Author: Colby Lanham

Brad Fowler, Horticulture Extension Agent, Horry County

“Brad volunteered to host and coordinate our team meeting in Georgetown, SC and did a terrific job. We had a great meeting at the Baruch Institute, with great professional development tours. It wouldn’t have been possible without Brad!” – Cory Tanner, Horticulture Team Leader, Cooperative Extension

Toni Becker, Student Services Manager 

“Your outstanding dedication to supporting graduate students is amazing—from meticulously reviewing applications to guiding them through orientation and fostering both their personal and academic development. Your commitment has made a meaningful impact on their success and the strength of our program.” – Sandi Priddy, Administrative Coordinator

Rachel Mustin, Taryn Turner, Dorcas Perez, Anna Grace Araiza, Nicky Jones, Daja Daniels and Sara Tolson, Advisors, College of Arts & Humanities Student Services Team

“Shout out to CAH Student Services Team for being the best! You serve students so well.” – Julia Robinson, Director of Student Services

Dionne Holt, Associate Director for Student Affairs Personnel Operations & Engagement

“Huge shoutout to Dionne Holt for her dedication to creating an engaged and collaborative experience for all staff in the Division of Student Affairs! Her hard work in spearheading the launch of our Orange Pulse staff experience program has already shown promise in boosting morale and improving our staff culture. Dionne, thank you for your commitment to ensuring that staff are valued, motivated, engaged, and that there is a place where their voice can be heard; Motivate.Engage.ROAR!” – Lisa Bona, Chief Business Operations Officer, Student Affairs Business Operations

Cooperative Extension, Midlands District Agents

“Shout out to these individuals who play a critical role in ensuring that the content produced by the Cooperative Extension from the Midlands District meets high standards for accessibility: Katie Collins, Jonathan Croft, Will Culler, David DeWitt, Alivia Gunter, Lacey Harrington, Toni Heriot, Gila Holland, Kesha Horton, Faith Isreal, Meagan Jordan, Terasa Lott, Pat McDaniel, Hannah Mikell, Vivian Rodriguez, Amanda Rudd, Janet Steele. Their efforts in understanding and applying digital accessibility concepts to their work contribute to a more inclusive Clemson and Cooperative Extension, aligning with the vision to be the trusted source of information on agriculture, community, environment, food, health, and youth in South Carolina.” – Walker Massey, Digital Accessibility Specialist, CCIT Internal Operations

Sam Downs, Operations Manager

“Thank you, Sam, for all of your efforts in improving and maintaining our facilities. The driveway renovation and the new fencing at Andy’s Cottage look amazing.” – Jim Anderson, Director, Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science 

Ashley Anthony, Accountant, Genetics and Biochemistry

“Ashley tackles the messes we make with Concur and makes it all work. We would be a floundering mess without her.” – Anonymous

Lyndsey Brewer, Talent and Operations Program Manager, Advancement

“Lyndsey’s willingness to help across departments in Advancement stands out every day. She responds immediately with a strong sense of urgency while maintaining a positive attitude which makes a meaningful difference.” – Kathy Breffle, Manager of Financial Operations, Advancement

Charlie Poole, Electrician, University Facilities

“Charlie should be recognized for his dedication to doing the job correct and on time. Works well with his customers here within the University. He is not reluctant to ask for advice when he is faced with unfamiliar technical situations.” – Wayne Atkinson, Arc Flash Program Coordinator, University Facilities Utilities Group

Karen Parker, CCIT Customer Support Service

“Karen is always ready to help and support our department, doing so efficiently and with a smile. Anytime we need technical help, she is there for us.” – Anonymous

Dorcas Perez, Academic Advisor, College of Arts and Humanities

“Dorcas is an indispensable member of the Student Services team within the College of Arts and Humanities. Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to student success, they tailor each advising session to address the needs of every student. Beyond advising responsibilities, Dorcas consistently offers support to their colleagues, whether through a thoughtful check-in or an extensive conversation. Their dedication to fostering a collaborative and caring team environment underscores their genuine concern for the collective well-being of the entire department.” – Anonymous

Kate Lombard, Director of Summer Start

“Kate has done an outstanding job developing a Summer Start program that prioritizes students and fosters a strong sense of belonging at Clemson. She has also built a highly supportive team that is dedicated to ensuring the success of all Summer Start students.” – Anonymous

Helen Diamond Steele, Executive Director of Strategy & Campus

“Helen’s kindness and caring make her a credit to Clemson and a friend to everyone that she works with. She will help anyone, no matter who they are or what they need.” – Cindy Roper, Research Associate, Houston Center

Tina White, Director of Video Services, Marketing and Communications

“Tina is a true gem here at Clemson. She is often behind the scenes (or a video lens), but the work she does and helps produce is nothing short of true masterpieces. Flexible, always makes people laugh and puts them at ease, creative, thoughtful – I could go on and on, but she is an outstanding teammate. I am grateful that I get to work with her regularly. If you’ve ever seen any of the amazing video content we put out (think of even many of the videos that go on social), that’s Tina and her team. I’ve worked at a few universities during my career so far, and almost immediately upon arriving at Clemson several years ago, I said our video team is one of the best I’ve ever seen, and that remains true. Tina helps our team excel and she elevates the brand of the Tiger Paw through her work every day. ” – Porscha Elton, Executive Director, Presidential Communications

Lori Brierre, Assistant Director of Operations Procurement and Business Services

“Forward thinking and innovative and anticipates trends. Always seeking ways to improve processes so that others have a pleasant experience.” – Anonymous

Michelle Marchesse, Administrative Coordinator, Student Services, Landscape Architecture

“Michelle has a wide range of responsibilities in Landscape Architecture and performs each one with dedication, kindness and care. She consistently goes above and beyond to help everyone who walks through her door!” – Anonymous

Elise Eggert, Lead Procurement Coordinator, CAAC

“Thank you for being such an uplifting and generous colleague in Lee Hall!” – Anonymous

Shay Vinson, Student Services Coordinator, Richard A. McMahan School of Architecture

“Shay is an amazing asset to the School of Architecture and a highly valued team member! She is a tireless advocate for students and provides outstanding support to not only the students but to faculty and staff as well.” – Anonymous

Matt Breed, Attending Veterinarian

“For standing up for animal welfare and tirelessly advocating for all animals on campus.” – Anonymous

HR Document Editors and Authors

“I’m offering an enthusiastic shout-out to this tenacious group of document authors in the Office of Human Resources. Kudos to the following individuals for learning and applying digital accessibility best practices to the resources that support every Clemson University employee: Anna Cobranchi, Latoya Daniels, Sharon Frye, Lisa Holland, Jennifer Lannom, Katie Papakostas, Leah Qualkinbush, Jennifer Ray, Katie Smithson, Kristy Snider, Sydney Waugh and Robyn Williams.” – Walker Massey, Digital Accessibility Specialist, CCIT

Academic Success Center Staff

“Shout out to the Academic Success Center staff: Brittany Goodson, Amber Eckersley and Joe Wilson. Thanks for hosting me for a conversation on document accessibility. Your investment in learning to provide accessible files to students is just another step toward students strengthening skills, building confidence and resourcefulness and learning how to learn. Thank you for prioritizing digital accessibility in the learning resources you provide to Clemson students.” – Walker Massey, Digital Accessibility Specialist, CCIT

Ladell Watson, Coordinator for Advising and Coaching, Fraternity and Sorority Life

“A big shout out to Ladell Watson, the NPHC Exec Board, and the NPHC organizations at Clemson for a successful Fall Fest Step Show as part of Homecoming. It was a great show and students, families, and alumni had an amazing time.” – Trish Robinson, Interim Director, Fraternity and Sorority Life

Tara Wood and Nick Richbell, Instruction and Outreach Archivist (Tara), Head of Special Collections and Archives (Nick)

“The University Libraries recently hosted a Special Collections and Archives – Behind the Scenes Tour, offering the opportunity to view a diverse collection of historical objects and documents from Clemson University’s history. Tara and Nick guided our small group through the exhibit, showcasing their extensive knowledge of Clemson University and its artifacts. We left with new information and found the tour to be very engaging and fun. Thank you, Tara and Nick!” – Morgan Pew, HR Service Manager 

Sarah Edison, Associate Director, Brooks Center for the Performing Arts

“Sarah’s commitment to the Brooks Center and staff is evident by her strong work ethic and compassion for others. She is always the first to offer help when needed.” – Anonymous

Sara Tolson, STEM Start Program Coordinator, Undergraduate Learning

“Sara has done an incredible job of giving the STEM Start program a strong structure to support the needs of the students in the program and to ensure students are aware of the resources available to them. She has been innovative and organized and has set STEM Start up for even greater success for the summer of 2026.” – Anonymous

Bradley Coker, Coordinator, First Year Academic Programs, Undergraduate Learning

“Bradley has laid a strong groundwork for Summer Start 2026 by collaborating with campus partners to ensure Summer Start students are able to connect with others through academic workshops and social activities. We are excited to see all the new collaborations and opportunities students will have this summer!” – Anonymous

