Contact Us
Breakthrough Scholars Program
193 Cribb Hall
511D Fort Hill Street
Clemson, SC 29634
Email: breakthrough@clemson.edu
Support the Breakthrough Scholars Program
Interested in supporting our Breakthrough Scholars Program, either for scholarships or programmatic enhancements? Please contact Sherece Smith, Associate Director of the Breakthrough Scholars Program.
You can also make an online gift to the program. Choose "Clemson Honors Breakthrough Scholars Program account" in the pulldown menu under your donation amount.
Breakthrough Scholars Program Staff
Sherece Smith
Director of Scholarship Programs
sherecs@clemson.edu
M.Ed. Counselor Education - Student Affairs
Sherece is originally from Clemson, South Carolina and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Presbyterian College. She completed her graduate degree at Clemson University and received her M.Ed. in Counselor Education - Student Affairs. For the past 8 years, she has worked in education helping both high school and college students succeed in their academic and career goals. She has experience teaching, advising, event planning and programming, as well as working with a variety of students from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented populations, student-athletes, economically disadvantaged, and high achieving students. In her most recent role, she worked in college athletics as the Director of Player Personnel and Video Operations for the Women’s Basketball Team at Campbell University and was primarily responsible for planning and promoting summer camps. Prior to that, Sherece served as a Young Scholars Educational Advisor at the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation in Virginia, helping high-achieving high school students prepare for and apply to highly selective colleges and universities across the country. In 2025 Sherece was recognized with the University's Frank A. Burtner Award for Excellence in Advising, recognizing faculty or staff who excel in mentoring and developing students.
Julia Assis Azevedo
Graduate Assistant
jassisa@clemson.edu
B.A., Denison University
Julia is a recent graduate of Denison University, where she received her bachelor's in Politics and Public Affairs and discovered her passion for leadership, community-building, and student life. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, she is now pursuing a master's degree in Counselor Education as part of the Student Affairs program at Clemson. Julia is deeply committed to creating inclusive, meaningful communities within higher education. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, watching TV shows, going on long walks, and working on creative projects.
