Schaffer Award

2019- O. Thompson Mefford

Dr. Mefford completed his BS in Textile and Polymer Chemistry at Clemson University in 2003. He earned his PhD in Macromolecular Science and Engineering in 2007 from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and also received the Virginia Tech Graduate Man of the Year Award. Before returning to Clemson University, Dr. Mefford worked on a variety of projects as a researcher for the Ohio State University Department of Chemistry.

His research focuses on developing stable, biocompatible polymer-metal oxide nanoparticle complexes and composites for biomedical, environmental, and energy applications. These applications include: developing materials for hyperthermia, investigating the thermal properties of macromolecule-nanoparticle complexes, and crosslinking networks of magnetic nanoparticles. The development of such complexes and composites will demonstrate the stability and interactivity of nanoparticles and improve upon them to give a better functionality for a given application.

2018- Mary Beth Kurz

Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering, Clemson University Dr. Mary Beth Kurz is an Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering & Associate Department Chair for the Department of Industrial Engineering. Dr. Kurz earned both a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Systems Engineering from the University of Arizona. Additionally, she completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Systems and Industrial Engineering at the University of Arizona. During her studies at the University of Arizona, she interned with IBM in Tucson Arizona and San Jose California in various functional areas over six years. Her doctoral studies were funded by the GAANN program and the Department of Energy Integrated Manufacturing and Processing Pre-doctoral Fellowship.

Her research focuses on tactical decision-making in assembly systems, focusing on production planning and control topics, such as sequencing, line balancing and configuration management, for customizable products. Her research methods include the development of heuristics and meta-heuristics to find solutions for these problems as well as investigating the impact of meta-heuristic design on performance. Her projects in this area have been funded by industry such as Samsung, Milliken and BMW and her expertise is utilized in her role as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Manufacturing Systems.

On campus, Dr. Kurz recently served as Faculty Senate President and established the Committee on Committees, which helps manage university-wide committees and interdisciplinary committees. Nearly every department will interface with her in the next two years, in her role as Faculty Manual Consultant, as they revise department bylaws and tenure, promotion and reappointment documents to include the upcoming rank of Principal Lecturer.

2017- Daniel Warner

Dr. Daniel Warner received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of California at San Diego in 1974 and is currently a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Clemson University. Dr. Warner has served on a variety of other positions specializing in computer-related activities. He was a programmer for the General Electric Corporation, a programming analyst at Arizona State University, and a computer analyst at Airesearch Corporation before he received his master's degree in 1966. He has also been a Research/Teaching Assistant and Visiting Professor at the University of California at San Diego and spent a short time working as a member of the technical staff of the Computing Mathematics Research Department at Bell Laboratories. He was named a National Science Foundation Cooperative Fellow in 1966.

In addition, he was a Lieutenant in Underwater Demolition Team Eleven for the United States Navy until 1970. While serving in the United States Navy, Dr. Warner received a U.S. Navy Commendation and U.S. Navy Achievement Awards. In 1976, Dr. Warner received the Alston S. Householder Award for Doctoral Dissertation: Hermite Interpolation with Rational Functions.

2016 - Antonis Katsiyannis

Antonis Katsiyannis, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Teacher Education and past Faculty Senate President (2014-15) was peer-elected or appointed to many leadership roles within Senate: lead senator, chair Scholastic Policies, Finance, Budget & Accountability, Ombuds sub-committee, Vice President, and chair of the Executive and Advisory Committees as President. During his time as Senate President, in particular, Antonis Katsiyannis was an advocate not only for Senate and all faculty, but also many other constituent groups during a time of great transition at Clemson, including a new University President, Provost, upper-level administration, strategic plan and college reorganization.