Advisory Board

Delia B. Allen

 Delia B. Allen, Ph.D. has diverse experiences within corporate, consulting, pre-K-12, and higher education settings. Most recently, she is affiliated with the Richard W. Riley Institute at Furman University, where she serves as a Research Associate in the Center for Education Policy and Leadership. Dr. Allen is also currently a visiting professor in the Department of Educational & Organizational Leadership Development at Clemson University. Earlier in her career, she has been both an engineer and a public high school mathematics teacher.

Her current positions focus her time primarily on teaching, consulting and policy work. However, Dr. Allen has managed to maintain an active research agenda along with diverse publications. Her article, The Forgotten Brown Case: Briggs v. Elliott and Its Legacy in South Carolina, is published in a 2019 special issue of the Peabody Journal of Education that examines the promise, legacy, and reality of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. She also co-authored a chapter in an education law textbook. The chapter, History, Race, & Law, is published in 2019 in Contemporary Issues in Higher Education Law, 4th edition. This textbook is a practical guide covering higher education law as it affects students, faculty and non-faculty employees, and administrators.

In addition to Dr. Allen’s publications, research and teaching experiences, she has delivered scholarly presentations in the areas of education law, finance, leadership, and policy. She currently serves as a member of the board of trustees for the National Education Finance Academy (2020-2023). She also serves as a member of the faculty editorial board for the Education Law & Policy Review.

Dr. Allen received her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia, along with a Certificate in Education Law and Policy. She earned a M.S. from Northwestern University in Biomedical Engineering and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University.

Stephan C. Barton

Stephan is Senior Principal of Physicians Planning Group, LLC, in Atlanta. He specializes in Investment Analysis, Estate and Pension Design and is a NASD Registered Representative; Registered Investment Advisor; Registered Financial Consultant; and Certified Senior Advisor. Stephan served as a Chairman of the Advisory Board for the College of Architecture, Arts & Humanities at Clemson for 5 years and is now serving on the Board of Governors for the Mercer University School of Medicine. He graduated from Clemson in 1972 with a B.A. in English and went on to receive both his M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

While attending Clemson, he was a Tiger Letterman in track and field, a member of the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity and the Block C Club. In, 2001 he was named a Distinguished Alumni Fellow. Stephan and his wife, Mary, have three children. He is a Deacon and Trustee of First Baptist Church, Athens. 

Bryan Batson

Bryan Batson is executive vice president of external affairs and chief external and public affairs officer of Southern Company Gas. In this role, he has responsibility for the company’s external affairs, corporate communications, marketing, customer service, community relations and economic development, and environmental affairs. In addition, he serves as president of the company’s foundation, which focuses on philanthropic and volunteer initiatives.Batson also is a member of the Southern Company Gas Management Council. Southern Company Gas is a subsidiary of Southern Company.

Batson received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Clemson University and is a registered professional engineer. He also holds a master’s in technology management from Mercer University. Batson is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2005, and Leadership Georgia, Class of 1997.

Batson and his wife, Kathleen, are residents of Sandy Springs, GA. He has one daughter, India.

Michael Cunningham

Michael Cunningham is a native South Carolinian and a 1995 graduate of Clemson University, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in English. Michael completed his Master of Public Administration degree in a joint degree program from Clemson University and the University of South Carolina. He worked in the public sector, specifically in county government from 1997 until March 2009. Michael currently serves as the CEO of AnMed Cannon and the Vice President for Community Health Partnerships with AnMed Health System in Anderson, SC where he has been employed since August of 2009. He also serves as the faculty advisor for the Clemson University S.C. Student Legislature Delegation.

Michael faithfully serves on the boards and in leadership roles of multiple organizations across the Upstate and the nation. Some of his affiliations currently include the Anderson Free Clinic Board, Anderson School District #5 Foundation Board, Chair of the Community Housing Resource Board of Anderson, Deacon of Springfield Baptist Church, Pickens Rotary Club, PlaySafe Board of Directors, Salvation Army Advisory Board, Spero Financial Credit Union Board of Trustees, Tri-County Technical College Board of Visitors, United Way of Anderson County, and the Welvista Board of Directors.

