Friends of the CVA

The Friends of the Center for Visual Arts is a membership program dedicated to supporting visual arts majors and programs and events hosted for the broader university community through the Department of Art and Lee Gallery. Membership contributions support undergraduate and graduate research, travel, curatorial projects, student driven exhibitions and outreach programs.

The Center for Visual Arts provides the university and surrounding community with access to regional, national and international artists through a variety of exhibitions, lectures, collaborative projects and special events.

Click here to download a Membership Form.

Friends of the CVA Board Members

John Acorn

John Acorn was born in New Jersey. He received his BA from Montclair State College in New Jersey in 1959 and his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan in 1961. He joined the faculty at Clemson University in 1961 as an assistant professor teaching sculpture. In 1969 he received a grant as a Fulbright Scholar in Creative Arts at the Hochschule fur Bildende Kunst in West Berlin where he spent a year making his work. Since 1961 he has played a major role in establishing and developing support for the visual arts at Clemson University and in South Carolina. In 1998 he was awarded the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Award, South Carolina's most prestigious honor given to an individual artist for commitment to developing the arts within the state. In 1997 Acorn retired from Clemson University after thirty six years, twenty as the Department Chair for the Art Department. He is presently serving as a member of the University Advisory Board. John Acorn has dedicated his life to enriching the experience for every individual at Clemson University.

Marcia Barker

Marcia Barker was born in Kingsport, Tennessee. She began her studies at Winthrop College and went on to Georgia State University, receiving her BA in Elementary Education in 1972. Barker taught kindergarten for 17 years. In 1999, she was the Director of the Fort Hill Presbyterian Kindergarten program in Clemson. At this time, she also became Clemson’s first lady. In 2001, Barker was named an honorary member of both the Clemson University Alumni Association as well as the Blue Key Honor Society. Barker was also recognized as the 2001 volunteer of the year for Clemson University. She is presently serving on several community and regional boards including America Reads and the Friends of the Center for Visual Arts. Barker is currently the Chair of the Fort Hill Kindergarten Board.

Christopher Lee Cartledge

Chris Cartledge was born near Raleigh, North Carolina before coming to Clemson University in 1985. He received a BFA in History and minored in Fine Arts studying under Ireland Regnier. After graduating in 1990, he returned to Raleigh to start a printing company. Since then he has started two custom illustration companies and clipart services one of which he is still a partner in RivalArt.com. Rival Art is the leader in custom sports and mascot art and designs. His images can be seen on shirts, posters, and logos all over the world. Chris enjoys painting, drawing and playing guitar in his Jazz band SoulFetch in his spare time. He lives locally on lake Keowee with his wife Jennifer and two children, Hank and Hannah.

Denise Woodward-Detrich

Denise Woodward-Detrich is the Director of the Rudolph E. Lee Gallery in the Department of Art at Clemson University. Before joining Clemson University, Ms. Woodward-Detrich served as a Master Instructor at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and prior to that as exhibitions coordinator at Clemson University from 1996-2000. She received her MFA in Ceramics at the New York College of Ceramics at Alfred University and has maintained an active exhibitions record having been invited to participate in seven national exhibitions in 2001. Ms. Detrich has given workshops in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee and has been included in publications such as Wheel Thrown Pottery by Don Davis, Best of Pottery, published by Rockport Publishers and Studio Potter magazine.

Richard E. Goodstein

Dr. Richard E. Goodstein is Dean of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. He served for 12 years as the Chair of the Department of Performing Arts and has been on the Clemson faculty since 1982. During his tenure at Clemson, he directed the Tiger Marching Band, Clemson University Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Band during this time. Dr. Goodstein has music education degrees from Miami University of Ohio and Arizona State University. He is currently a consultant for the Walt Disney Company and served from 1987 to 1997 as the musical director of the All-American College Band.

Catherine Hayes

Surrounded by the rolling hills of Chester County, PA and the fame of artists along the Brandywine River, Catherine Hayes became enamored with art and art collecting at an early age.

Educated in engineering, Catherine had the opportunity to work in Germany and to travel extensively throughout Europe, gaining exposure to European art from the Old Masters to contemporary installations. Living in Italy, Catherine pursued her passions in Italian cuisine and art history, taking full advantage of the museums, the multitude of exhibits, and the international galleries.

