Click on each month to view approved minutes from that meeting. If a month you would like to view is not listed, it has not been approved.
NOTE: The senate does not have meetings in July or November.
In today’s newsletter, Staff Senate President Stacey Miller provides her latest report. Plus, the upcoming events from the South Carolina Botanical Garden, this month’s Clemson Champion, Ombuds report and more!
Starting on March 2, Andy’s spring hours begin! With the warm weather on its way we’re switching to our spring hours so you can spend even more time outdoors. Visit us Monday to Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Whether you’re gearing up for a camping trip, grabbing a paddleboard, or trying something
new, we’ve got the equipment to help you make the most of the season.
And don’t forget, the beach remains open from sunrise to sunset, offering the perfect
backdrop for early morning peace or golden-hour adventures.
Come explore, unwind, and enjoy the fresh spring air with us at Andy’s!
Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center (Andy’s) is in the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex beside the lake. Rentals require a membership. Hanging out on the beach does not!
The SC Botanical Garden’s spring plant sale is April 10 – 11.
Find more information here: https://www.clemson.edu/scbg/visit/events/plant-sale.html
Summer camps for children 6-11 years old begin in June.
Mountains to Sea Camp, June 1-5: https://events.clemson.edu/event/22953-mountains-to-sea-camp
Garden Creativity Camp, June 15-19: https://events.clemson.edu/event/22954-garden-creativity-camp
Creature Power Camp, June 22-26: https://events.clemson.edu/event/22954-garden-creativity-camp
Great Green Adventure Camp, July 6-10: https://events.clemson.edu/event/22956-great-green-adventure-camp
Time Traveler’s Camp, July 13-17: https://events.clemson.edu/event/22957-time-travelers-camp
Garden Discovery Camp, July 27-31: https://events.clemson.edu/event/22957-time-travelers-camp
Meet Lt Col Kelley Gonzales, USAF (Ret.)
Kelley is currently the Interim Director of Export Control and Research Security. She was awarded the Research Division’s Special Achievement Award, highlighting her work surrounding Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). Notably, Kelley also earned the Certified CMMC Professional (CCP) credential. At the time of this recognition, the credential was held by fewer than 5 people across all U.S. higher education institutions.
Can you tell us about your role here at Clemson?
I joined Clemson’s Division of Research to help build and strengthen the University’s approach to research security and export control at a time when federal expectations were evolving rapidly. I started as Research Information Security Manager, working closely with faculty, research administrators, and IT partners to establish Clemson’s first comprehensive framework for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in research. I later served as Associate Director and now as Interim Director of Export Control and Research Security, where I provide strategic leadership and senior advisory support across research security, export control, and classified research governance. Throughout these roles, my focus has been on translating complex regulatory requirements into practical, scalable processes that protect the institution while enabling Clemson’s research mission to thrive.
What is something fun we might not know about you?
I love playing free, tournament-style poker. It’s a game full of strategy and never gets old for me. Before coming to Clemson, I played well enough in a free poker league to receive an invitation to the annual national championship, where I placed 12th out of 45 after only about a year and a half of playing. That was a really rewarding experience.
What brought you to Clemson?
When I came to Clemson, my older son had just graduated in Computer Science and was awaiting orders after being commissioned through Clemson’s USAF ROTC program. My younger son is also in the area studying nursing and hopes to finish his schooling as a Tiger. Those were the biggest draws for me initially, but the location is beautiful and the people here are truly exceptional. Those are the things that have kept me here.
Is there anything you would like for people to know about your department?
The Department of Export Control and Research Security directly supports the Clemson Elevate pillar of doubling research by 2035 by helping the University responsibly grow its portfolio of sensitive and regulated research- an area that is expanding rapidly as federal agencies and major research sponsors embed research security requirements earlier in agreements and funding vehicles. Our work focuses on supporting research at the award and agreement stage, where federal research security and export control requirements most directly shape how projects can move forward. We partner closely with faculty, research administrators, and campus stakeholders to translate complex regulations into clear, practical expectations that protect the University and our sponsors while enabling Clemson’s research enterprise to grow in a sustainable way.
The Clemson Champion is Staff Senate’s spotlight for exceptional staff and teams at Clemson. Stay tuned and meet more Clemson Champions in future posts.
Dear Fellow Staff,
It’s hard to believe that it’s March and we are halfway through the Spring Semester. Fun fact: Before 153 BC, March was the 1st month of the year in the Roman Calendar. So, if that’s the case and you haven’t continued with your New Year’s Resolutions, start a new one.
