Endowment to honor Clemson career center director

Published: June 15, 2011

Vice President for Student Affairs Gail DiSabatino, right, presents Flora Riley a Senate resolution honoring her for her years of service to Clemson. image by: Clemson University

CLEMSON — Clemson University has established the Flora M. Riley Endowment for Excellence to honor the executive director of the school’s Michelin Career Center, who has retired after 26 years of service. The endowment will be used to continue and enhance career services offered to Clemson students through the career center.

Michelin North America started the endowment. Additional contributions from other companies and individuals already have increased the endowment to more than $50,000.

“Flora's 26 years of service to Clemson, its graduates, her community, corporations and to Michelin, in particular, have been very special. This endowment is Michelin's way of recognizing Flora for her many achievements,” said Mike Ungar, director of corporate recruiting and university affairs for Michelin North America.

“The Flora M. Riley Endowment for Excellence brings together Michelin, Clemson, Flora and other corporate partners and individuals to create the foundation for sustaining the benchmark operations at the Michelin Career Center established under her leadership. Michelin joins others in honoring her and wishing her the best in her retirement," he said.

“Flora has had a significant impact on Clemson University and on the lives of countless students,” said Gail DiSabatino, vice president for student affairs. “Her ability to advance within her own career naturally lends itself as an example to all in her field. She truly has a story students and staff can admire and strive to achieve.”

After working in industry as a manufacturing supervisor with JP Stevens and Co., Riley began her career at Clemson as coordinator of the counseling and academic advising program in the Freshman Engineering Center in 1985. From there, Riley moved to the career center as assistant director and held several positions leading to her role as executive director of the Michelin Career Center, which she held from 2000 to 2011. 

As its director, Riley generated more than $1.5 million in contributions and sponsorships, and led the Michelin Career Center to be ranked in the Top 10 Best Career Services in the Princeton Review Rankings for Best Colleges for three consecutive years. Riley is known as a leader across the nation in career services and has served in numerous leadership positions with the National Association of Colleges and Employers and the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers.

Riley was adviser to Golden Key National Honor Society. She is a member of the Clemson and Greenville chambers of commerce and the Clemson Rotary Club.

The Flora M. Riley Endowment for Excellence is part of Clemson’s Will to Lead capital campaign, an effort to raise more than $600 million to support students and faculty. To contribute to the endowment, contact Bert Epting at 864-656-0673 or epting2@clemson.edu.

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