Sam A. Dillard, retired director of planning and scheduling for University Facilities, passed away on March 22, 2026.
Dillard began his Clemson career on October 22, 1963, and retired on July 1, 1994, totaling more than 31 years of service with the University.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 27, at Sandifer Funeral Home Chapel, with burial to follow at Eastview Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1-2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Sarah Reeves, Financial Business Manager, Finance and Operations
“Sarah is always great to work with and it there to help even if a task may seem too difficult. She will step up and lend a hand while also being sure everything is done properly. With how busy this year has been, she’s been a great help.” – Anonymous
Shay Vinson, Student Services Coordinator, Richard A. McMahan School of Architecture
“Shay is one of those rare people who makes everyone around her feel a little more supported, a lot more seen, and incredibly cared for. Her heart for student, faculty, and staff wellness and mental health shows up in the small, everyday moments. Whether checking in after a tough studio week, sharing encouragement when it is needed most, or highlighting the achievements of her colleagues, Shay always makes the School of Architecture feel like home.” – Anonymous
Xiao Yang, Manager, Department of Plant Industry Laboratories
“Dr. Yang does a great job managing his many labs. He is a wonderful supervisor and has really grown into his role. He supports his employees and students to help them grow by creating a respectful and fun environment.” – Anonymous
Barbara Bass, Director of Research Support Services, College of Science
“Barbara finds answers to tough questions…and often makes me laugh, even when the news is bad!” – Anonymous
Kristie Marr, Project Manager, Clemson University Learning Institute
“Kristie leads with kindness, solves problems with creativity, and keeps everything organized along the way. She notices what people need and is always willing to speak up on behalf of others. Kristie leads with integrity, and her commitment to excellence and passion for serving others shine through in everything she does. Her innovative thinking and willingness to troubleshoot challenges are truly an asset. It is truly a joy working with her.” – Cathy Moore, Director of Training, ThinkShops – Clemson University Learning Institute
John Hannon, Founding Director, Brook T. Smith Launchpad
“Dr. Hannon’s vision and implementation for connecting faculty, staff and students with alumni and the greater Clemson community is unprecedented. He cares about our students and their future post Clemson. He serves as a mentor to many, including his own staff.” – Kimberly Stokes Morgan, Executive Operations Specialist, Clemson Athletic Ventures
Jennifer Dunigan, Executive Assistant, Marketing and Communications
“Jennifer always has an eye out for anyone who might need a hand and jumps in to help (and is great at it!). She’s the best kind of colleague to have.” – Anonymous
Sheri Marcus, Administrative Coordinator, Department of History & Geography
“Sheri has an excellent response time and is always kind and respectful. She is always willing to help and is an essential asset to the History Department. Thank you for all that you do, Sheri!” – Taryn Turner, Academic Advisor, History
Bruce Kesler, Facilities and Fleet Management, Forestry and Environmental Conservation
“As our department prepares to move into a new building, Bruce has been an essential player in coordinating the transition. From equipment inventory to lab clean out, Bruce has shown tremendous leadership and consistent communication with the department. We couldn’t do it without him!” – Kyle Barrett, Interim Department Chair, Forestry and Environmental Conservation
Heather Tomlinson, Student Services Manager, Department of Automotive Engineering
“Heather has done a great job transitioning into her new role and serving the department.” – Anonymous
Madison Polyasko Ballard, Assistant Business Officer, College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS)
“Maddy exemplifies fiscal stewardship and service excellence within CECAS. She brings clarity to complex financial matters, ensures compliance while remaining solutions-focused, and consistently supports departments with professionalism and integrity. Her responsiveness, technical expertise, and calm leadership during high-volume reporting periods make her a trusted resource across the College. We are fortunate to have someone so dedicated to both accuracy and collaboration.” – Stone Tracy, Financial Business Manager, CECAS
Yuki Kihara (Associate Director of the Pam Hendrix Center for Education Abroad), Keith Walton (International Health, Safety, and Risk Manager) and Meredith Wilson (Director of the Pam Hendrix Center for Education Abroad) Global Engagement
“Thank you to Yuki, Keith, Meredith and the Global Engagement team for all your hard work in bringing students studying abroad home. We appreciate your commitment to our students’ safety and well-being.” – Anonymous
Kasi Hubbard, Graphic Designer; April Pelt, Director of Online Education
“I offer a round of enthusiastic applause to another amazing pack of accessibility-minded content creators and advocates. Kasi Hubbard and April Pelt organized a document accessibility workshop for forty-some faculty and staff in the College of Education who now have the skills needed to produce digital resources that their students can access. Your investment in learning to provide accessible files to students truly equips them for lives and careers that make a difference. Attendees, you are too many to list here, but thank you for prioritizing digital accessibility in the learning resources you provide to Clemson students.” – Walker Massey, Digital Accessibility Specialist, CCIT Internal Operations
CECAS Office Managers
“Shout-out to the Office Managers in CECAS, who play a critical role in ensuring the College’s content meets high accessibility standards. Their efforts to understand and apply digital accessibility concepts in their work contribute to a more inclusive Clemson and directly align with Clemson’s mission to create the No. 1 student experience. You are too many to name here (a good “problem” to have), but you are rock stars. Great work and thank you!” – Walker Massey, Digital Accessibility Specialist, CCIT Internal Operations
Olivia Boice, Lecturer, School of Nursing
“Olivia has done an incredible job moving our nursing fundamentals lab manual online and updating the nursing skills checkoffs to a new format this semester. It has been a smooth and efficient transition; thank you, Olivia!” – Andrea O’Dell, Lecturer, School of Nursing
Caleb McGill, Assistant Director, Global Engagement, College of Science
“Caleb works diligently to inform, plan, and provide global engagement experiences to students in the College of Science. He sees students back-to-back most days, and his role positively impacts Clemson Elevate directly.” – Serenity Wolf, Assistant Director, Recruitment & Retention – College of Science
Cari Latimer, Call Center Director, OROD – Clemson University Learning Institute
“Cari is incredible. Her impact is felt daily. Her work ethic is unmatched, and everything she produces is thoughtful, thorough, and truly top-notch. Beyond her talent, she leads with heart. She is empathetic, supportive, reliable and deeply trustworthy. She embodies servant leadership in the truest sense by consistently putting others first while holding herself to the highest standards. Working alongside her is both an honor and a joy.” – Cathy Moore, Director of Training, ThinkShops – Clemson University Learning Institute
Joni Adams, Curriculum and Training Specialist, ThinkShops – Clemson University Learning Institute
“Joni is amazing. Her excellence shows up in both big-picture thinking and day-to-day impact. Her work ethic is exceptional, and the quality of her work consistently elevates our program. She develops new processes that improve efficiency and is gifted at anticipating challenges before they arise and preparing thoughtful solutions. She is selfless by nature and is always willing to step in, support others, and do what is best for the whole. Getting to work alongside Joni is truly a delight.” – Cathy Moore, Director of Training, ThinkShops – Clemson University Learning Institute
Lori Frager, Director, Research Data Analytics – Office of eRA
“Lori needed a Doctoral Dissertation template created in DocuSign, for which I am the Engineer. She was a pleasure to work with, as she quickly responded to questions and requests for information, and tested and approved the design. Thanks, Lori, for making this collaboration easy!” – Denise Boyter, Workflow Engineer, CCIT
Ashley Jones, Director of Photographic Services, Marketing and Communications
“Met her doing faculty and staff headshots and had a wonderful experience. She took the time to make sure the photos looked great. She was professional and the process went smoothly.” – Anonymous
Clemson University mourns the death of Kimberly N. Collins, contracts administrator for the Office of Industry Contracts in the Division of Research.
“Kimberly was guided by her steadfast faith and devotion to her family,” said JoAnna Floyd, Director of the Office of Industry Contracts. “She was a valued member of our team and we will miss her deeply. Our hearts go out to her friends and family.”
Collins began her Clemson career on July 6, 2007, totaling more than 18 years of service with the University.
Counseling services are available to faculty and staff through ComPsych, the University’s Employee Assistance Program provider, at 866-365-0813.
A tribute page for Kimberly Collins is available online.
Clemson University Obituaries
Obituaries for active employees, retirees and current students are issued by Inside Clemson once we are able to confirm the information. Since faculty and staff live and work throughout the state, we depend on university departments, colleagues or friends to notify us of the deaths of active employees and retirees.
E. Harry Law, Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Law began his Clemson career on August 15, 1971, and retired on March 30, 2001. He was rehired in 2013 and joined the Emeritus College in 2015, totaling nearly 42 years of service with the University.
He was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, and Sigma Xi (Clemson University chapter of the Scientific Research Society). Harry contributed to the Mechanical Engineering department in many ways, including coordinating a student exchange program with Hiroshima University and co-founding the Motorsports Engineering Program.
Law earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1962, a master’s in flight mechanics from Princeton University in 1965 and a Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from the University of Connecticut in 1971.
A Celebration of Life will take place at University Lutheran Church, 111 Sloan St., Clemson, S.C., on Thursday, March 5, at 2 p.m. with a light reception afterwards.
