Tag: College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences

Barbara Ramirez, Faculty, College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS)

“Barbara comes into work each day waiting to encourage and assist faculty, staff and students on proposals, dissertations, ABET reports, articles for publications, help graduate students on personal statements to grad schools, government grants and a plethora of other things. She is above and beyond, but for her, “it’s just fun.” She is amazing and needs to be celebrated.” – Tracy Dodson, Administrative Coordinator

Ken Marcus, Robert Adger Bowen Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry

“Ken has been a remarkable mentor to junior faculty in the Department of Chemistry over the last several years. His leadership and mentoring have directly resulted in sustained excellence by assistant professors, evidenced by numerous major NIH and NSF awards.” – Anonymous

Dave Lee (Assistant Vice President, CECAS Promotion) and Tim Crain (Director of Design, CECAS Promotion)

“Dave Lee and Tim Crain helped the Department of Mechanical Engineering upgrade the innovation lab space. The improvements will help enhance the ME brand to people who visit and use the space. We appreciate Dave and Tim working with Dr. Todd Schweisinger to promote the department. The new space looks amazing! Students, faculty and visitors will love it!” – Anonymous

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

Cassidy Karker, CRM System Specialist

“In her short time at Clemson, Cassidy has proven herself to be a fantastic resource and campus partner. I am so appreciative of her generosity and flexibility – we couldn’t have gotten through this application cycle without her!” – Caleb Rogers, Director of Honors Admissions

Andrea Ward, Manager of Payroll Ops (supports CECAS)

“Andrea first listened to me vent about a problem I was facing until I felt better. Then, she found a solution that I didn’t think was possible and got it implemented to the benefit of a student.” – Anonymous

Suzanne Turner, Director of Donor Communications, Central Donor Relations

“Suzanne’s attention to detail and dedication to her work streamline complicated behind-the-scenes processes, resulting in intentional touchpoints that truly resonate with donors. She is a valued partner and a joy to work with.” – Grayson Miller, Art Director, Advancement

Brooke Sunshine, Senior Manager, Human Resources Customer Service

“When I reached out to HR with a complex and confusing situation, Brooke responded promptly, listened with genuine empathy, and made me feel like a priority. She took the time to fully understand my needs and guided me to the right solution with clarity and care. Her professionalism and compassion made a stressful experience feel manageable.” – Anonymous

Madison Ballard, Assistant Business Officer, College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences

“Maddy recently served as the interim Financial Business Manager for the Department of Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences. She has been a tremendous support to the department, responded to emails in a timely manner, provided insight, efficient and a great person to work with!” – Kim Bartholomew-Neptune, Office Manager

Janet Bean, Lo Ross, Hannah Callison, Dan McGee (Department of Finance Advisors)

“Our advisors handle a ton of students, 300-400+ each, and they do so with kindness and detail to make sure the students succeed. Their work loads don’t diminish their spirit towards their colleagues at large and they’re always willing to help out.” – Lisa Kieffer, Factuly and Program Support Specialist, Department of Finance

Kathryn Koning, Assistant Athletic Director of Football Academic Services

“Kathryn is a dependable and proactive presence in our office, consistently ensuring that both staff and student-athletes have the support they need to succeed. She is always willing to step in wherever needed. Kathryn always goes above and beyond to support our football student-athletes, and while it is often a thankless job, her impact is felt daily in the success and stability of our program.” – Erin DeChellis, Senior Associate Director for Athletic Academic Services

Trish Robinson, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life

“Trish provides leadership that calls us to always be improving and growing. She promotes a healthy work environment of respect, balance and teamwork.” – Fraternity and Sorority Life Team

Dionne Holt, Associate Director for Personnel Operations and Engagement/Student Affairs Business Operations

“I wanted to take a moment to recognize and thank Dionne for the outstanding support you consistently provide to our team and the Division of Student Affairs. Your responsiveness, attention to detail, and commitment to ensuring our personnel operations run smoothly do not go unnoticed. You play a key role in fostering a positive and efficient work environment, and your efforts truly make a difference in how we serve our campus community. I appreciate all that you do and am grateful to work alongside you. Warm regards.” – Patrice Cleveland, Administrative Coordinator for OCES and SABO

Melissa Fuentes, Curator II, Biological Sciences

“Melissa led an incredibly engaging and educational tour of the Bob and Betsy Campbell Museum. Her knowledge and passion really stood out. She brought so much depth to the experience and highlighted how much this museum has to offer.” – Skylar Powell, Accountant, Bioengineering

