Meet the Clemson University Division of External Affairs
Contact Us
Clemson University Division of External Affairs
Suite 1950 1201
Main Street Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-737-0690
Fax: 803-737-0696
Staff
External Affairs
Angie Leidinger
Senior Vice President of External Affairs
Senior Advisor to the Board of Trustees
angiel@clemson.edu
Angie Leidinger is Senior Vice President at Clemson University, serving in two key roles. As vice president for external affairs, she is responsible for Clemson’s state and federal governmental relations programs and coordinates Clemson’s work with industry to strengthen the University’s economic and industry engagement. As senior advisor to the Board of Trustees, she supports the work of the Board and facilitates relationships and information sharing with administrators, faculty, staff and students. Leidinger earned a bachelor’s degree in graphics communication from Clemson in 1990 and joined the University in 2002 as executive director of governmental affairs. She previously worked in government relations at the S.C. Department of Commerce and in the private sector.
Liliana Gehring
Associate Vice President, Academic Strategy
lgehrin@clemson.edu
Liliana Gehring leads academic strategy integration, ensuring the alignment and resourcing of top college priorities that drive Clemson Elevate in collaboration with the Office of Corporate Partnerships, Government Affairs, and Economic Development. She also serves as the primary liaison for the Clemson University Center for Human Genetics (CHG) and co-leads the Clemson University Precision Medicine Initiative (CUPMI). She holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.S, chemical engineering), and Indiana University (MBA from the Kelley School of Business, and a DrPH from the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health). In addition, she has certifications as a Six Sigma Black Belt, as a project management professional (PMP), and in health economics and outcomes research.
Evelyn Sexton Tucker
Director of External Affairs
esexton@clemson.edu
Evelyn Sexton Tucker joined the Clemson University External Affairs team in January 2018 after serving in several roles with the South Carolina Senate Finance Committee, South Carolina Senate and U.S. congressional offices. Tucker earned her undergraduate degree in political science and government from Clemson University and her master’s degree in public administration from the University of South Carolina.
Stephanie Griffin
Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Senior Advisor to the Board of Trustees
Griffi7@clemson.edu
Governmental Affairs
Mark Cothran
Associate Vice President of Governmental Affairs
mscothr@clemson.edu
Mark Cothran leads the Office of Governmental Affairs team that engages with legislative partners on a state and federal level to advance Clemson University and improve the lives of South Carolinians. He joined Clemson University in 2014 after serving as the vice president of public policy at the Greenville (S.C.) Chamber of Commerce and Upstate Chamber Coalition. Before his time in Greenville, the Clemson alumnus held roles in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.
Jarrod M. Bruder
Assistant Vice President
jbruder@clemson.edu
Jarrod Bruder joined the Governmental Affairs team in January 2024 following a 10-year stint with the South Carolina Sheriffs Association and spending four years with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association. Bruder received his undergraduate degree in political science and government from Clemson University.
Beth Bell
Director of Advocacy,
Office of External Affairs
bmicinni@clemson.edu
Beth Bell serves as the Director of Advocacy on the Governmental Affairs team. In her role, she leads communication and strategy for the Clemson Advocates Group. Bell has served in her current role for nearly two decades. She holds a degree in English from Clemson. After starting her career with CBS Sports in New York, she moved into the public sector, serving for several years with the South Carolina Governor’s Office before returning to her alma mater.
Corporate Partnerships
Ann Marie Alexander, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President,
Office of Corporate Partnerships
Amalex@clemson.edu
Linkedin
Ann Marie Alexander leads the Office of Corporate Partnerships team that collaborates with industry partners to establish and expand their strategic and comprehensive engagement with Clemson University in talent development, research and campus and community impact. Prior to her current role, she led the Corporate and Foundation Relations team in the Advancement Division at Clemson. She holds degrees from Duke University (B.A.), Columbia University (M.A.), Fordham University (MBA), and Clemson University (Ph.D.). Before her tenure at Clemson, Alexander spent over 12 years working in New York, primarily in global marketing and sales at Mitsui & Co. (USA), Inc., an international trading company.
Office of Corporate Partnerships
Watt Center, Office 439A
405 S. Palmetto Blvd.
Clemson, SC 29634
Angela Lockman
Assistant Vice President,
Office of Corporate Partnerships
Aglockm@clemson.edu
Linkedin
Angela Lockman joined Clemson in 2019 and is based on the main campus. She focuses on collaborating with industry partners to establish and expand strategic and comprehensive engagement with the university in talent development, research, and campus and community impact. Angela’s background in economic development, technology innovation and consulting includes serving as a senior manager and practice leader at KPMG LLP and most recently as vice president of product management at Equifax Workforce Solutions. She is a graduate of Furman University and the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.
Office of Corporate Partnerships
Watt Center, Office 439B
405 S. Palmetto Blvd.
Clemson, SC 29634
Denise Ciccarelli
Assistant Vice President,
Office of Corporate Partnerships
ciccare@clemson.edu
Denise Ciccarelli brings a wealth of experience in higher education, nonprofit leadership, and corporate engagement to her role at Clemson University. At the Charleston Innovation Campus, she spearheads strategic industry collaborations that enhance research, workforce development, and academic programs. She previously established the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the College of Charleston and served as Director of Development at MUSC. Denise holds a degree from the University of Georgia and is a graduate of Harvard’s Management Development Program. Her professional accolades include recognition in the Charleston Business Journal’s “Forty Under Forty,” selection as a James Clyburn Fellow, and certification as a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) since 2008.
1240 Supply Street
North Charleston, SC 29405
David Clayton
Assistant Vice President and Executive Director, CU-ICAR
Dwclayt@clemson.edu
Linkedin
With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, industry and public service, David Clayton serves the university to advance the economic development mission of the university in South Carolina, lead the development of the CU-ICAR Campus in Greenville and develop collaborations with industry partners. In prior roles, he was the founding Executive Director of Greenville Technical College’s Center for Manufacturing Innovation and Director of the Division of Research for the SC Department of Commerce. A former nuclear fuel design engineer with Westinghouse Electric and gas turbine engineer with GE Power, Clayton earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Clemson University and an International MBA from the University of South Carolina.
5 Research Drive
Greenville, SC 29607
Rob Krulac
Senior Director, Business Development
Office of Corporate Partnerships
Rkrulac@clemson.edu
Linkedin
Rob Krulac, who has been with Clemson since 2013, is based in Greenville, SC at the International Center for Automotive Research Innovation Campus. His scope of work encompasses developing strategic industry partnerships through engagement models that include talent development, research and community impact toward strengthening University/Industry collaboration. Before joining Clemson, Krulac held several leadership positions, including Americas Business director at Morgan Advanced Materials, along with Marketing Analyst and Engineering CAD Design positions in the Transportation sector with the General Motors Locomotive Group.
Tonyia Stewart
Senior Director, Business Development
Office of Corporate Partnerships
tonyias@clemson.edu
Tonyia Stewart joined the Office of Corporate Partnerships team in January 2025 after a successful tenure as Director of Graduate Recruitment and Student Success in the College of Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences. With a proven track record of connecting with industry leaders, faculty, and aspiring graduate students, she excels at building meaningful relationships. Before joining the Office of Corporate Partnerships, she led the STEM ALL In initiative at Clemson University. This program was pivotal in attracting top-tier talent nationwide, significantly enhancing the University's reputation as a leader in STEM education and research in CECAS, CAFLS and SCIENCE.
405 S. Palmetto Blvd., Suite 418
Clemson, SC 29634
Leslie Doss
Business Manager,
Office of Corporate Partnerships
Ldoss@clemson.edu
Leslie Doss joined Clemson University's Office of Corporate Partnerships in July 2024 as the Business Manager. In this role, she assists in planning, organization, and administration of office operations, supporting key initiatives and confidential projects across the department. Doss is based on Clemson’s main campus. She has been with Clemson since 2012, previously serving in the Division of Community Engagement, Belonging, and Access.
Office of Corporate Partnerships
Watt Center, Suite 418
405 S. Palmetto Blvd.
Clemson, SC 29634
Talitha Ellington
Administrative Operations & Campus Community Engagement
tligon@clemson.edu
Talitha works in the Partnership Office at the CU-ICAR Campus in Greenville, SC. Her responsibilities include administrative operations at Innovation Place, including venue management and campus community engagement. Innovation Place houses the CU-ICAR Partnership Office and Clemson’s Land of Capital Asset Stewardship. The CU-ICAR Partnership Office serves as a support center for Clemson University entities on site, as well for 20+ campus partners on site. Community engagement includes coordination of events to bring awareness to CU-ICAR and activities and events serving to unite the campus community. She enjoys connecting partners to each other and creating a sense of place.
5 Research Drive
Greenville, SC 29607
