Category: Shout-outs

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

Preston Kell, Coordinator for Advising and Coaching, Fraternity and Sorority Life

“Preston and the Interfraternity Council (IFC) exec board board planned and executed the Rush for 2025, which had record breaking numbers.” – Trish Robinson, Interim Director, Fraternity and Sorority Life

Vanessa Weston, Sr. Associate Director of Parking Operations

“The Office of Corporate Partnerships would like to recognize Vanessa Weston, Senior Associate Director of Parking Operations, for her outstanding support and dedication. Whenever we host VIP guests on campus, Vanessa consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every detail is handled seamlessly. Her professionalism, reliability, and willingness to go the extra mile make a tremendous difference in the success of our visits. Beyond her expertise, Vanessa is an absolute delight to work with and a true pleasure to know. We are grateful for her partnership and the positive impact she has across campus.” – Leslie Doss, Business Manager, Office of Corporate Partnerships

Lisa Bona, Chief Business Operations Officer, VP Finance & Operations

“A big thank you to Lisa Bona, our Chief Business Operations Officer, for her outstanding leadership and dedication. Your ability to streamline operations, support our team, and keep the bigger picture in focus makes a huge difference every day. We appreciate the vision, guidance, and energy you bring to our organization—keeping us moving forward with excellence! Thank you so much for being you!” – Patrice Cleveland, Administrative Coordinator, Office of Community and Ethical Standards 

The Offices of Student Financial Aid and Student Financial Services

“A heartfelt thank you to the dedicated staff in Clemson’s Offices of Financial Aid and Student Financial Services. Your hard work behind the scenes does not go unnoticed. From processing aid and posting it to tuition bills promptly, to providing exceptional customer service, you consistently go above and beyond — even when students and parents aren’t always on the same “timely” schedule. Your commitment to accuracy, efficiency, and putting students first makes a real difference. Your efforts help ease the financial process and support student success. Thank you for all you do, every single day.” – Jennifer Williams, Associate Director of Financial Aid

Steve Fullerton, Network Operations Center Director, CCIT Customer Support Services

“Steve consistently goes above and beyond to support the NOC team with complex troubleshooting and guidance. His technical expertise and willingness to jump in during critical issues keep our operations running smoothly and make him an outstanding teammate.” – Bharath Kotha, Tier 2 NOC Tech

Juan Xu, Director, Office for Institutional Research

“Juan quickly created a report that is perfect for multiple tasks I must complete each semester. She and her team are so helpful and wizards when it comes to creating just the right dashboard reports to make things a bit easier. Thank you!” – Lillian Essaf, Administrative and Project Manager, CAFLS Academic Affairs

Clemson Extension County Admins and SCAEAP Board members (Vivian Rodriguez, Kesha Horton, Lacey Scoggins, and Rachel Zeiders)

“These Extension admins didn’t just add another task to their already packed roles—they rose to the challenge and shined! They knocked it out of the park by creating a fantastic new SCAEAP newsletter for our members!” – Anonymous

Caroline Robards, Graduate Assistant for ADA Coordinator

“Caroline sought out assistance from our office to make promotional materials accessible for October’s Celebrating All Abilities events. In a very short time, having no prior knowledge of digital accessibility, Caroline identified errors and made alterations to produce an accessible file. Great work! We appreciate your making this a priority, Caroline.” – Walker Massey, Digital Accessibility Specialist, CCIT Internal Operations

Lyndsey Brewer, Talent and Operations Manager, University Development Team

“Shout out to Lyndsey Brewer, our incredible Talent and Operations Manager, for consistently going above and beyond in all that she does. Her dedication, versatility, and commitment make her an invaluable member of our team!” – Ansley Caldwell, 1889 Cumulative Giving Societies Program and Events Manager

Lori Martin, Senior Grants Supervisor, Grants and Contracts Administration

“Lori is an amazing asset to the GCA team! She is a wealth of knowledge. She is also willing to help others! She is a wonderful team lead and always advocate for her team!” – Anonymous

Human Resources Team

“Huge shout out to the HR team for managing the Remote Work Executive Order and Annual Required Training at the same time. Huge task and well done.” – Anonymous

Nathaniel Hazel, International Services, International Student Advisor

“Nathaniel Hazel is an exceptional International Student Advisor. This summer, he issued over 400 immigration documents, reviewed financials, verified assistantships, and guided students from around the globe through the F-1 visa process. His dedication, precision, and care ensured our new international Tigers were well-prepared for their journey to Clemson. Great job, Nate!” – Lindsey Hill, Director, International Services

Leah Gregory, Laboratory Manager, Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science

“A shout-out to Leah Gregory. Leah not only manages the labs at the Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, but she also analyzes water samples, trains students, keeps us in compliance, and does a thousand other important tasks. Leah is also our safety coordinator, and this time of year, she is constantly checking the status of tropical storms to ensure our safety. Thank you for all that you do. We appreciate you, Leah!” – Jim Anderson, Director, Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science

Virginia Tawse, International Employment Coordinator, Human Resources

“Virginia is ALWAYS so helpful and kind. Even during the busiest time of year, she goes above and beyond to provide guidance and demonstrates a genuine desire to be of service. Virginia is such an asset to Clemson, and International Employment Services.” – Anonymous

Tim Dickson, Classroom Audio/Video Integration and Support

“Thanks for the training on the new A/V system on campus, and thank you for supporting our classrooms throughout the year!” – Anonymous

