President's Leadership Institute Cohort
How Cohorts are Chosen
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 members 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, 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
Members of 2023 Cohort
- Josh Barnes, Executive Director, Center for Student Leadership & Engagement
- Tessa Byer, University Ombuds
- Kelly Caine, Professor, School of Computing, College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences
- David Clayton, Assistant Vice President, OCPSI and Executive Director, CU-ICAR
- Shamella Cromartie, Associate Dean, Organizational Performance and Inclusion, Clemson Libraries
- Monique Everroad, Policy Program Manager, Office of University Compliance and Ethics
- Joe Galbraith, Associate Vice President, Strategic Communications for Marketing and Communications
- Corrine Grant, Director of Alumni Relations and Development, Division of Inclusive Excellence
- Kristen Lawson, Director of Strategic Initiative, Finance and Operations
- Dan Lewis, Director of Digital Accessibility, CCIT
- Renee Lyons, Director, Science Outreach Center
- Michael McManus, District Extension Director, Pee Dee
- Nathan McNeese, Associate Professor, School of Computing, College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences
- Michael Neault, Director of Livestock Poultry Health and State Veterinarian
- Brandy Page, Executive Director of Development, Parent Philanthropy, Student Affairs and University Wide Initiatives
- Lior Rennert, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences and Director, Clemson Center for Public Health Modeling and Response
- Donna Roberston, Senior Director of Institutional Excellence, Strategic Execution
- Kaifa Roland, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of Global Black Studies
- Amanda Rumsey, Associate Professor, Department of Education and Human Development, College of Education
- Jose Sagarnaga, Clinical Assistant Professor and General Management Area Coordinator, Department of Management, Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business
- Jasmine Townsend, Associate Professor and Fellow, Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute and PRTM and Director, Clemson Adaptive Sports and Recreation
- Erica Walters, Program Manager, ClemsonLIFE
- Danny Weathers, Professor, Department of Marketing, Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business
- Daniel Whitehead, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry
- Kevin White, Deputy Director of Athletics
