National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson names interim director

Published: November 22, 2011

Sam Drew image by: Clemson University

By Taylor Reeves

CLEMSON — Clemson University’s College of Health, Education and Human Development has named Sam Drew as interim executive director of the National Dropout Prevention Center. A seasoned veteran in the field of education whose career spans more than 39 years, Drew has been associate director for research and evaluation for the center since 2002.

Drew has a bachelor's degree in psychology, a master's in elementary education and a Ph.D. in educational administration, all from the University of South Carolina. In addition to working as a teacher and principal in South Carolina, he was special assistant to the director in the United States Office of Education and deputy director for education in the S.C. Governor’s Office. He was superintendent of South Carolina’s Union County school district and for the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School in Columbia. After working for eight years as state director of Adult and Community Education in South Carolina, Drew joined the Adult Literacy Media Alliance in New York as director of state partnership development before returning to South Carolina to join the National Dropout Prevention Center.  

Founded in 1986 with Clemson University as its base, the National Dropout Prevention Center is a clearinghouse for issues related to dropout prevention and offers strategies to increase American high school graduation rates. Through research initiatives, publications and professional development activities, the National Dropout Prevention Center works to increase awareness of successful programs and policies and also to improve educational opportunities for young people across the country.

Drew will act as executive director for the Center while the College of Health, Education and Human Development conducts a national search to permanently fill the position.

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