Category: Resources

By: Beth Anne Johnson, Marketing and Communications Manager, PEER Program

College is hard. Engineering and computing college is harder. And the students who thrive are not always the most naturally gifted — they are the ones who find their people, use their resources, and show up even when the semester gets heavy.

That is exactly what PEER is here for.

What Is PEER?

PEER — Programs for Educational Enrichment and Retention — is the student success center within Clemson’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. We exist for one reason: to make sure talented students do not just arrive at Clemson but stay, grow, and graduate ready to lead.

And here is something every CECAS student should know — PEER is open to every undergraduate in the college. You do not need an invitation. You do not need to be struggling. You just need to walk through the door.

Your Mentors Are Waiting

At the heart of PEER is our mentoring program — a team of trained upperclassmen who have navigated the same coursework, the same pressures, and the same late nights you are facing right now. They hold weekly office hours in the PEER Lounge in Freeman Hall, and they are there to help you work through academic challenges, navigate the Clemson experience, and build the kind of confidence that carries you all the way to graduation.

Drop in. Ask your question. Stay a while. That is what the lounge is for.

Weekly Mentor Meetings — Now Open to All Students

This semester we opened our weekly mentor meetings to every CECAS student who wants to attend. These sessions run every Thursday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM — unless we have a special event, which we will always announce in advance.

Each week covers something different — and we designed the calendar intentionally to meet students where they are across the full arc of the semester. Here is what we have been up to and what is still ahead:

Fall 2026 Workshop and Event Calendar

November and December

• November 5 — Stress, Anxiety, and Mental Health Resources
• November 19 — Thanksgiving Dinner — come eat, rest, and be with your people
• December 3 — Gingerbread House Competition
• December 10 — End of semester celebration

More Than a Program — A Community

What makes PEER different is not any single workshop or event. It is the accumulation of small moments — the mentor who remembered your name, the Thursday session where something clicked, the dinner where you realized you were not carrying this alone.

We are not here to fix you. You do not need fixing. We are here to walk alongside you — through the hard weeks, the big decisions, and the moments when Clemson feels like the best place in the world.

Come find us. Freeman Hall, Room 158. The door is open and so are we. 🧡🐾

PEER is open to all undergraduate students in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences at Clemson University. Weekly mentor meetings are held every Thursday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM unless otherwise noted.

By: Beth Anne Johnson, Communications & Marketing Manager
PEER at Clemson University

Engineering and computing coursework is rigorous by design. The material is demanding, the pace is fast, and there will be weeks when a concept that seemed clear in lecture refuses to make sense on paper at 11 o’clock at night.

That is not a sign that you do not belong here. It is a sign that you are exactly where PEER Tutoring exists to help.

What Is PEER Tutoring?
PEER Tutoring is a free academic support service available to every undergraduate student in Clemson’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. Our tutors are fellow CECAS students — upperclassmen who have successfully completed the courses you are navigating right now and chose to show up for someone else because of it.

They are not here because you are failing. They are here because you are serious about succeeding.

What Can I Bring?
Anything. A concept from lecture that is not clicking. A problem set you have worked through three times without confidence. A subject you want to get ahead of before the next exam. Our tutors are trained to meet you where you are — whether you are keeping up, getting ahead, or working through a genuinely tough stretch.

When and Where?
PEER Tutoring is available Monday through Thursday from 7:00 to 10:00 PM in Freeman Hall, Room 158. No appointment needed. Just walk in.

One More Thing

Executive Director Serita Acker puts it simply: tutoring is not just for when you are struggling. It is for when you are preparing to do your very best.
Come find us. The door is open and so are our tutors. 🧡🐾

📍 Freeman Hall, Room 158 | Clemson University
🕖 Monday – Thursday | 7:00 – 10:00 PM

“The Clemson Family is not a slogan. It is a responsibility.”

By Serita Acker, Executive Director, PEER at Clemson University

College is not something that happens to you. It is something you choose — every single day.

I have watched thousands of students walk through our doors at PEER over the years. The ones who look back on their time at Clemson with the most pride are not always the ones who earned the highest grades. They are the ones who showed up — fully, consistently, and with intention.
So let me share three things I wish every student knew before their first semester ended.

Show up — even when you do not feel like it.
Attend the workshop. Go to the study session. Walk into the room where you do not know anyone yet. Opportunity does not find people who are waiting in their dorm rooms. It finds people who are present. You will be surprised how many doors open simply because you were there

Be where your feet are.
When you are in class, be in class. When you are with your mentor, be with your mentor. We live in a world that competes aggressively for your attention — and the students who learn to be fully present in this season of their lives build a skill that will serve them in every boardroom, laboratory, and relationship that follows.

Be a steward of your community.
The Clemson Family is not a slogan. It is a responsibility. Tutor a classmate. Mentor a first-year student. Volunteer. Show up for someone else the way someone once showed up for you. What you give to this community will outlast your four years here — and it will shape the kind of professional and person you become.

Campus life is not a backdrop to your education. It is your education.
Come find us in Freeman Hall, Room 158. We are here for all of it — with you, every step of the way.

Serita Acker is the Executive Director of PEER at Clemson University’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences.

“The skills you build here, how you communicate, how you lead, how you connect with the people around you — are just as essential as anything you will learn in a classroom.”

– Serita Acker, Executive Director, PEER

By: Serita Acker, Executive Director, PEER at Clemson University

If you have walked past our office lately, visited our website, or scrolled through our social media channels, you may have noticed something a little different. The name has changed — and with it, a renewed clarity of purpose.

We are PEER. Programs for Educational Enrichment and Retention. And we have never been more ready to serve you.

For years, this program has stood at the intersection of academic excellence and community — a place where engineering, computing, and applied sciences students come not just to survive their coursework, but to thrive in it and beyond it. That has not changed. What has changed is how we show up.

The rebrand reflects something we have believed all along: that the skills you build here — how you communicate, how you lead, how you connect with the people around you — are just as essential as anything you will learn in a classroom. We call them essential skills. And together with the rigorous technical education you are already receiving in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, they are what will set you apart in every room you walk into after graduation.

You will still find the same warm welcome at our door. The same mentors who know your name. The same commitment to making sure every student who walks through our doors walks out more prepared, more connected, and more confident than when they arrived.

PEER has a new look. The heart behind it has never wavered.
Come see us. We are right where we have always been — and we are so glad you are here.

Serita Acker is the Executive Director of PEER at Clemson University’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences.

By Serita Acker, Executive Director, PEER

By this point in the year, many of us are already feeling it—the quiet pressure of New Year’s goals colliding with real life. Classes are moving fast, inboxes are full, and the to-do list never seems to get shorter. Somewhere between the deadlines and responsibilities, it becomes easy to forget one very important item.

You.

One practice I return to again and again is simple, but powerful: I write myself into my to-do list. Not as an afterthought, and not only when everything else is finished—but intentionally. Because you are not your productivity. You are a whole person, deserving of care, rest, and joy.

For me, writing myself into the list looks like reading articles or books purely for fun—no notes, no outcomes required. It looks like leading a women’s group that fills my cup as much as it gives back. It looks like rest, movement, and shared laughter while exercising alongside my husband and daughter. These moments don’t slow me down; they sustain me.

When resolutions start to feel tested, this is often the moment when we’re tempted to push harder and do more. But growth doesn’t always come from adding. Sometimes it comes from honoring what you need to stay grounded and whole.

As students, leaders, and lifelong learners, you carry a lot. You show up, you work hard, and you aim high. That matters. But so do the moments that remind you who you are outside of your achievements.

So today, and every day, I encourage you to do this one small thing: write yourself into your to-do list. Your future self will thank you.

By: Beth Anne Johnson

Finals are around the corner, and we know this season can feel like a sprint and a marathon all at once. That’s why PEER is opening our doors all month long with something simple that makes a big difference: snacks, community, and a place to breathe.

Throughout December, swing by the PEER space during your study sessions and fuel up with free snacks to keep your energy steady and your mind sharp. Whether you’re reviewing notes before an exam, putting the finishing touches on a project, or just need a moment to reset, we’ve got you covered.

Think of this as your home base—somewhere you can settle in, recharge, and know you’re not doing this alone. Bring a friend, grab a granola bar or a cup of something warm, and get back to your work feeling a little lighter and a little more supported.

We’re proud of the hard work you’ve put in this semester, and we want to help you finish strong. So stop by, take a break, and let us cheer you on as you close out the year.

See you in December!

By: Beth Anne Johnson

As we approach the busy stretch of the semester, students are working hard to stay on top of their classes, projects, and exams. At PEER, we know that having the right study tools can make all the difference—especially when you’re tackling tough engineering and computing coursework.

That’s why we’re hosting a Supplemental Materials Drive, and we’d love your help.

If you have old exams, study guides, worksheets, or review packets from previous semesters, consider passing them forward. These materials give future students a clearer picture of what to expect, how to prepare, and where to focus their time. Something that once lived at the bottom of your backpack could be exactly what helps someone else feel confident walking into their next test.

How to Participate:
Simply drop off your materials at Freeman 158 anytime during office hours. Our team will organize and share them with students who need extra support in their classes.

Your contribution—big or small—helps strengthen our community of learners. Thank you for taking a few minutes to make someone else’s academic journey a little easier.

Let’s keep lifting each other up, one exam at a time.

By: Beth Anne Johnson

For Scout Hamrick, a Biomedical Engineering graduate from Georgetown, South Carolina, Clemson was more than a university—it was the place where her path to a career in medicine took shape. A spring 2025 grad, Scout will begin medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina in fall 2026.

“I came in as a first-year student a little unsure of what college life would bring,” Scout admits. “But through the PEER WISE mentorship program, I really found my way. I learned how to plug into my resources.”

That early support lit a spark that carried her through her time at Clemson. By her junior year—technically her last—Scout was giving back as a PEER WISE tutor, helping other students navigate not just tough coursework but the ups and downs of college life. “As a tutor, I realized that helping people goes way beyond class material,” she says. “Sometimes the struggles are about balance, confidence, or believing in yourself outside the classroom. That experience helped shape the kind of doctor I want to be.”

Now working as a medical scribe during her gap year, Scout is preparing to start medical school, where she hopes to specialize in orthopedic surgery. “I love working with my hands and solving puzzles,” she says. “Surgery excites me—it’s detailed, precise, and deeply rewarding.”

Her time at Clemson gave her more than a foundation in biology, chemistry, and psychology. From bioengineering capstone projects to the BEACH Summer Program at MUSC, she discovered how theory meets practice—and how passion turns into purpose. “That summer program confirmed where I wanted to be for medical school,” she says. “It helped me see that I was right where I needed to be.”

Her advice to current students? “Keep your head down and power through toward your goals. Don’t compare your path to anyone else’s. Everyone’s journey looks different, and that’s okay. Just do your best—and remember, med school applications look at who you are as a whole person, not just your grades.”

With heart, grit, and a steady belief in herself, Scout is proof that finding your way often begins with showing up, working hard, and caring deeply.

By: Beth Anne Johnson

For Brad Buncomb, Industrial Engineering Class of 2017, Clemson has always felt like home. Growing up in North Augusta, South Carolina, Brad spent countless weekends attending Clemson games with his family. But it wasn’t until a spring visit for SEE Clemson—a campus tour and mentorship day—that he felt the true pull of the Clemson Family.

“I remember Mrs. Sue being there,” Brad recalls with a smile. “Everyone was so warm and welcoming. It really helped me feel like I belonged.”
Sue Lasser served as PEER & WISE Executive Director for many years and mentored Serita Acker, who later followed in her footsteps as Executive Director. That legacy of mentorship and community became a cornerstone of Brad’s Clemson Experience.

Brad joined the Math Excellence Workshop—now the PEER WISE Experience (PWE)—where he found both friendship and focus. “There were only about 12 of us, and we became really close,” he says. “That experience helped me come out of my shell, manage my time, and learn how to use the many resources Clemson offered.”

Through his years in PEER & WISE, Brad built habits that continue to serve him in his career. Now an Operations Strategy Manager at Home Depot, he works on implementing new technology in stores and improving operational processes. “If I can make something better, I want to,” he says. “What excites me most is seeing the impact—not just on the business, but on people’s everyday experiences.”

Outside of work, Brad finds joy in sports, family, and maintaining the friendships that shaped his Clemson journey. “There’s always more work to do,” he reflects, “but it’s important to set boundaries and prioritize what matters—family, friends, and community.” Brad also gives back through Emerging 100, a mentoring and leadership organization in the greater Atlanta area.

His advice to current students? “Stay connected. Keep your network strong. That Clemson Family lasts well beyond graduation.”

By: Beth Anne Johnson

When Chemical Engineering alumna Kenetra Johnson (‘21) packed her bags for New York City, she carried more than her Clemson degree. She brought with her the encouragement, resilience, and sense of community she found at PEER & WISE. Today, as she celebrates four years in the city that never sleeps, Kenetra reflects on the moments that shaped her—and the risks that paid off.

A Starting Point in Community
Kenetra first learned about PEER & WISE through her sister, a 2012 graduate in Industrial Engineering. “She told me about PEER & WISE, and I just started hanging out in the office. I studied there, and eventually, Mrs. Lisa encouraged me to share my story. I would attend tutoring, volunteer at events, and really found a community.”

Those early days gave her the confidence to lean into both her academic and personal interests. “I even worked with Girl UP Greenville, combining my love of cosmetics with hands-on experiments, like making lip scrubs and learning what consumers really look for.”

Defining Moments at Clemson
Like many students, exam weeks tested her stamina—but PEER & WISE became her anchor. “I would go there for the pep talks, the reminders that I could do this,” she says. “The tutors met you exactly where you were. There was no judgment, no shame—just people who wanted to see you succeed.”

One pivotal conversation came when she confided in Mrs. Lisa about her dream of working in cosmetics. At the time, she had a job offer in another industry. “She told me to believe in myself. To go introduce myself to recruiters. To go seek and do. That changed everything for me.”

Gratitude in Action
Looking back, Kenetra is most proud of how PEER & WISE inspired her to give back. “It really cultivated gratitude into practice,” she reflects. “It’s that network that helps you rise.” She also wants students to remember that Clemson is filled with resources: “There is a service for YOU, no matter what you’re trying to achieve. You just have to take advantage of it.”

Building Skills for a Career
The skills Kenetra honed at PEER & WISE now shape her career as a Technical Process Manager in product development. “It built my work ethic, my public speaking, and my networking,” she says. Today, she helps launch new products, delving deep into formulas, ingredients, and the processes that transform an idea into something customers can hold in their hands. “Reading the reviews on products I helped develop is one of the best feelings.”

Joy in the Everyday
In a fast-paced city, Kenetra makes room for what matters most. “Rest is essential,” she says. “I connect with my body, I exercise, I cook. Cooking is creative for me—it’s mindful and it feels like home.”

Her mom’s advice continues to guide her: take risks on yourself. “Do it even with doubt,” Kenetra says. “Keep putting yourself out there. You are always worth betting on.”

From Hollywood, South Carolina, to the heart of New York City, Kenetra Johnson continues to prove just that.