McClellan named honorary alumna of Clemson University

Published: November 14, 2011

Vice President for Advancement Neill Cameron listens to Betty McClellan thank the Clemson Alumni Association after she was named an honorary alumna. image by: Clemson University

CLEMSON — The Clemson Alumni Association has named Elizabeth “Betty” Garrison McClellan of Anderson an honorary alumna.

McClellan was recruited to establish the development office at Clemson in 1987 after having served as director of development at Anderson College. As Clemson’s longest-serving development officer, she has raised an estimated $75 million to $100 million for the university and has participated in all three of Clemson’s capital campaigns. She currently is senior director of development at Clemson.

McClellan is responsible for some of Clemson’s largest and highest-profile gifts, which have benefitted programs and departments across campus, including The Walker Course, the James F. Martin Inn, the National Scholars Program, the Rutland Institute for Ethics, the John E. Walker Department of Economics, the Milton W. Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the ExxonMobil Employees Endowed Chair in Engineering, the Richard A. McMahan Fund for Excellence and the Glenn ’65 and Heather Hilliard Endowed Professorship in Environmental Sustainability.

“What most Clemson alumni notice about Betty is that she loves Clemson," wrote nominator Anne Marie Alexander, senior director of corporate and foundation relations for Clemson. "She is very determined and extremely successful at helping Clemson receive private funding that is so critical for students and faculty to prosper.”

McClellan graduated from Limestone College in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She is an active member of First Baptist Church of Anderson. She has three children and four grandchildren.

Any Clemson alumnus can nominate someone to be an honorary alumnus. Honorary alumni are specially selected by the Alumni Council for their outstanding service, lifelong devotion and loyalty to Clemson University or the Clemson Alumni Association. To see past honorary alumni or to view the award guidelines, visit the Honorary Alumni web page.

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