From the Dean

This month I had the honor of celebrating the end of the academic year by congratulating our graduating students as they crossed the stage to receive their diplomas. This year we were again able to shake hands with each of them individually as we recognized their hard work as well as the dedication of their parents, families, mentors and instructors. What they have accomplished here is just the beginning of what they will achieve in the future.

May was also a landmark month for the college. It saw the groundbreaking for the new Advanced Materials Innovation Complex, a 143,000-square-foot building that will be the new home for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and faculty from Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering as well as those across multiple disciplines working in advanced materials. It will establish this college and Clemson University as a national leader in creating the next generation of advanced materials and, thus, attract new industries and jobs to our state.

This issue also highlights the launch of several new initiatives. Supported by a National Science Foundation grant, we will lead a coalition of 11 South Carolina universities and colleges focused on integrating artificial intelligence into biomedical diagnostic devices to improve the quality of health care in the state. In addition, our students will work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering on assessing the infrastructure of communities along the Savannah River to help mitigate the effects of flooding and other disasters; the goal of this initiative is to create a program that can be adapted for other communities and locations, especially those currently underserved.

This month’s newsletter also features our new Call Me Doctor ESTEEMED Scholars Program, which incorporates mentoring, research experiences, career development and other activities to encourage first-year and sophomores, especially those from underrepresented populations, to continue their education through graduate school, thus widening and diversifying the workforce. It will welcome its first cohort of students this fall. And this issue also highlights several projects focused on fusion energy. The breadth and depth of the research highlighted here support the ClemsonElevate strategic goal of doubling research expenditures by 2035, setting the stage for membership in the Association of American Universities.

Finally, this month we inducted four alumni into the prestigious Thomas Green Academy of Engineers and Scientists and honored two as Outstanding Young Alumni. These, along with our new graduates who received noteworthy awards and scholarships for graduate work, emphasize the strength of our college. Their achievements as well as the research being conducted in the college are only possible because of your generosity. If you want to help us continue to have a meaningful impact, you can click on the Make a Gift tab below. I appreciate your support and any and all donations.

As we head into June, I wish all of you a summer filled with fun, family and friends, but most of all, stay healthy and safe. I look forward to seeing all of you when we return to campus this fall.

Sincerely,