August 13, 2026
In today’s newsletter, Staff Senate President Victoria Perry welcomes the new semester and faces on campus including the new President of Clemson Univeristy, Dr. Benjamin Ayers. Plus, meet this month’s Clemson Champion- Todd Cochran, read the Ombuds letter and more!
Join us Thursday, August 13 at 2:30PM in the Watt Center room 106 or virtually (https://clemson.zoom.us/j/98701587511) for the August Staff Senate meeting.
August 13, 2026
Can you tell the difference between a red-eyed vireo call and an American robin call? Can you tell me what a northern bobwhite eats? High schoolers from across the country can and will get to showcase these talents this July.
Often, our Clemson Extension program teams work together to conduct programs for the state and even the country. A great example of these team efforts is the Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP), where the Clemson Extension Natural Resources, 4-H, and Agriculture Education Teams work together to host our annual State Contest. This past July, Clemson Extension took these efforts one step further. Clemson hosted the National Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) National Contest, a program for 4-H and FFA high schoolers to learn more about wildlife management and wildlife biology.
Staff Senator and Membership Committee Co-Chair, Mallory Maher, currently serves as the WHEP National Committee Chair and led the efforts to host 18 teams in South Carolina at the South Carolina FFA Leadership Center in Cherry Grove, SC. This was the first time South Carolina has hosted the National contest in almost 30 years.
During the contest, youth had the opportunity to meet and interact with professionals from the wildlife industry at a fun, hands-on education day, and then put their wildlife knowledge to the test through various activities, ranging from a wildlife ID contest to writing a wildlife management plan. This program is truly one of the most hands-on and applicable programs in existence, giving youth a glimpse of what a potential career in wildlife or natural resources might look like.
We are excited to welcome a regular contribution to the Staff Senate Newsletter from the Extension Senate President, Charley Maxwell. Visit the Extension Senate blog at https://blogs.clemson.edu/ces/.
August 11, 2026
Meet Todd Cochran, Space Auditor and Move Manager, Capital Projects
Can you tell us about your role here at Clemson?
As Clemson University’s Space Manager and Move Manager, I assist with the planning, coordination, and management of campus space to ensure it is used efficiently and effectively. I work with departments across the university to allocate and optimize space, support strategic planning initiatives, and coordinate office and departmental relocations. My role involves balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders while ensuring moves are well-organized, minimally disruptive, and aligned with the university’s operational goals.
What is something fun we might not know about you?
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors, tackling DIY projects, and finding new ways to improve or fix things. I appreciate opportunities to stay active and spend time with family and friends.
What brought you to Clemson?
I was drawn to Clemson by the opportunity to contribute to a university with a strong sense of community, collaboration, and tradition. What I enjoy most about Clemson is working with people across campus to help create spaces that support learning, research, and student success. It’s rewarding to be part of an institution where the work we do behind the scenes has a meaningful impact on the daily experience of students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Is there anything you would like for people to know about your department?
The Planning, Design & Construction department plays a vital role in shaping Clemson’s campus for today and the future. Our team works collaboratively to plan, design, and deliver projects that enhance the university’s learning, research, and work environments. Whether we’re managing renovations, new construction, space planning, or departmental moves, our goal is to create functional, sustainable, and welcoming spaces that support Clemson’s mission. We value collaboration, thoughtful planning, and open communication to ensure projects are completed efficiently and with the needs of the campus community in mind.
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.
August 10, 2026
This month, I want to address the difference between my hopes and my expectations. As a personal example, I hope as my children grow up, I can develop authentic friendships with them. But those relationships are two-sided, and I cannot control that. As they grow up, I expect them to show kindness and respect to those around them, to work hard at school, and to apologize when they mess up. The difference here is that I am going to hold them accountable to my expectations, while my hopes are not something I am going to put on their shoulders.
