Welcome message from Interim President Jones
As a two-time Clemson graduate and former Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Clemson, I have experienced this incredible institution through multiple lenses – student, alumnus, academic leader – and now, I am honored to serve my alma mater as Interim President.
From previous experiences at other institutions, I’ve learned what differentiates Clemson. If you look at numbers like our graduation and employment rates, nationally recognized faculty and staff, responsible use of resources, and many other measures of excellence, Clemson is clearly among the nation’s very best public universities.
But there is so much more that makes our university truly unique and special. We are a land-grant institution that is dedicated to education, research, and service to the state of South Carolina and beyond. We are focused on delivering the no. 1 student experience in the country, increasing research and innovation to guide real-world change, and transforming lives through public service and economic development. And we are guided by our University’s core values of integrity, respect, diversity, patriotism, excellence, and self-reliance. These areas of dedication and values are not just words on paper. They are real. One can feel them when visiting the campus and meeting our people.
Clemson has a great legacy, but importantly, it also has a bright future. I am grateful to be part of an institution with a 136-year history, shared by nearly 200,000 living graduates, countless family members of those graduates, and dedicated faculty and staff who go the extra mile to support our students and the citizens of South Carolina and beyond.
Joe Sherman, Class of 1934, captured the essence of Clemson when he wrote, "There's something in these hills where the Blue Ridge yawns its greatness." I can assure you that whatever that "something" is – it will stay with you and this great University forever.
Sincerely,
Robert H. "Bob" Jones, Ph.D