Student Affairs Business Operations Team

“The SABO Team continues to provide exceptional HR and Financial support and expertise to all departments across Student Affairs. They are a small, but mighty team and their hard work does not go unnoticed!“ – Anonymous

MarCom Graphic Designers

“We love it when professionals seek out accessibility training! Big thanks to Jesse Godfrey for teaming with Clemson’s Digital Accessibility team to provide a 9-hour InDesign accessibility workshop series for Clemson’s graphic designers. I had a blast teaching this creative, collaborative group. Well done and shout out to Daniel Austin, Bea Bates, Christen Couch, Tim Crain, Baker Gallimore, Jesse Godfrey, Logan Hickey, Kasi Hubbard, Jen Jefferson, Tina LeMay, Pete Martin, Grayson Miller, Christine Prado, Katie Smithson, Tara Stone, Matt Swank, Chris Waldrop, Liz White, and Ben Wyland.” – Walker Massey, Digital Accessibility Specialist, CCIT Internal Operations

Katherine Porter, Administrative Coordinator I, Department of Public Health Sciences

“Kat is the one individual that keeps our department running 12 months a year. From HR to payroll corrections to moving faculty office furniture, Kat is the hardest worker at Clemson and we love her!” – Rachel Mayo, Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences

Rick Moseley, Building Manager, Life Sciences Facility

“Rick is tireless in solving problems, from big (broken instruments) to small (keys found in a restroom) – I fear he does not get the recognition he deserves!” – Anonymous

Su Cole, Associate Director

“Su is a constant advocate for her team, GCA (as a whole), CU, and ensure compliance in all things. She maintains an open-door policy and encourages discussions and ongoing support efforts for all.” – Amber Hernandez, Grant Administrator I

Vickie Byko, Administrative Assistant, Forestry and Environmental Conservation

“Always helpful and cheerful with a big smile on her face. She always has an answer or finds a way to help you and she loves to organize, all types of organizing — files are her thing.” – Anonymous

Shannon Stefl, Associate Director of Educational Development, Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation

“Shannon’s unwavering support, thoughtful guidance, and commitment to both faculty and graduate students support have made a lasting impact on my academic and personal development. She consistently goes above and beyond, whether by offering timely advice, intentionally creating inclusive opportunities, or simply being a dependable presence. Her leadership fosters confidence and encourages independent thinking, making her a true role model. I’m deeply grateful for her mentorship over the last four years and her continued support as I transition in my staff role. She deserves to be recognized and celebrated across the university for her dedication and positive influence.” – Sarah Otterbeck, Teaching Consultant, Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation

Joy Boatwright, HR Service Manager 

“A huge thank you to Joy for the incredible work she did behind the scenes with the HR hiring processes. Her organization, attention to detail, and steady support help kept everything moving smoothly. Now retired, Joy’s efforts made a big difference for our team. We appreciate you, Joy!” – The Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program

Clemson Online Office (John Dickinson, Millie Tullis, Gray Jackson, Sharyn Emery, David Bassett)

“I find all these people who work in the Clemson Online office very helpful in solving my Canvas issues and answering questions. Great to work with. Very responsive. Thanks for all your assistance.” – Anonymous

Michelle Pickens, CAFLS Business Office Accountant for former PSA Departments

“Thank you for your positive attitude, willingness to take on additional work, great work ethic, strong sense of duty and friendly personality!” – Anonymous

Chris Minor, Dean’s Distinguished Principal Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences

“Chris has led a two year process to improve the textbook offerings for introductory biology students. Crucially, she obtained grant funding for the 9 faculty affected by this change to work together for a week this summer on course development to integrate the new materials. It was extremely helpful!” – Anonymous

Kara Medlin, Certified Peer Recovery Coach, Department of Psychology

“Kara is a dedicated team member who always goes above and beyond in serving our research participants with patience and kindness. She has a calm, reassuring, compassionate demeanor and is truly an inspiration to others.” – Kaileigh Byrne, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

Kelly Collins, Associate Vice President, Financial Operations

“Kelly is an outstanding colleague who is always there to help pull information and data together and answer all of your questions (and sometimes I know that I have a lot of questions). Thoughtful, thorough, kind, and patient are words that immediately come to mind when I think of Kelly. She makes Clemson a better place, and I am grateful to work alongside and with such a fantastic person and teammate.” – Porscha Elton, Executive Director, Presidential Communications

Kelsey Loftus, Business Analyst III, The Graduate School

“I want to give a big shout-out for the outstanding work and dedication shown by Kelsey Loftus. Her attention to detail and positive attitude truly make a difference. Since joining the Grad School, communication and training have exceeded expectations. It’s a pleasure to work with someone who brings such energy and excellence to everything she does. Thank you, Kelsey, for consistently being a lifesaver and an incredible support—your efforts are truly appreciated!” – Donna Jervis, Administrative Coordinator, Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice

Ashley Vaughan, Graduate Student Services Coordinator, EOLD, College of Education

“Ashley provides outstanding support to graduate students, potential students, faculty and staff. She is quick to respond to issues, solution-oriented, and a wonderful collaborator.” – Anonymous

Christy Lester (Department of Chemistry), Callie Brooks (Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business)

“They each went above and beyond to help me finalize a solution for a classroom problem that would have impacted 120 students. They are appreciated!” – Carla Brewer, Registration Coordinator, Department of Biological Sciences