As Provost Smith continues to settle into his role, I hope he and I can develop trust and rapport. But trust and rapport cannot be forced and can certainly grow with time. I expect that as my supervisor he will treat me with respect, listen when I have a concern, and communicate his expectations to me (so far so good—I’m grateful for his return to Clemson!). If those expectations are not met, then it indicates to me that we need to get on the same page about our professional relationship.
I can hope for a lot, but what do I expect from the people around me? The difference between hope and expectation is that you might respond to an unmet expectation in the professional domain in a different way than you would an unrealized hope. An unrealized hope is disappointing; an unmet expectation can be an indicator that there is a disconnect between you and the other person that impacts the work you are doing.
The three important questions are:
First, the person you are expecting to do something needs to know you have those expectations. Expecting someone to read your mind and predict your expectations is never reasonable. What is desirable to you might be completely off the table for someone else, so communication about what you expect is pivotal. Second, you can expect the moon, but until the other person agrees to meet those expectations, either explicitly or not, you cannot expect them to be met. If you are a supervisor, you might not have to seek explicit agreement about your expectations, but communication surrounding them is essential to your employee’s success. If the relationship does not have a power dynamic, you might need to have a more direct conversation about what you expect and whether the other person agrees to live up to that. Of course, they also get to share what they expect, and you can respond. Then you can have an “expectation negotiation” to see what you both agree to in the relationship.
Finally, if you are sure the other person knows your expectations and agrees to them, you can begin to explore why your expectations were not met. Was it a communication challenge? Forgetfulness? Capacity? Malice? Did the other person misunderstand what you expected? In some relationships, it is easy for us to assume bad intentions led to the unmet expectation, but I encourage you to be willing to explore alternative explanations.
To keep unrealized hopes or unmet expectations from impacting our work, we need to separate our hopes and expectations. When the separation is successful, we can better process when something undesirable happens. If my kids do not want to be my friend when they grow up, I will be disappointed, but I won’t be devastated that they neglected an expectation that they previously agreed to. I’m also not going to walk into Provost Smith’s office and expect him to be my running buddy! These can be hopes I have that are separate from what I expect to happen. Then if my hope is not realized, I can process it, refuse to let it impact the relationship, and be ready to move forward.
Have you been treating your hopes like expectations? Have you been putting your hopes onto people who do not even know what it is you want to happen? When we are clear about what we expect, we are more equipped to respond to unmet expectations. When we separate our hopes, we are not putting something unreasonable onto someone else that they never agreed to achieve. (But side note—there’s no way my kids won’t want to be my friend, right?) Enjoy the last days of summer!
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!)
Save the date for upcoming trainings offered by the Ombuds Office:
Don’t Tough It Out: Difficult Situations at Work
Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, from 9:00 to 12:00
In-person at University Facilities Center, sign up here: https://clemson.bridgeapp.com/learner/training/cf15179e/sessions/7126/enroll
Navigating Intergenerational Workplaces
Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:30
Virtually only, sign up here: https://clemson.bridgeapp.com/learner/training/8c562aa0/sessions/7128/enroll
Giving Effective Feedback
Wed., Oct. 14 from 9:00 to 10:30
Virtually only, sign up here: https://clemson.bridgeapp.com/learner/training/3bc50439/sessions/7129/enroll
Emotional Intelligence at Work
Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:00
In-person at University Facilities Center, sign up here: https://clemson.bridgeapp.com/learner/training/1be18cf1/sessions/7130/enroll
Combating Burnout and Cultivating Resilience
Friday, Nov. 6, from 9:00 to 11:00
Virtually only, sign up here: https://clemson.bridgeapp.com/learner/training/86042925/sessions/7132/enroll
August 10, 2026
As Clemson University prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, the campus community will have two meaningful opportunities to come together in remembrance, reflection, and gratitude. Through dual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb events, Clemson students, employees, and community members are invited to honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001, while recognizing the courage and sacrifice of first responders who answered the call that day and continue to serve today.