Katherine Moxley, Post Award Financial Manager, College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences

“Katherine is so good at her job that I don’t even need to think about my grants! She is trustworthy, communicative, and so easy to work with!” – Anonymous

Becky Garrigan, Benefits Navigator, Office of Human Resources

“Becky has truly gone above-and-beyond in helping me navigate between the various Clemson HR Departments, SC PEBA, and other organizations to understand all of the various forms and processes involved in a retirement from Clemson. Becky always made herself available by email and meetings to review these procedures. She also patiently answered all of my questions and found answers when she had to reach out to others.” – Ann Marie Alexander, Associate VP, Office of Corporate Partnerships

Richard Cannady, Security Specialist, Physical Security Operations Center, CU Public Safety

“Consistently puts in the effort to be great at his work. He is regularly trusted by our police to use our technology tools to help them be more effective.” – James Gowan, Physical Security Program Coordinator

Serita Acker, Executive Director, PEER & Wise

“Through Serita’s 35 years of dedication as a staff member with CECAS, Serita’s passion for student success and retention has enabled her to secure more than $7M+ in funding for retention and Engineering awareness programs. She has recently secured $1.6M from GE. Part of this money will be used to give out scholarships to high school students who complete the program. I am honored to work alongside someone with such a passion for helping students. CECAS is very lucky!” – Regina Taylor, Assistant Director, Assessment & Continuous Improvement

Carson Watts, Academic Advisor

“Carson exemplifies what it means to truly support students. As my academic advisor, she has gone above and beyond to help me balance a full-time career, graduate school, and being a present father. She has thoughtfully built my course schedule, supported my certificate goals, and consistently makes the MBA experience both manageable and rewarding. What stands out most is her genuine care and responsiveness. Whether it is a quick question or something more complex, Carson is always willing to help, even outside of normal hours. I am incredibly grateful for her support and the impact she has had on my Clemson MBA experience.” – Stone Tracy, Financial Business Manager, CECAS

Madison Carter, Assistant Director of Academic Advising, Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business

“The General Engineering Advising Center would like to congratulate Madison Carter on her well-deserved promotion! She has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and leadership, often going above and beyond in her role. This promotion reflects the incredible work she has already been doing, and we are excited to see her continue to thrive and make an impact in her new position. Congratulations, Madison!” – Anonymous

Laura Kinard, Student Services Manager, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

“Laura is the gold standard of Student Services staff in the entire university with her unbelievable response time, institutional knowledge, and old-school, proactive work ethic! There’s no job she won’t tackle, as exhibited recently when she was running reports for her department and alleviating student issues, all while organizing a poster competition, a guest speaker event, and coordinating an external advisory board visit – which she set up tables, easels and posterboard for herself. We are lucky to have her at Clemson!” – Anonymous

Madison Carter, Program Coordinator/Advisor, General Engineering Advising Center

“The General Engineering Advising Center would like to congratulate Madison Carter on her new role as the Assistant Director of Academic Advising in the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business! Her dedication, professionalism and consistent excellence make her an invaluable member of our team, whom we will miss dearly! This achievement reflects the great work she has already been doing, and we are so excited to see all she will accomplish in her new role.” – Anonymous

Anthony Work, Associate Director, CECAS CORE

“Thank you so much to Anthony Work for coming out at the last minute to help us set up for a faculty meeting. He is super knowledgeable and always willing to help!” – Kay Faith, Mechanical Engineering

Patricia Whitener, 4-H Natural Resource Programs & Well-Being Council Ambassador, Extension

“Patricia did another wonderful job organizing Forest Fest. It was such a success and added value to the Clemson Community.” – Anonymous

Jennifer Robertson, Office Manager, General Engineering

“Jennifer did a fantastic job organizing and running Major Discovery Night. Because of her work, over 400 students had a fantastic experience networking with Clemson alumni working in engineering, along with faculty and students. It got rave reviews from students and alumni, all thanks to her planning, hard work, and dedication to providing the number one student experience.” – Anonymous

Kimberly Francis, Administrative Coordinator I, Finance & Operations

“Kim is an amazing person! She is so kind and helpful, and if she isn’t sure how to help, she finds someone who can.” – Anonymous

Johnsie Stancil, Honors Advisor/Registration Coordinator, Honors College

“Appreciate all your help with the Distinction Ceremony planning, I couldn’t do it without you! Three words – Spreadsheet of Truth. 🙂 ” – Ashley Romero, Office Manager, Honors College

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

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