Today, she frequents Europe to attend international exhibits, to foster relationships with the artists, and to select new works. "Visiting the studios of dedicated artists and learning about their techniques and their inspirations rejuvenates my sense of wonder and fascination. I thrive on the creative spirit of an artist that emanates from their work and I strive to share that energy with my clients."

Patricia H. McAbee

Patricia H. McAbee (Patti) received her BFA from the College of Charleston and certificate in Arts Administration from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. McAbee served as the Vice President of Custom Development Solutions based in Mt. Pleasant, SC providing major gifts fundraising counsel to North American Charities. McAbee’s enthusiasm and passion for non-profits also extend to her various commitments where she serves on numerous boards of charitable organizations. As the founder and former executive director of the McCormick Arts Council, McAbee continues to serve as a life member of the Board. She is a member of the Clemson University Board of Trustees and is the first woman to serve on that Board.

Jillian McLaurin

Jillian is the Administrative Assistant for the Center for Visual Arts. Prior to working for the CVA, Jillian was a writer for The Charleston Review magazine, writing reviews of art and artists, spas and restaurants, and doing special interest pieces on personalities and hot topics of the Lowcountry. Growing up in rural Marlboro County, South Carolina, there were very little opportunities in art education at her disposal. However, Jillian has an avid interest in many disciplines of the visual arts, such as painting and drawing. Because of her background she maintains a passion for keeping the visual arts alive in her native state through circulation and awareness and is incredibly enthusiastic about working with the Center for Visual Arts. Jillian is married to Ed McLaurin, an attorney in Seneca, and they have a son, Lochlan.

Milby Mundy

Milby Mundy graduated from Clemson in 1979 with a BS in Administrative Management. She is married to Robert Mundy who also attended Clemson and currently serves on the Real Estate Foundation Board and the Advancement for the Masters of Real Estate Development Board. Mundy has 2 children: a son who graduated from Clemson in 2008 and a daughter who will graduate from Clemson this May. Mundy retired early from the Comptroller General's office to raise her children and became a domestic engineer. She has previously worked with Citizens and Southern Bank and has continued to stay active with volunteer positions at church and in the community. She currently serves on the Celebration Planning Committee, volunteers weekly at Harvest Hope Food Bank and takes care of her 90 year-old mother. Milby and Bob live in Columbia when they aren't in Clemson!

Ronald W. Oakley

Mr. Oakley has built a successful career in the engineering, construction and development business since his graduation from Clemson University with a degree in Building Construction. He began his career with the Charles H. Tompkins division of J.A. Jones working on the National Gallery of Art and then moving on to work for the Architect of the Capitol on the Madison Memorial Library and pre-planning for other future Capitol Hill projects. After spending time in the custom home building business he joined the J.E. Sirrine Engineering Company. As the design/build delivery market began to grow, Daniel Construction Company, then a subsidiary of the Fluor Corporation, recruited Mr. Oakley to join their project controls department to support the process and pharmaceutical business. His 24 years at Fluor included project management, sales, and general management assignments for Fortune 500 clients including Merck, Wyeth, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Hyatt Hotels as well as public sector clients including many Federal, state, and municipal government agencies. Mr. Oakley progressed to become operating group executive responsible for a variety of business sectors, including Industrial, Infrastructure and Government. Under his leadership the Infrastructure Group grew from a $20 million per annum services business to one of the largest infrastructure development companies in the world delivering projects like the E470 Toll Road in Denver, the first Public Private Transportation Act( PPTA) in Virginia- the Pocahontas Parkway, the South Carolina Conway By-Pass and the Texas SH130 highways as well as the London Underground Connect PFI, Netherlands High Speed Train and A59 Road PPP’s and the JFK Airport Terminal Four. He subsequently was given responsibility for Fluor’s Government Group that grew from $800 million in annual revenue to $1.3 billion in one year.

