Tag: College of Arts and Humanities

Hyma Priya Donepudi, Finance /Human Resources Development

“Hyma consistently goes above and beyond to support our team. Her dedication, responsiveness, and commitment have a tremendous impact on our team’s success. Whenever we reach out for assistance, she is always ready and willing to help, approaching every request with professionalism, positivity, and a genuine desire to find solutions. Hyma is exceptionally organized and proactive. She stays on top of critical tasks, follows through on commitments, and ensures important items are completed on time. Her contributions positively influence the work we accomplish and play an important role in helping us achieve our goals.” – Anonymous

Jen Groff and Cristina Shorts, Office Manager and Program Manager, Department of Automotive Engineering

“Jen and Cristina worked hard to pitch a new initiative at CU-ICAR for the students and were granted funding. They are working hard to build an outdoor terrace area for students at CU-ICAR.” – Chali Hunter, Undergraduate Student Services Coordinator

Anthony Bernarducci, Professor and Choral Director, Performing Arts

“Anthony is the best boss and coworker anyone could ask for. His work ethic is unmatched, and his genuine care for the department and our students shines through in everything he does. I’m incredibly grateful for his leadership, support, and the countless ways he makes a difference every day.” – Alyssa Conner, Administrative Assistant, Performing Arts

Cheryl Ingram-Smith, Associate Professor, Genetics and Biochemistry

“Cheryl Ingram-Smith genuinely cares about people, and she is wonderful to work with. She has a gift for bringing light into moments that can sometimes feel stressful or dim. Her thoughtfulness, support, and optimistic spirit have an impact on those she interacts with. I personally feel blessed to work in her department and I hope this reciprocates some of that back to her. Cheryl, if you are reading this, please know how special you are to our community! Thank you for being you.” – Anonymous

Anna Grace Araiza, Language and International Business (LAIB) Advisor, Student Services

“Anna Grace consistently demonstrates exceptional diligence as the LAIB advisor, going above and beyond to support her students with thoughtful guidance and a genuine commitment to their success. Her proactive approach, attention to detail, and unwavering dedication make a lasting impact on both her advisees and the broader College of Arts and Humanities community.” – Daja Daniels, Recruitment and Career Specialist, Student Services

Derek Antos, The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, CCIT

“Derek is always responsive and knowledgeable! He is always there when unexpected tech issues arise and goes above and beyond to support our students, faculty and staff. We are so fortunate to have Derek’s patience and talent in The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business!” – Anonymous

Carson Watts, Academic Advisor, MBA program

“Carson leads with genuine kindness and a willingness to always go the extra mile, making a real difference for our students and our team every day. When we needed her most, Carson stepped up to take on over 200 additional students and handled it all with positivity, grace, and a smile that never faded.” – Anonymous

Victoria Davich, Grants Coordinator I, Grants and Contracts Administration

“Victoria Davich and her Grants Transactional Services team deserve recognition for their outstanding support. Victoria has played a key role in streamlining contract modification processes, and her professionalism—along with her team’s efforts—has been invaluable in advancing our research and supporting Clemson Elevate; she is a pleasure to work with, even on complex projects.” – Anonymous

Nidhi Verma, Business Communications/Technology Specialist, Office of eRA

“Nidhi’s responsiveness, technical expertise, calm demeanor, and professionalism during our website project have been outstanding. We are fortunate to work alongside Nidhi in this process. Thank you, Nidhi!” – Diana Thrasher, Associate Director, Office of Sponsored Programs

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

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

Taryn Turner, Academic Advisor, College of Arts and Humanities

“Taryn is a ray of sunshine, extending light and joy to the people around her. She’ll lift anyone’s spirits, and I’ve seen it through her interactions with both students and colleagues. She’s the queen of scones, and I can speak for our team in saying that she’s an incredible team player. I look forward to seeing her growth within her role and the impact she’s having on students and their journey on campus.” – Anonymous

OTEI Team

“Wow – the OTEI team put together an exceptional Teaching Excellence Conference! I was invited to co-host a poster session and was delighted to participate in large group sessions, roundtable discussions, and breakout talks as well. The team curated contemplative presentation topics and assembled a spectacular panel of students to answer audience questions on students’ use of AI. Thank you for the hard work in organizing this outstanding event. I hope to be invited to the poster/networking session again next year.” – Walker Massey, Digital Accessibility Specialist, CCIT

Lee Tessnear, Director, Learning Environments, University Libraries

“Lee went above and beyond to help reorganize our office space by relocating and repurposing a large piece of furniture. This might sound insignificant, but his effort allowed us to better maximize our available space, create a more functional environment that supports our team’s work supporting research at the university, and also enhance space for students to use for study.” – Anonymous

Tanisha Alexander, Senior Program Coordinator, UPIC

“Shout-out to Tanisha Alexander in the Center for Career and Professional Development! Tanisha is the definition of dedicated, reliable, and efficient—she truly keeps our office running smoothly. With her can-do attitude, attention to detail, and consistent follow-through, she makes sure our UPIC interns have the information and support they need to be successful from day one. We appreciate you, Tanisha!” – Caren Kelley-Hall, Senior Associate Director, UPIC

Nicci Hanewald, Executive Assistant to the President and Director of Operations

“Nicci is very responsive to inquiries and is so helpful. She exceeds my expectations every time that I have reached out to her.” – Anonymous