Dustin Foxworth, Chief Business Officer in the Department of the Provost

“He has shown extraordinary patience and grit through countless calls and financial consultations on complex grant issues that were never really his problem. Even when frustrations ran high (mine included), he stayed calm, focused, and determined to solve every challenge. His thoughtful oversight has helped manage, spend out, and troubleshoot major national grants supporting the work of both my colleague Professor Rhondda R. Thomas and myself. He listens, understands problems clearly, and resolves them with skill and grace. His talent extends far beyond the scope of his duties, especially in how deftly he works with people.” – Susanna Ashton, Professor, Department of English

Chris Caldwell, Business Analyst, Records and Registration

“Chris is one of the most helpful, cooperative and cheerful people I have ever worked with. He is always willing to help and always has a smile.” – Anonymous

Shawna Cass, Communications & Engagement Director; Honors College 

“Shawna is really an unsung hero across our campus. She works across colleges, units and divisions, as well as with our students, faculty, and staff daily to tell the stories of our students and the story of Clemson. She is an incredible collaborator, always working to connect the dots between people and making things as efficient as possible. I am so grateful Shawna is a part of Clemson and am honored to call her my teammate, colleague and friend.” – Porscha Elton, Executive Director, Presidential Communications

Sandi Priddy, Administrative Coordinator, Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation

“Sandi brings energy and caring to her position each day. Sandi has worked tirelessly this semester to coordinate critical department meetings with external partners, provide logistical support for our graduate students, and she was instrumental in helping the department and its student clubs have a presence at the CAFLS tailgate in October!” – Kyle Barrett, Interim Department Chair, Dept. of Forestry and Environmental Conservation

Michelle Navis, Operations Manager / Program Coordinator of the Brook T. Smith Launchpad

“Michelle has the most welcoming personality to our students, faculty and staff. She also greets guests of the Launchpad with a friendly demeanor making all feel our team’s love of Clemson, entrepreneurship, and people.” – Kimberly Stokes Morgan, Operations Manager of the Brook T. Smith Launchpad

Marianne Glaser, Principal Lecturer, Department of Communication 

“Marianne Glaser, Principal Lecturer, goes by another name in our department: Head Cheerleader. Whether it be shining light on a colleague’s latest accomplishment in our monthly meetings, responding to each and every one of her 575 students’ emails personally and thoughtfully, or affirming and empowering our GTAs who are leading lab sections, Marianne is the one ray of sunshine that will always glow in the midst of any storm. In 2020, when COVID made basic survival an unknown for many, Marianne volunteered to bring supplies of any kind to anyone who needed anything. I didn’t know a person could embody pure joy under any circumstances, but then I met Marianne—and her cheers remind me, our colleagues, and our students that we can make a strong and lasting difference in one another’s lives.” – Ashley Pikel, Senior Lecturer, Department of Communication 

Gina Jadunandan, Research Assistant, Psychology

“Gina keeps the Greenville branch of the IEA functioning with her longstanding experience, hard work, dedication, and kindness. Thank you for all that you do!” – Anonymous

Lee Van Vlake, Program Team Director, Clemson Extension Service

“Lee works hard to lead our Livestock and Forages program team. He asks for input, listens, and implements the suggestions where he can. He fights for our team members and helps us all grow and progress to be better agents and a better team. Lee is a great leader. Thank you, Lee!” – Anonymous

Amber Starnes, Area Livestock and Forages Agent, Clemson Extension

“Amber is the heart of team work and cooperation. She not only takes care of her own work over four counties, but also works tirelessly in creating registration sites for all of our team programs and helping implement the Salesforce client management system. Amber goes above and beyond every day. Thanks, Amber!” – Anonymous

Nalinee Patin, IRB Manager

“Nalinee goes above and beyond to help everyone with their research compliance needs. She is such a pleasure to work with, and I’m proud to call her my friend and colleague.” – Anonymous

Emilee Mayo, HR Service Manager

“A huge shout-out to our amazing HR Service Manager, Emilee, for her incredible dedication and efficiency! Her proactive approach and commitment to excellence keep our departments running smoothly and make a real difference every day.” – Anonymous

Toni Shaw, Executive Assistant to AVP for Enrollment Management

“Toni’s kindness, professionalism, and dedication stand out every day. Since my first day at Clemson, she has gone above and beyond to support those around her and ensure everything runs seamlessly. She truly embodies what it means to be an outstanding colleague.” – Teodor Giusca, Data Manager, Enrollment Management

Derek Antos, IT Consultant, Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business

“Derek is an incredible Clemson employee and is always ready to help. He goes above and beyond the call of duty regularly and even he helped our Real Estate Club remotely at 7 p.m.!” – Elaine Worzala, Clinical Professor

Clemson Department of Plant Industry, Nursery Inspection Team (Alayna Vasilakis, Ashley Vaughan, Gus Elmore, Jimmy Lisenby, Kerrie Roach, and Michael Franks)

“The Nursery Program team took our mission of “Inspect to Protect” to a whole new level with more inspections, surveys, export certifications, and invasive species detections than ever before.” – Theodore Zee, Nursery Operations Coordinator, Department of Plant Industry

Aubrey Baldwin, Erica Riggins, and Sarah Clarke (Executive Director Student Experience Director, Engagement & Student Transitions Director, First Year Student Success CES Living-Learning Community, CECAS)

“A huge thank you to Aubrey, Erica, and Sarah who volunteered to lead a group of over 45 Honors students in exploring their strengths through the Clifton Strengths assessment in our first-year Honors seminar classes. They were knowledgeable, engaging, and our students appreciated the time to process their strengths!” – Anonymous

David “Dave” VanDeventer, University Facilities, Custodial Recycling Services Manager

“Thank you, Dave, for your quick and reliable support with an impromptu request from recycling services. You and your team ensured I had everything I needed, and you delivered within just a few hours of my request. I truly appreciate your responsiveness and dedication—thank you again!” – Derek Ekaitis, Staff and Faculty Relations Manager, Office of Human Resources

Chuck Adams, Benefits Navigator

“Chuck is always friendly, helpful, thorough, and understanding during open enrollment. He makes me feel cared for as an employee at Clemson.” – Anonymous

Nalinee Patin, IRB Manager

“Nalinee goes above and beyond to help everyone with their research compliance needs. She is such a pleasure to work with, and I’m proud to call her my friend and colleague.” – Anonymous

International Services Team

“Wasim Gendi, Nathaniel Hazel, Phyllis Lawless, and Natalia Rey are FANTASTIC! They have worked tirelessly over the past few weeks to welcome our new and continuing international students to campus! Thank you Team for all your hard work!” – Lindsey Hill, Director, International Services

Walker Massey, IT Accessibility Specialist, CCIT Internal Operations

“Walker is an exceptional expert in her field and goes out of her way to help anyone new to digital accessibility. Her enthusiasm for creating a digital accessible campus is contagious and has sparked an accessibility fire that will surely not go out!” – Anonymous

Shannon Lattimore, Administrative assistant, Center for Human Genetics

“Shannon is essential for the smooth functioning of the Center for Human Genetics, taking care of a multitude of diverse tasks which she always completes on time or ahead of time and to perfection. She has a ‘can do’ attitude and personifies the quality of performance that Clemson University emulates: dedication, service, respect and excellence.” – Anonymous

Suzanne Droddy, Accountant (CAFLS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs)

“She has worked tirelessly and thanklessly for her department for several years. It is time to give employees like Suzanne the thanks they deserve!” – Anonymous

Mary Montgomery, Associate Director of Residential Community Standards

“I want to recognize Mary Montgomery, Associate Director of Residential Community Standards, for her commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and respectful living environment for our students. Your leadership, fairness, and dedication to student success ensure our communities thrive. Thank you for the care you show daily in guiding students toward accountability and growth–you make a lasting impact on our campus! You will forever be a shining star!” – Patrice Cleveland, Administrative Assistant for The Office of Community and Ethical Standards (OCES)

ClemsonLIFE Staff

“I am truly grateful for such an incredible team of colleagues. Your kindness, compassion, and unwavering commitment shine through in everything you do. The way you go above and beyond for our students each day makes a lasting difference, and I feel fortunate to work alongside each of you. We really do have the best staff. Thank you for all you continue to do.” – Noel Jensen, ClemsonLIFE, Administrative Assistant 

Cameryn Kirmss, Business Intelligence Analyst

“Cameryn is an outstanding member of the Business Intelligence team. She has an exceptional talent for transforming data into insightful, user-friendly dashboards that empower others to make better data-driven decisions. Beyond her technical expertise, Cameryn is a strong communicator, an inspiring leader, and a genuinely kind person to work with.” – Anonymous

Pam Hendrix Center for Education Abroad Team

“Thank you for all of your hard work planning and hosting the Study Abroad Fair!” – Meredith Wilson, Director of Education Abroad

Mimi Rose, Administrative Manager, Clemson Design Center in Charleston, School of Architecture

“Thanks for your dedication and tireless effort in always trying to keep the Center running smoothly. You are awesome!” – Anonymous