Walker Massey and Dan Lewis, CCIT, Digital Accessibility Specialist (Walker) and Director of Digital Accessibility (Dan)
“Walker and Dan make digital accessibility feel achievable rather than overwhelming. Their approach is refreshingly positive, Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, they meet Departments and Colleges where they are, offering practical guidance and encouragement. They’ve developed comprehensive resources on accessibility best practices and bring that expertise directly to teams across campus. At a recent training for College of Education instructors and staff, they guided participants through authoring accessible Word and PowerPoint documents, turning what can feel like a daunting compliance requirement into something manageable and even empowering. We’re lucky to have such thoughtful advocates leading this work!” – April Pelt, Director of Online Education, College of Education
Lisa Jackson, Associate Director
“Affectionately known as Mama Lisa, she is the heart of PEER & WISE. Students seek her out for her hugs, her wisdom, and her steady presence. She plays a vital role in supporting our retention programs, but more than that—she truly loves students, and it shows in everything she does.” – Serita Acker, Executive Director, PEER and WISE
Stephanie Henry, Associate Director
“Stephanie is truly a jack of many trades. She works hard to survey students, capture their experiences, and help us find creative ways to increase engagement in our mentoring program and strengthen our Living Learning Community. She also brings joy—loving to play games with students and always making our staff laugh. We appreciate your dedication, energy, and heart for students, Stephanie!” – Serita Acker, Executive Director, PEER and WISE
Regina Taylor, Assistant Director of Assessment and Continuous Improvement
“Regina is a hidden jewel and truly a jack of all trades. She is a subject-matter expert in data analysis and a true fighter. Even while waiting for her kidney and pancreas transplant, she worked faithfully until the call came, all while maintaining a positive and steady demeanor. Regina, thank you for your strength, dedication, and commitment. We are grateful to have you on our team.” – Serita Acker, Executive Director, PEER and WISE
Candice Heatherly, CAFLS Administrative Officer
“Candice is consistently helpful and courteous, always willing to step up and support others whenever needed. Her positive attitude and collaborative spirit make her a pleasure to work with everyday. She is an invaluable member of CAFLS, and her contributions and willingness to help others lifts everyone around her.” – Anonymous
Levi Roach, Outreach and Operations Manager
“Levi is a consistently positive and dedicated member of our team. He oversees the Fluor Study Hall and Tutoring Center, providing academic support to all undergraduate students in the college. He also leads community outreach efforts that bring K–12 students to campus, exposing them to STEM disciplines and Clemson University. While managing a full-time role, Levi recently completed his master’s degree and actively serves in Staff Senate. His leadership, commitment to student success, and service to the university make him highly deserving of this nomination.” – Serita Acker, Executive Director
Brittany Sanders-Bell, Assistant Director of Next Engineers Greenville
“Brittany Sanders-Bell is a true standout and an invaluable leader on our team, deserving of this shout-out. She plays a key role in supporting a $5 million grant awarded to PEER & WISE to strengthen the engineering pipeline. Brittany helps oversee outreach to middle and high school students and the community, as well as an exceptional academy program that has successfully recruited many students to Clemson University with scholarships. Her leadership, dedication, and impact make her highly deserving this shout-out.” – Serita Acker, Executive Director
Department of Residential Living
“Thank you for showing up in such a big way during the recent inclement weather and supporting Housing Operations and the Area Desk. Your flexibility and willingness to jump in wherever needed made a real difference for staff and our students. Because of your teamwork, our operations continued to run smoothly and residential students were supported – which is what your department does best! We are so grateful for your partnership and behind-the-scenes hard work—ResLiving truly came through, and we couldn’t have done it without you!” – Brianna Lombardozzi, Director, Housing Operations
Leah Qualkinbush, Human Resources Service Manager
“We appreciate Leah so very much for her ongoing assistance! Whether it is a quick administrative need or a longer-term thought process or research project, she is a great partner in our work to support both staff and students!” – Kathy Bush Hobgood, Associate Vice President, Student Affairs
Daja Daniels, Recruitment and Career Specialist
“Shout-out to Daja Daniels for always going above and beyond in every area. She does a wonderful job and organizing open houses for the college, advising her student ambassadors, and ensuring every prospective student visit is coupled with an advisor or faculty member of the major. She also does an exemplary job in her position of Building Security Coordinator. Daja spreads joy and laughter everywhere she goes.” – Anonymous
Emily Goodyear, Administrative Coordinator to the Dean, College of Arts and Humanities
“Thank you for all of the help with room reservations! You are awesome!” – Stacey Marcus, Program Manager, Student Success Initiatives