March is also a time at Clemson when a portion of our Staff are being evaluated and are developing planning stages with their supervisors. Please take this time for your development and think broadly about the next steps in your career.
So, what have Staff Senators been up to during February and March? Your President-Elect, Victoria Perry, and I represented you at Clemson Day held at the S.C. State House. We were honored to be invited by External Affairs. Past President, Jeff Anthony, represented Staff Senate at the Degree Attainment Luncheon, sponsored by Clemson University Human Resources. This event honors staff and faculty who earned degrees in the past year.
Staff Senate honored two of our own at the luncheon: Ryan Real and Levi Roach. Congratulations to all the honorees.
Thank you to all who donated to the Battle of the Senates. We ended in a tie, so we plan to hold a runoff for a couple of days. Next week, be on the lookout for the article in Our Clemson. We need your help to pull the staff through as the winner. No matter the winner, this is a great cause. Your donation helps us endow the Staff and Faculty Emergency Fund to support your Clemson University neighbors for years to come.
Elections are here. Everyone should have received a ballot to vote, unless the seat was not contested. Please take time to review the nominees and vote; your vote and voice matter to Clemson University.
Please let me know if you ever have any questions or concerns by reaching out to me via email at smille3@clemson.edu or by contacting your local senator, who can be found on the website below: https://www.clemson.edu/faculty-staff/staff-senate/contact-us.html.
Next Meeting: Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 2:30 to 4:00 PM at the Watt Center, room 108. Reminder: If you would like to ask a question, please request to speak during the open comment period by contacting our office or relaying your questions to your senators.
As always, stay kind, Tigers and take care of yourself and those around you.
Go Tigers!
At a training session recently, a participant asked me what she should do when she is in a difficult conversation, and her face communicates something before anything comes out of her mouth. She admitted that this has gotten her into trouble personally and professionally, even when she is trying to be wise and measured in her responses. Before she can acknowledge what she has heard someone say, ask thoughtful open-ended questions, and use the concern formula to express concerns, her face gives her away!
This is not an uncommon phenomenon, and it is not a dealbreaker in having productive conflict resolution conversations. Our bodies react to situations instantaneously, while our brains and language centers take a minute to catch up. This may come out on your face, your body language, or your tone. You might make a quick, snide comment before you can catch yourself. You might find yourself raising your voice to someone before you remember making the decision to yell. Some people turn red when they are upset or frustrated, even if they have not said a word. If this happens to you, there are ways to prevent damage from occurring.
The first step is to know about these reactions and explore why they might be happening. If your body is reacting before you say a word, the odds are someone has said something to you about it. Awareness of your reactions is key, but it also helps to reflect on why they might be occurring in the first place. When you know how you react, you can make those around you aware as well. In both personal and professional relationships, you can call out your tendency to react physiologically and let the other person know that your face’s reaction is not always indicative of what you are thinking or feeling. In other words, warn the people in your life that this will happen in times of conflict or tense conversations, and request that they withhold judgment until you have a minute to think and say what you actually want to say. I know that my husband retreats into silence if our discussions become tense. After I say something, I might have to wait 10 to 30 minutes for his response. When we were first together, I thought he was refusing to talk to me. Now I know that I will need to wait for his response. Relationships involve negotiating how you are going to interact and resolve conflict. Being able to share with someone that you know this about yourself, and here’s the best way for you both to handle it can help prevent difficult conversations from escalating.
Of course, it is not possible to tell everyone you interact with about your instinctive physiological reactions. So if it happens with someone who does not know you well, a great response is to acknowledge it. Saying something like, “It seems like you are reacting to the expression on my face, but I don’t want you to take that to represent how I am thinking and feeling. I know that my face reacts before I’m ready, and I might need a minute before I can respond to you.” Calling it out makes it clear that you are not trying to hide the reaction, but you are also requesting some time to state what your actual reaction is.
Finally, whether you are able to preempt these responses, or you are scrambling to respond to them after they emerge, you can work on them. You can work to control your face, tone, or body language, so they don’t give away what you are really thinking. My husband has lowered his response time the longer we have been married, so I’m not waiting quite as long for his responses to my questions. We can evolve and get better. Our faces, bodies, and tone might betray us, but the betrayal is not detrimental. It can even lead to knowing ourselves and each other better.