Mr. Oakley has also held leadership positions with Lend Lease as the America’s CEO, Skanska as USA Building CEO and most recently with The Shaw Group. At Shaw he served as President of the Environmental & Infrastructure Group where the backlog doubled in two years from $2.6 to $5.2 billion with large design build projects like the Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel facility at the Savannah River Site and the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal in New Orleans, the largest design-build project ever awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He then relocated to the United Kingdom to serve as Shaw’s Managing Director of Europe responsible for growing the business with particular focus on the fossil, renewable and nuclear power business in that region, including close coordination with Westinghouse for nuclear new build activities. Mr. Oakley has also been an active member of the Clemson University President’s Advisory Board and The Clemson University Board of Visitors. He also served on The Palmetto Business Forum and was a Founding Board Member of the Design Build Institute of America and a Founding Board Member of The Drummond Center for Statesmanship. He is an active member of The Moles, and association of leaders in the heavy construction business. He has also been a member of numerous other professional, industry, national and community organizations.

Phillip Prince

(updated information for Phillip Prince will be posted soon)

Jane Robelot

Jane Robelot was born in Greenville, South Carolina. She is a graduate of Clemson University, an avid Tiger Fan and started her successful broadcast career as sports director at WCCP-AM in Clemson, S.C. She went on to anchor at WCAU-TV, the CBS affiliate in Philadelphia; at WGCL-TV in Atlanta and at WSPA-TV in Spartanburg.

Jane joined CBS in March 1995, as anchor of CBS Morning News and in 1996, she was named co-anchor of CBS This Morning. President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Evangelist Billy Graham, House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Authors Bob Woodward Carl Bernstein, Patricia Cornwell and Nicholas Sparks are just a few of the news-making people Jane interviewed. While at CBS, she also served as a New York-based correspondent reporting for various CBS News broadcasts. She covered some of the most important news events of that time, including the Oklahoma City bombing and the death of Princess Diana. During her tenure at the network, Jane received two national Emmy Awards for journalistic excellence.

In 2007, Robelot returned home to Greenville to join WFF4 as a contributing reporter and anchor of periodic special programs and newscasts. She is married to Mario De Carvalho, an award winning combat cameraman with CBS News. They have one son, George.

James Sutherland

Jim Sutherland was born in Clemson, South Carolina. He received his BS from Clemson University in 1967 and was the President of the Senior Class. While attending Clemson, he was awarded the Norris Metal, was an all-ACC basketball player, was named ACC Student-Athlete of the Year for all sports, and he was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame. Sutherland received the Clemson Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. Following Clemson, Sutherland attended Emory University School of Medicine and graduated in 1971. He was a resident in Pediatrics at Emory from 1971 – 1974 and served Active Duty in the US Army in Augsburg and Heidelberg, West Germany. Sutherland was awarded a Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine from 1978-1980 and went on to become a Pediatric Cardiologist at Letterman Army Med Center, Presidio San Francisco. He has worked for the US Armey in Saudi Arabia (Landstuhl) in 1985 and was a Pediatric Cardiologist at Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX from 1986-1989.

Sutherland is currently an attending Pediatric Cardiologist at the Emory University Department of Pediatrics/Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and a part time artist and basketball coach. He is to married Mary C. King and has one daughter, Catherine, who is currently a senior at Boston University.

Anna McNeill Welborn

Anna McNeill Welborn is married to John Hearst Welborn and has two children; Jim and Lyda. John and Jim are Clemson graduates and Lyda will be graduating this December. Welborn received her undergraduate degree from Erskine College with a B.A. in Education and her Masters of Education degree from the University of South Carolina.

Welborn has been involved with the Greenwood County Arts Council practically since it's inception in 1997. She has served President and Vice President of the Greenwood County Arts Council Board of Directors and founded, organized and chaired their first fund-raiser event, Hearts for the Arts, which put the organization on the cultural map. She has organized and chaired for the last ten years, has been involved with the restoration of the Federal Building in Greenwood and in 2008 she was hired by the Greenwood Arts Center as their event planner and fundraiser.

Through leadership, fundraising and service she has enjoyed reaching out to the area community by encouraging them to become involved in the Arts. She strongly believes in the connection between a vital community -based arts program and economic growth in the community in addition to an enhanced quality of life involving our diverse population.