President’s Leadership Institute

• Goals of the President's Leadership Institute
  • Enable personal and professional growth for every participant.
  • Ensure high levels of familiarity and interaction among faculty and staff from all areas of the University.
  • Offer opportunities for dialogue and discussion on topics important to the state of our University and its environment and constituents.
  • Provide an in-depth, clearer understanding of the internal structure and unique characteristics of our University landscape.
  • Create dialogue and discussion on topics important to the state of our University and its constituents.
  • Explore issues and opportunities facing higher education in general and those specific to Clemson such as our mission, strategies, priorities, governance, stakeholders and internal/external relations.
  • Broaden perspectives of Clemson's impact at a state, regional, national, and international level.
  • Ensure strong University leadership for the future.
  • Improve the University's overall performance.
• Who can participate?

  Each cohort of the President’s Leadership Institute (PLI) comprises 25 faculty and staff members from across the University who demonstrate exceptional performance in their respective areas. Faculty are nominated by the college deans and/or the Provost; staff are nominated by the University vice-presidents or corresponding divisional heads or senior administrators of the non-academic units of the University. A selection committee reviews the nominations for the final cohort. .

  Annual nominations for the cohort will be solicited in April.

• What can I expect?

  During the nine-month program, the cohort meets once a month for an all-day session.
  
  Meetings take place at various locations on campus or in Greenville, Charleston or Columbia.
  
  Program participants should expect meetings to encompass elements of critical thinking, problem solving, self-analysis, exposure to new ideas, and rigorous and healthy discussion on a myriad of topics, and high levels of fellowship and interaction with fellow classmates.

  Potential topics include:

  • Clemson's history and character (land-grant, mission, governance model)
  • Clemson University as a business: what it takes to run a university and meet the needs of our constituents (finance, facilities, infrastructure)
  • Personal leadership skills/team building/leadership styles
  • Clemson's impact across South Carolina (Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, public service activities)
  • Conflict resolution
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Governmental relations and external relations
  • Opportunities and challenges in higher education
  • Athletics
  • Strategic planning and university priorities
• Timeline

  Nominations
  Annual nominations for the cohort will be solicited in April.
  Program runs from August through May of a given academic year.

  Each program includes:

  • Seven class days
  • An overnight trip to Columbia and Charleston
  • A graduation
  • Variety of site visits outside of main campus
• President's Leadership Institute Classes

  Previous Cohorts

  2021 Cohort (See Full Member Bios)

  Andrew Hurley, Associate Professor, Food, Nutrition, & Packaging Sciences
  Anthony Bernarducci, Associate Professor of Music & Director of Choral and Vocal Studies, CAAH/Performing Arts
  April Purvis, Legal Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Clemson University Foundation
  Arthur Leonard, Audit Manager, Office of Internal Audit
  Beth Bell, Director of Advocacy, Office of Governmental Affairs
  Brenda Burk, Head of Special Collections, Libraries/Special Collections
  Celeste (CC) Bates, Professor of Literacy; Director - Clemson Reading, College of Education/Education and Human Development
  Dustin Foxworth, Chief Business Officer, Office of the Provost & Academic Affairs
  Johnell Brooks, Associate Professor, CECAS / Department of Automotive Engineering
  Ken Robinson, Associate Professor, CBSHS/Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice
  Mandy Hays, Assistant Vice President for Campus Life, Division of Student Affairs
  Marissa Shuffler Porter, Associate Professor, CBSHS/Psychology
  Matt Lombardi, Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services, Athletics
  Matt Hersom, Director and Professor, CAFLS / Piedmont Research & Education Center
  Matt Chambers, Executive Director of Visual Analytics, CCIT
  Meredyth Crichton, Executive Director, Energy Innovation Center
  Mikah Jones, Director of Finance, SCI/Dean's Office
  Nathan Long, Executive Director, IT Customer Services, CCIT
  Nicole Davis, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator, CBSHS/ Nursing
  Rodney Jones, Industry Project Manager, Engineering, Computer and Applied Sciences
  Ryan Mullins, J. Daniel and Nancy Garrison Professor - Associate Professor, Powers College of Business/Marketing Department
  Saara DeWalt, Professor and Chair, Science/Biological Sciences
  Sarah Custer, Director of Emergency Management, Public Safety
  Shontavia Johnson, Associate Vice President for Entrepreneurship and Innovation/Faculty, Office of the Provost, College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences and Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice
  Tracy Arwood, Associate VP & Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, University Compliance & Ethics

News and Events