From the Dean

As we return to normal after COVID-19, we want to ensure the college is positioned stronger than ever. Our success is predicated on world-class talent, and to that end, as the banner headlining this newsletter announces, we plan to hire 30 new faculty members this academic cycle. These new hires will represent the best in their fields and support our continuing efforts to create a diverse, inclusive environment in the college.

As this issue highlights, our new hires will join several recent award-winning colleagues. K.C. Wang has been appointed the new C. Tycho Howle Chair of Collaborative Computing Environments, a position that will help him foster collaborative research and establish Clemson University as one of the co-creators of a new version of the internet which is crucial for supporting next-generation technologies. In addition, Martine LaBerge, chair of the bioengineering department, received the well-deserved Dr. Charles Townes Individual Lifetime Achievement Award from InnoVision. She has been instrumental in creating the leaders and innovators who are the backbone of South Carolina’s life sciences industry. Her colleague, Delphine Dean, was awarded the Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics Randall M. La Cross Distinguished Leadership Award, and Rodrigo Martinez-Duarte, a faculty member in mechanical engineering, won the Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month Impact Award for his continuous contributions to the Latinx community at Clemson University.

Our commitment to leadership and diversity is further confirmed by Clemson’s partnership with GE in hosting the first Women’s Roundtable Summit where young women in middle school and beyond were encouraged to pursue careers in STEM fields. They heard first-hand from such nationally known and accomplished women as Soledad O’Brien and Vanessa Wyche, one of own graduates who is currently serving as the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. This summit and our similar activities represent our continuing efforts to create a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere in our college and throughout the University.

This issue also features some of the noteworthy research being conducted in the college. Our faculty are focused on areas ranging from designing foldable robots for easy transport to the moon and Mars to the potential of using exoskeletons to create a safer workplace and the possibilities for artificial intelligence to work alongside humans as an active team member.

Thanksgiving, one of our most meaningful holidays, is next week. And I want to take this opportunity to thank our students, staff and faculty for all their hard work this past year; they have gone above and beyond with exceptional goodwill and cheerfulness. Just as important, I want to express my gratitude to you, our alumni and friends; as always, your support is essential to our success. If you would like to make a contribution, you can click on the “Make a Gift” button below. As always, we are deeply grateful for our support, but most especially at this time of year.

I wish all of you have a very Happy Thanksgiving, one that is filled with family, friends and good food.

Best wishes and stay healthy and safe,