Co-op students work closely with their co-op advisor to secure their assignments. Students interested in seeking a co-op assignment should contact the Co-op Program office early in either the fall or spring semester, depending on when they want to begin their first rotation.
3rd Floor of Hendrix Student Center inside the Career Center
864-656-3150
Dr. Jeff Neal
Monique Elmore, MBA
Maria Torres, MEd
Alison Fecher, MEd
Jeff Moore, MEd
Pam Hawthorne
Hali Sanders
Director, Cooperative Education Program
How long have you been in this role?
I have served as director of the Cooperative Education Program since 2011. I am the sixth director of the program in its 50-year history at Clemson. I joined the program as an associate director in 2002. I hold a faculty appointment and also serve as the co-op advisor for packaging science students in the program. I teach COOP 1000 (Introduction to Cooperative Education) for packaging students.
What is your educational background?
My bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees are from Clemson. My doctorate is in education (in the area of vocational development/educational counseling). Doctoral work also included study in health behavior/education at the University of South Carolina School of Public Health. My professional interest areas within vocational development include experiential education, applied learning and professional development in undergraduate students.
What is your previous work background?
Prior to coming to Clemson, I served in leadership in a health care organization with responsibilities for human resources and clinical education programs.
Professional Memberships:
American Society for Engineering Education, Cooperative and Experiential Education Division
Society for Experiential Education
American Counseling Association
Phi Delta Kappa (professional association for educators)
Associate Director for Cooperative Education
What do you do in your current position? How long have you been in your current role?
I started working at Clemson after graduating in 2013 and joined the Cooperative Education Program in 2017. I’m an Associate Director and serve as the co-op advisor for Mechanical Engineering students in the program.
Where are you from and what is your educational background?
I was born in Miami, Fl. and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Business Administration from Clemson University.
What is a fun fact about you?
I competed at the US Track & Field Olympic Team Trials in 2012 in the 100 Meter Hurdles. I lined up next to the previous gold medalist and ended up placing 23 in the US.
Involvement:
Treasurer, American Society for Engineering Education (Cooperative and Experiential Education Division)
Assistant Director for Cooperative Education
Co-op Advising Majors:
Architecture, Bioengineering, Biosystems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Construction Science Management, Environmental Engineering, Material Science & Engineering
What do you do in your current position? How long have you been in your current role?
I started at Clemson University in 2001 serving as a Student Services Coordinator with the Graduate School. Then, I served as a Graduate Student Advisor for the Department of Bioengineering for 11 years. In 2019, I joined the Cooperative Education Program as an Assistant Director and serve as an instructor for COOP 1000 – Introduction to Cooperative Education.
Where are you from and what is your educational background?
I am from Puerto Rico. I have a Master of Education in Counselor Education from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from USC.
What is the most common question you get from students?
The most common question is, “What is Co-op?” Co-op is an experiential learning program designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn and develop under a mentor in their field of study over multiple rotations. Students are employed full-time, with pay, by a company that partners with the program. We monitor each student’s experience for evidence of learning and development of professional skill sets.
What do you like most about your job?
I love working with students and to be a resource for them. I love to see them learn from the applied perspective. Being part of the student’s development as they prepare for life after graduation is incredibly rewarding.
Professional Memberships:
American Society for Engineering Education (Cooperative and Experiential Education Division)
Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE)
Associate Director for Cooperative Education
Co-op Advising Majors:
Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems
What do you do in your current position? How long have you been in your current role?
I started at Clemson University in 2016 and began in my current role in 2018. I help students through the co-op matching process and also monitor them while they are with their co-op company to make sure they are doing real professional work. It’s rad.
What do you like most about your job?
I love helping people improve their resumes, which is one of my favorite things to do regularly. I also love it when graduating students stop by and tell me how much more prepared they feel about starting their careers and thanking me for helping them find a co-op. That always makes my day!
What is a fun fact about you?
I have played, loved, and learned from video games since receiving a Sega Genesis for Christmas in 1992.
Education:
M.Ed. Counselor Education: Student Affairs, Clemson University, 2018
M.A. Linguistics & TESOL, Ball State University, 2012
B.A. Latin & Classical Cultures, Ball State University, 2009
Assistant Director for Cooperative Education
Co-op Advising Majors:
Mechanical Engineering
What do you do in your current position? How long have you been in your current role?
Prior to joining the Cooperative Education Program in June 2022, I was an academic advisor here at Clemson since October 2015. My role as a co-op advisor is to help students during the co-op matching process and, after they are with their company, I continue to work with the students by monitoring them to ensure they are gaining real professional work experience. Additionally, I serve as an instructor for COOP 1000 – Introduction to Cooperative Education.
Where are you from and what is your educational background?
I am from Simpsonville, South Carolina, and earned by Bachelor in Science in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University. I later earned a Master of Education in Sport Management from the University of Georgia.
What do you like most about your job?
I love learning about the students I work with and I also enjoy that every day is different.
What is a fun fact about you?
I love to travel and hike and I have been to 17 National Parks and 32 states so far.
Involvement:
American Society for Engineering Education (Cooperative and Experiential Education Division)
Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE)
Administrative Coordinator for Cooperative Education
Graduate Assistant - Cooperative Education
