Meet the Team

What do you do in your current position? How long have you been in your current role?
I provide strategic direction for the Center, allocate resources for the Center’s initiatives, and support Center staff who provide exceptional service to students and employers. I started in my current role as Executive Director with the CCPD in 2011. Before that I was with Cooperative Education (1998-2011) and Student Financial Aid (1992-1998) at Clemson.

Where are you from and what is your educational background?
I grew up in Camden, SC, about a half mile from the Carolina Cup race course (a steeplechase for horses often referred to as the state’s largest outdoor cocktail party). I earned two degrees from Clemson; a PhD in Educational Leadership (2000) and a MA in English (1991). I started my college career at Clemson as a Chemistry major, but when I hit Organic Chemistry I had to transfer to another school that offered Journalism, earning a BA from USC in 1989.

What is the most common question you get from students?
The most common question I hear is, “I haven’t had any luck with the job search – what do I do?” My advice is to treat the search like a full-time job – do research, take notes, prepare for every contact with an employer, “personalize” your resume for every submission, conduct informational interviews, don’t rely on a single search platform, apply what you learn from setbacks, create a network from company outreaches, and be resilient since you’ll likely hear “no” more than “yes” during your search. Keep in mind that a “no” is not a judgement of your worth as a person; it’s simply about whether you’re the best candidate for a specific role with a specific company at a specific time.

What is a fun fact about you?
I can eat my own weight in Taco flavored Doritos

Involvement:
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
Southern Association for Colleges & Employers (SoACE)
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
Clemson University Academic Advising Committee
Clemson University Council on Undergraduate Studies

What do you do in your current position? How long have you been in your current role?
I started my career with the Michelin Career Center in 1989 as a career counselor. Through the years, I have held several different positions. I began my current role as the Director of Career Development in 2003 and oversee career counseling, program development, workshops, and the Executive in Residence Program. In the summer, I teach a career development course. Additionally, I work collaboratively with Student Accessibility Service’s Spectrum Program.

Where are you from, and what is your educational background?
I was born in North Carolina but grew up in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. I have a Master of Education in Community Agency Counseling from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiotherapy from Catawba College.

What is the most common question you get from students?
The most common question is, “How do I create a resume when I don’t have anything to add?” Students often minimize the great experience they already have like part-time jobs, volunteer positions, class projects, creative inquiry, and different roles they hold within clubs and organizations.

What is a fun fact about you?
While visiting Egypt, I had an opportunity to ride a camel. It’s nothing like riding a horse.

What do you like most about your job?
Clemson students are amazing, and I love empowering them in their career development. Also, I’m very fortunate to work with the Center for Career and Professional Development staff. We are like a family. I hope students pick up on this when they visit us.

Involvement:
National Career Development Association (NCDA)
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE)

What do you do in your current position? How long have you been in your current role?
I joined the Clemson family in April of 2022. Before Clemson, I worked in industry for 10+ years and most recently, I was in career services and corporate relations in both Engineering and Statistics at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In my role at Clemson, I lead the Employer Relations team- we build relationships with employers who want to recruit Clemson students- Go Tigers!

Where are you from and what is your educational background?
I moved to Clemson from Illinois (not Chicago), but I am originally from Georgia. I earned my Masters of Education in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership with a focus in Higher Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Communications and Religious Studies from Lee University. I’ve recently been dabbling in a Ph.D. at Clemson in Education leadership; here goes nothing!

What is a fun fact about you?
Do I have to pick just one!? I like to say the 3 C’s you can remember about me: I like Coffee, Cross training and Cute dogs. I’ve lived in 7 states and 10 cities!

What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy building relationships and bringing employers and students together to build meaningful connections. I get the best of both worlds working with students and employers in my current role. We also know how to have fun in the CCPD!

What do you do in your current position? How long have you been in your current role?
I started full-time at Clemson University in 1982. I serve as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of the CCPD and in that role I provide administrative support for the Executive Director, the departmental Directors and the CCPD staff as a whole. I have served in Career Services the entirety of my career providing administrative support for various departments until advancing to the Executive Assistant role.

Where are you from and what is your educational background?
I am from West Union, SC and grew up in Oconee County. I have an Associates Degree in Business as well as a Secretarial Science Diploma from Tri County Technical College.

What is the best advice you can give students?
Strive to learn something new every day, no matter how small. Keep learning all you can for as long as possible.

What do you like most about your job?
Meeting, talking, and working with students is always a joy and a privilege. It is very important to be part of a team who all work together well and keep the students foremost always. I love my job, which shows after 40+ years in the same division!

Certifications:
Notary Public

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)

What do you do in your current position? How long have you been in your current role?
I serve as both Chief Solutions Officer and Director of Internship Programs for the Clemson University Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) and have been in those roles since 2015. In addition to managing our on-campus (UPIC), off-campus, and international internship programming as a Director, my CSO position also involves developing new strategies and blueprints for keeping career services effective and relevant for all current and future constituents.

Where are you from and what is your educational background?
I hold three postgraduate degrees from Clemson University, including a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration, a Master of Human Resource Development, and a Master of Education, Guidance and Counseling – Student Affairs. I grew up in the Ohio where I completed my undergraduate studies at Wittenberg University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a focus in Business Management.

What advice could you give students?

“Doing a job” and “getting a job” often require two different skill sets. Many of the students I’ve worked with over the years are very qualified for the roles they seek. However, they sometimes need assistance with the strategies, steps, and skills necessary to successfully complete the job search process.

What is the most interesting job you have had?

During my years in higher ed, I’ve found a lot of joy working in residential life, corporate relations, orientation, career services, and even international student services. However, helping Susan Nunamaker with her real estate endeavors has created a lot of exciting adventures in recent years.

Involvement:
Current:

Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE)

National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)

Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIA)

Past:

American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE)

Association of International Educators (NAFSA VII)

Southeastern Association for Employment in Education (SAEE)

South Carolina Association for Colleges and Employers (SCACE)

What do you do in your current position? How long have you been in your current role?
I started at Clemson University in January of 2000 after working in Career Services at USC Upstate and before that Spartanburg Methodist College. I am both an IT Manager and a Career Counselor managing the website, contact management systems, career development systems and providing desktop support for the CCPD. I love this role because I am fortunate to not only continue working with students and alumni on a weekly basis, but I get to utilize my creativity and problem solving skills within information technology.

Where are you from and what is your educational background?
I am from the Upstate of SC from a community just outside of Travelers Rest, SC. I have earned a Master of Business Administration in Business Analytics from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of South Carolina Upstate.

What advice could you give students?
Do not be afraid to explore your career options. I work with many students to discover where they fit within the world of work and sometimes what they discover may suggest a change in major. Some feel real angst about changing a major but in reality, any potential added time to complete a degree program is but a drop in the bucket of a lifetime career. Having said that, your major does not necessarily determine your career and switching majors is often unnecessary to change a career direction.

What is the most interesting job you have had?
I have had a very diverse work background. I have worked as part of a grounds crew for a golf course, I have worked in formal wear sales, and I drove a dump truck for a Summer. However, the most interesting and rewarding past job was being a Firefighter for four years.

Involvement:
Current:
Chair, Clemson University Veterans Commission
Board Member and Treasurer, SC Association of Colleges and Employers (SCACE)
Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE)
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
Past:
Director of Finance, Board Member, Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE)