, which offers an internship experience in a clinical laboratory setting.

On April 16, 2016, Dr. Kimberly Paul will be speaking at TedX Clemson University. She will be talking about research on a neglected tropical disease, how we judge problems to be big or small, and the importance of choosing to tackle the so-called “small” problems. More information can be found at The Tiger.

Over seventy attendees from around the southeast gathered to learn the latest about research on the molecular biology and biochemistry of some of the leading killers on the planet. The meeting keynote, given By Dr. Michel Grigg of the National Institutes of Health, explored the unusual genetic diversity of human pathogens from around the world, seeking answers to the differences in disease outcomes seen amongst closely related parasites. For pictures from the event, see: http://jmorri28.wix.com/epic#!cbep-photos/c1k7t

Graduate students Ning Yuan and Peipei Wu attended the Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) meeting in Tucson, AZ on May 30-June 3, and presented their research. Ning Yuan received a SIVB student travel grant and was among the top five in student oral presentation competition.