Jacob Goodale, Business Intelligence Analyst, Business Intelligence

“Jacob is an exceptionally valuable member of both Clemson and the analytics team. He consistently stays on top of his responsibilities, demonstrates a strong work ethic, and shows a genuine eagerness to learn and grow. He ALWAYS brings positive energy and it’s truly a pleasure to work alongside him.” -Anonymous

Perryn Freeman, Director of Information Systems for Enrollment Management

“Perryn has been—and continues to be—an incredible mentor and supervisor. She is a fearless leader and one of the hardest-working individuals I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Perryn is remarkably understanding and always makes time in her busy schedule to support others. She is a tremendous asset to Clemson and an inspiration to those around her.” – Anonymous

Scott Cook, Assistant Director, Military & Veteran Engagement

“Scott, we cannot thank you enough for the wonderful tour and ALL the information you gave us. It was a day that will forever be in our “good memories” bank. (Parent’s name) was overjoyed at the ability to see where (Student’s name) will be for the next four years… The support your department gives is second to none. We are so comfortable sending our amazing daughter to Clemson, knowing your team is there to help her succeed. We were thrilled just thinking we could get a tour and drove away part of a new family. Thank you, thank you, thank you !” – From an email to Military & Veteran Engagement, shared by Emily DaBruzzi, Director, Military & Veteran Engagement

Tim Garrison, Associate Director of Pre-Law Programs, College of Arts and Humanities

“Tim is as kind and genuine as he is knowledgeable in his field. He cares about his coworkers, always puts students first, and continues his scholarship in his free time. Tim is a beloved member of the CAH Student Services team and inspires us all to expand our horizons and consider student impact in all of our decisions. I feel really lucky to have been able to work with him in the last few years. As he finishes writing a new book and plans to retire, Tim is so deserving of a HUGE shout out! Thank you for being you, Tim!” – Anonymous

Jordon Walker, Surplus Property and Receiving

“I have a form to complete for the items that Jordan took for me. He is a pleasure to work with and very professional. I was going to send you a message about this young man when I sent the form. I’ve been at Clemson for 35 years and it is nice to have co-workers like Jordan!” – Carla Stansell, Admin Assistant, VP & CIO Office

Deborah Hammond, Administrative Coordinator, Department of Languages

“Debbie is a great human being and always has been supportive of my work and the work of others in our department, always receiving us with a warm and kind smile, despite how busy she may be. She is always willing to lend a hand to contribute with our department’s programming success. Her assistance with our classes and service-learning activities are a key ingredient that helps us in becoming more efficient and impactful instructors.” – Arelis Moore, Associate Professor, Department of Languages

Maj. Ian Fields, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Air Force ROTC

“Maj. Fields was informed of a student involved in an accident and promptly arrived at the scene to assist with transporting the student and managing the motorcycle. They went above and beyond to ensure the student’s well-being.” – Abbie Sharpe, Administrative Coordinator, Aerospace Studies (Air Force ROTC)

Gregory Hunter, Sr. BI Analyst, Business Intelligence 
“Keep up the great work! You are doing amazing!” – Teodor Giusca, Strategic Data Manager, Enrollment Management

Tammy Pace, Custodian, University Facilities

“Tammy is always a ray of sunshine in our office. She takes such good care of us and always has a smile on her face to brighten everyone’s days!” – Anonymous

Eliza Gallagher, Associate Professor, Engineering & Science Education

“Shout-out to Drs. Gallagher and Bernier, who contacted the Digital Accessibility team for advice and assistance to help foster inclusive coursework engagement. Your bringing software barriers to our attention is an excellent example of partnership in digital access advocacy. Not only has our initial conversation led to speaking engagements with a broader audience, but Clemson’s digital accessibility team is also in conversation with the software developers advising on accessibility modifications to their classroom resources. Your dedication to student success is evident and appreciated.” – Walker Massey, Digital Accessibility Specialist, CCIT Internal Operations

John R. Smith, Senior Lecturer, Director of World Cinema

“Dr. Smith is truly one of a kind and his passion and advocacy for his students is unmatched! The progress that he has made and is making for the World Cinema department is so incredible!” – Anonymous

Christopher Creamer, Ag/Animal Assoc., Simpson Beef Cattle Farm, PREC

“I would like to thank Chris Creamer for his dedication to the Simpson Beef Cattle Farm for 26 years.” – Anonymous

Noelle Granger, Accnt/Fiscal Analyst, Department of History & Geography

“I would like to commend “Noelle Granger” in her first few weeks in her new position in our department. She has done an amazing job thus far and we are very appreciative that she has joined our team!” – Sheri Marcus, Administrative Coordinator 

Sharon Weaver, Insurance Program Assistant, Risk Management

“Huge shout-out to Sharon! Over the past few weeks, she has guided me through three risk management tasks for my program with incredible efficiency. She responds quickly, provides accurate information the first time, and leaves me with total confidence that everything is in good hands. She never lets us down! Sharon, if you’re ever in Charleston, be sure to look us up!”– Jacob Beach, Program Manager, Department of Plant Industry

Claire Garrett/Katie Jennings/Jenni Tonkin, Procurement and Business Services
“I’m offering an enthusiastic shout-out to Claire Garrett, Katie Jennings, and Jenni Tonkin, who are in Procurement and Business Services! Kudos to you for learning and applying digital accessibility best practices for the resources you provide all of us! Your desire to produce user-friendly digital reference material is praiseworthy and only bested by your confidence and enthusiasm to make it happen. I’m excited to continue working with you as you create accessible resources that help every Clemson University employee.” – Walker Massey, Digital Accessibility Specialist, CCIT Internal Operations