The first event, hosted by Clemson’s Military and Veteran Engagement office, will take place at Littlejohn Coliseum. Centered around the theme “110 Floors of Resolve; 25 Years Later, Clemson Remembers,” the memorial stair climb serves as a powerful tribute to the firefighters who climbed the 110 stories of the World Trade Center towers to save lives. Participants will symbolically take on that challenge by climbing the Coliseum stairs, reflecting on the determination, bravery, and selflessness demonstrated in the face of unimaginable adversity.
The Littlejohn event is open to Clemson students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the public. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with the program starting promptly at 8:30 a.m. Attendees who are unable to climb stairs are encouraged to participate by walking the concourse, ensuring that everyone can be part of this important day of remembrance. Organizers also encourage participants to bring thank-you cards for first responders, which will be delivered to local emergency personnel following the event.
In addition to remembering those who lost their lives on 9/11, the event will honor the dedicated professionals who continue to protect and serve communities every day, including members of the Clemson University Police Department, Clemson Fire Department, and Clemson Emergency Medical Services.
The Eventbrite link for this event is:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/911-memorial-stair-climb-at-clemson-university-tickets-1991781045725.
A second memorial stair climb will be held in Fike Recreation Center, offering another way for the Clemson community to participate. Using the facility’s stair-climb machines, participants can complete their climb while reflecting on the significance of the anniversary and the enduring legacy of service and sacrifice associated with September 11. This event provides a flexible fitness-focused option for those who may prefer a gym setting while still taking part in the shared mission of remembrance.
Sign up for this event here:
https://www.clemsoncampusrec.com/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=6f0a374a-9394-468c-9ab9-3e56829166d6.
Together, these events demonstrate Clemson’s commitment to honoring the memory of the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11 and paying tribute to the first responders whose heroism inspired a nation. Twenty-five years later, the lessons of courage, resilience, and unity remain as relevant as ever.
August 10, 2026
Dear Clemson Staff,
The excitement and energy that the start of a new academic year brings is really something special. For many of us, the start of the fall semester feels kind of like New Year’s Day. It’s an opportunity to welcome new faces, embrace new possibilities, and begin another chapter in the important work we do every day. Whether your role places you directly in front of students (I see you, Clemson Home!) or behind the scenes (we couldn’t do it without you Student Financial Services!), your efforts help create the Clemson experience that makes this university such a remarkable place to learn, work, and grow. Clemson staff are the “something in these hills” that folks talk about.
Speaking of new faces and new possibilities, we have a new President! I had the pleasure of meeting President Ayers last week and appreciated his candor regarding communication, partnerships, and his values-driven decision-making process. I am excited about the energy and experience that he brings to Clemson and look forward to partnering with him as we continue to support staff, faculty, and students. If you are interested in getting to know our new President, I highly encourage you to attend the upcoming Presidential All Staff meeting on Tuesday, August 18 at 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium (Tillman 160). Please submit any questions for President Ayers using this staff submission form on the Office of the President website.
As we are kicking off the fall semester, I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to look back on the end of our summer semester. Last Friday I had the honor of being a member of the stage party for the summer commencement ceremony. The excitement that fills commencement ceremonies is contagious because it reflects not only what has been accomplished, but also the opportunities that lie ahead. This ceremony is the culmination of months and years of dedication, perseverance, and hard work. For Clemson staff, attaining a degree is balanced alongside full-time careers, family responsibilities, and countless other commitments. This summer, Staff Senate handed out staff stoles to 25 individuals who were proudly receiving their bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degrees. I extend my most heartfelt congratulations to all of you! I truly believe that learning is a lifelong journey, and each of you embodies that commitment every day.
As we begin another academic year together, Staff Senate remains committed to supporting and advocating for all staff as we continue to learn, grow, and succeed as a community. I encourage you to stay involved in the conversations and initiatives that help shape the staff experience at Clemson by joining us at a Staff Senate meeting. This month will be featuring Mitch Shue introducing the CU AI Initiative, and Kristin Craft with an overview of CU Grow.
Wishing you a successful start to the fall semester and a great year ahead!
Victoria Perry
Staff Senate President