What is the Ombuds Office?
The Ombuds Office is a confidential, independent, neutral, and informal space for staff to process concerns, get information, and develop options for how to move forward in a difficult situation. I can provide education, conflict coaching, mediation, and facilitation as well as referrals to other resources across Clemson. If you are unsure how to move forward in any way, I can help you work through it.
Tessa Byer
Phone: 864-656-5353
Email: tbyer@clemson.edu
Address: 135 Old Greenville Hwy, Ste. 203 (Next to Esso!)
Navigating Intergenerational Workplaces
April 10, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:00
In person at University Facilities Center, sign up here:
Registration link
In today’s newsletter, Staff Senate President Stacey Miller provides her latest report. Plus, the Staff Senate Golf Tournament is back for another round, the latest Ombuds Report, First Aid/CPR classes from Campus Recreation and more!
Interested in advancing your career with a Clemson MBA? Discover Clemson University’s flexible MBA options and learn more about the ETAP benefits available exclusively to Clemson employees. Attend our upcoming Information Session on Tuesday, March 10, schedule a one-on-one meeting with our Admissions Team at a time that works best for you or email mbaprogram@clemson.edu to explore additional options. Those interested may access the admission application.
It’s the second month of the new year. Did you set New Year’s resolutions this year? Did you keep them? I do not set resolutions every year, but I have successfully set and kept them in the past. However, none of my resolutions were achieved without the accompanying shame and anxiety about how I would feel if I were to join the millions of others who abandon their resolutions by the second Friday in January. In other words, I have kept resolutions when the achievement was not the resolution itself but only the avoidance of failure.
When lamenting this tension recently, a friend told me she doesn’t count her January productivity toward her work or life projects at all. She does what she needs to do to get her job done, but if she has broader goals, such as “learn a language,” “write a novel,” or “lose weight,” she gives herself the month of January to be okay with her status quo, rather than striving for more. She looks at other months for productivity and achievement.
I was intrigued. My friend’s decision to only begin “counting” her productivity on February 1 made me think about seasons when we just need to sit back and survive. Staff at Clemson have been through a lot lately: leadership changes, ERP improvements, political shifts, financial mayhem, to name only a few. Maintaining our productivity and professionalism while handling so much change is an achievement in itself.
My No.1 strength in StrengthsFinder is “Achiever,” which I often find to be a burden, pushing me to strive more and rest never. Because of this “strength,” if I decide to call it that, I’m one of those people who need to have tiered goals: A big one that will take years, then something that will take this year, this semester, this month, this week, this day. Right now, my big goal is working on my PhD. But rather than a year-long or semester-long goal, what if I give myself permission to just get by?
I’m not advocating that we spurn productivity or stop trying. Caring about this place and pouring our hearts into our work is what makes this university run. But I found my productivity to be somewhat counterintuitive: When I gave myself permission to take a little break from the achievement grind, I was more productive than ever, without the fear or shame I’m used to. I actually made a personal breakthrough and started working on a project I had dreamed about for years and kept putting off, waiting until there was a lull in everything else in my life. That lull is not coming! I needed to create it for myself.
I’ve also started putting important but easily ignored things on my weekly to-do list: figure out what self-care I need, take a walk outside, spend uninterrupted time with my kids, have a conversation with my husband that does not involve logistics of feeding and housing and transporting these children. As someone guided by lists, when there is a place for a checkmark by these, I’m much more likely to see them as something to achieve and find fulfillment in.
So let me just say this: You’re doing fine. I’m doing fine. We’ll get through these seasons of change, and that can be our big achievement for 2026.
Box No.1:
What is the Ombuds Office?
The Ombuds Office is a confidential, independent, neutral, and informal space for staff to process concerns, get information, and develop options for how to move forward in a difficult situation. I can provide education, conflict coaching, mediation, and facilitation as well as referrals to other resources across Clemson. If you are unsure how to move forward in any way, I can help you work through it.
Tessa Byer
Phone: 864-656-5353
Email: tbyer@clemson.edu
Address: 135 Old Greenville Hwy, Ste. 203 (Next to Esso!)
Box No. 2:
Save the date for upcoming trainings offered by the Ombuds:
Teamwork that Works
February 26, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00
Virtually only, sign up here:
Combating Burnout and Cultivating Resilience
March 6, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:00
Virtually only
Navigating Intergenerational Workplaces
April 10, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:00
In person at University Facilities Center, sign up here:
