10. Lead.

Esin Gulari, dean of the College of Engineering and Science, serves on the National Science Board, an independent body of advisers to both the White House and Congress and an oversight body for the National Science Foundation (NSF).

President James F. Barker is chair of the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, past-president of the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Provost Doris R. Helms is a board member of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities.

Jim Bottum, vice provost and chief information officer, was named one of the nation’s 100 most influential IT leaders; he’s on the board of trustees for Internet2 and holds two appointments with the NSF.

Head Men’s Basketball Coach Oliver Purnell is a nationally recognized activist for cancer research.

Computing professor Juan Gilbert was named one of 50 most important African Americans in technology (eAccess Corp.).

Varun Grover, William S. Lee Distinguished Professor of Information Systems, is ranked the third most influential researcher in the world by the Association for Information Systems.

The city of Clemson and Clemson University founded the International Town-Gown Association in 2008, which now has 150 members at 40 institutions nationwide.

Clemson founded the National Conference on Best Practices in Black Student Achievement to address current issues facing minority students in higher education.

Many alumni and major donors have stepped up to lead, with more than 60 gifts of $1 million or more since 2000.