Inside Clemson

Author: rreal

Employee Shout-outs – January 28, 2026

January 27, 2026

Serita Acker, Executive Director, PEER & WISE

“Serita goes above and beyond the call of duty for her staff. She cares deeply about the staff succeeding together. She showcases the qualities of a true leader.” – Levi Roach, Outreach and Operations Manager

Claire Dancz, Associate Director, Instructional Innovation, Teaching Effectiveness & Innovation (OTEI)

“Kudos for organizing a great opportunity for teacher to discuss and incorporate new ideas from peers.” – Anonymous

Daune Raines, Procurement & Payroll Support, Finance and Operations

“A huge thank-you to Daune for being such a steady, kind, and dependable presence. Her support in payroll and procurement helps keep everything running smoothly, and her positive spirit makes a real difference.” – Anonymous

Mickayla Crumley, Associate Director, Transfer Programs

“Mickayla has shown incredible dedication to supporting and welcoming new transfer students, creating a positive and welcoming environment that helps students feel prepared for success.” – Alexa Richards, Director, Bridge and Transfer Programs



Garnett Lowell Bradford, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Sciences – December 30, 2025

January 11, 2026

Garnett Lowell Bradford, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Sciences, passed away on December 30, 2025.

Bradford began his Clemson career on August 1, 1988, and retired on March 30, 2001, totaling more than 12 years of service with the University. He joined the Emeritus College on July 12, 2017.

Bradford earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Kentucky and earned a Ph.D. in applied economics and mathematical statistics from North Carolina State University.

Garnett Bradford’s obituary is available online.

Richard (Dick) Allan Underwood, Professor Emeritus of English Language and Literature – January 3, 2026

January 8, 2026

Richard (Dick) Allan Underwood, Professor Emeritus of English Language and Literature, passed away on January 3, 2026.

Underwood began his Clemson career on August 16, 1970, and retired on June 26, 1998, totaling 28 years of the service with the University. He joined the Emeritus College on July 26, 2017.

He was an internationally noted scholar and the author of several books on Shakespeare, and earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Michigan.

Richard Allan Underwood’s obituary is available online.

Don ‘Doc’ Frederick Keller, Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology and Counseling – December 31, 2025

January 6, 2026

Don “Doc” Frederick Keller, Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology and Counseling, passed away on December 31, 2025.

Keller began his Clemson career on August 15, 1973, and retired on March 1, 2006, totaling nearly 33 years. He then joined the Emeritus College in March 2017, a span of nearly nine years.

Keller earned his a bachelor’s degree in business from Southeast Missouri State in 1962, followed by a master’s degree in counseling in 1968. He earned his Doctorate in Educational Psychology and Counseling from Indiana University.

Don Frederick Keller’s obituary is available online.

Amos David Crooks, retiree – January 2, 2026

January 5, 2026

Amos David Crooks, retired building/grounds specialist for the Student Health Center, passed away on January 2, 2026.

Crooks began his Clemson career on January 1, 1993, and retired on June 18, 2004, totaling more than 11 years of service with the University.

A service will be held Thursday, January 8, at 11 a.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Clemson. The family will receive family and friends on Wednesday, January 7, from 6-7 p.m. at Adams Mortuary in Seneca.

Amos David Crooks’s obituary is available online.

George Cavender, Associate Professor, Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences

December 4, 2025

Clemson University mourns the death of George Cavender, associate professor in the Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences.

George Cavender.

“Dr. George Cavender was an exceptional faculty member and a steady, compassionate presence in our Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences (FNPS) department,” said Ramesh Babu Jeganathan, chair of the Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences. “His deep commitment to teaching, his expertise in food science and his genuine care for students shaped the lives of countless young scientists. George approached every aspect of his work with sincerity, humility, and a quiet strength that earned the respect and gratitude of colleagues, students and industry partners alike. His sudden passing leaves a profound void in FNPS and the Clemson community, and we will remember him with great admiration and heartfelt appreciation for all he contributed.”

Cavender began his Clemson career in July 2021 as an assistant professor and was named an associate professor in 2025.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is providing grief counseling to students. Any student who wants to speak to a counselor should contact CAPS at 864-656-2451. After-hours counseling is available by calling 864-656-2451 and selecting option 2 from the menu.

Counseling services are also available to faculty and staff through ComPsych, the University’s Employee Assistance Program provider, at 866-365-0813.

A celebration of life will be held at St. Paul Methodist Church, 14 Martin’s Ford Rd., in Dahlonega, Ga., on Sunday, December 14, at 2 p.m. George Cavendar’s obituary 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.