Michael is married to the former Bridget Peak of Union, SC. A Clemson alumna, she received her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering in 1996. They are the parents of a daughter and a son.

Dave Diamond

Dave Diamond is a businessman dedicated to the advancement of youth. Dave has served almost 20 years as the chairman of the Northern Illinois chapter of the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy; an annual opportunity to bring together some of the brightest high school minds in the region for a weekend of fun and leadership training.

Dave is well-positioned for such a task. He has served in numerous leadership roles that have taken him from board service to corporate leadership. A graduate of both Bradley University and Harvard University, Dave serves as the president of Walter Wayne Development and looks forward to working with the Rutland Institute for Ethics Advisory Board.

Jane Dyer | Board Chair

Jane Dyer retired from flying in 2017 as a Boeing 777 Captain.  She amassed over 10,000 accident-free hours at FedEx.  Prior to the B777, she was the Captain of the Airbus 300 and Boeing 727. Her flying career began in the USAF where she flew the KC135, an air-refueling aircraft, and instructed in the T-37, a primary trainer for the Air Force. 

Jane is a 1981 graduate of Clemson University where she received her degree in Mechanical Engineering.  She was the first female Commander of Air Force ROTC and the first female from Clemson selected to attend pilot training. She is a native of Greenville and graduated from Easley High School. While in the Air Force, she met and married her husband, John Dyer. John also retired from the US Air Force as a pilot, serving two tours in Vietnam.  He is a highly decorated pilot, including the Purple Heart. 

They have four children, two grandchildren and a great grandson. Jane has always been active in her community as a youth sports coach, church volunteer, and Boy Scout merit badge counselor. Through Greenville Women Giving Grant Review Committees, Jane helped champion grants to put Girl Scout Troops at Tanglewood Middle School and to develop sustainable ecosystems of the Reedy River through Unity Park. 

She is currently serving on the Clemson Corps Board and is Past President of the Rotary Club of Greenville. She was instrumental in the planning and execution of Greenville’s best new Holiday Tradition, Kringle Holiday Village. Both Jane and her husband have been named to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum “Wall of Honor”. 

Her father, Grady Ballard, Class of ’42, served in the US Army Air Corps in the Pacific theater. Tony Dyer, her son, graduated in the Class of 2013 and is now a physician. She is proud to be a part of three generations of Clemson Tigers. Jane is forever grateful to Clemson University Air Force ROTC for opening doors that literally provided opportunities that encompassed the globe.

Anderson Garcia

Anderson Garcia is a Human Resource leader with over 20 years of responsible and progressive experience in Human Resource Management focusing in the areas of Manufacturing, Distribution and Engineering.  He is currently a Senior HR Business Partner for GE Gas Power where he supports several Engineering teams across the globe.  He first joined GE in 2010 as the Global HR Manager for Renewables Engineering and in 2014 moved to the Gas Power business. He serves as the HR Advisor for the Hispanic Forum Affinity group in GE Gas Power, both locally and across the business.  He has been on the United Way Board since 2017. Recently, he joined the Hispanic Alliance of Greenville Board of Directors, having served on their Internal Affairs Committee for the past year.

Prior to joining GE, Anderson worked for Bausch & Lomb in Greenville, SC as the Human Resources Manager where he led the HR function and drove key processes including staffing, talent development, compensation, benefits administration, employee relations, and community relations. He began his career with Milliken & Company as a Production/Process Improvement Manager and later broke into HR as an Education and Training Manager. In his 5 years with Milliken, he was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility for the South Carolina and Georgia plant facilities.

Anderson earned a Bachelor of Science in Textile Management from Clemson University and a Master of Science Management from Southern Wesleyan University.  He holds a Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) Certification from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI).

His parents immigrated from Colombia, South America to Ossining, NY where he was born. At an early age, he moved to Greenville, SC, where he continues to reside with his wife, Demie (Clemson BS ’94, MBA ‘96), and their 2 children Elena (14) and Nicholas (11).  He is a die-hard Clemson fan and in most non-Covid years would find him tailgating at all home Clemson games.

Kendra Gordillo

Kendra is currently a Master’s student at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where she studies Philosophy, Bioethics & Health. In 2023, Kendra was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to support her degree program in the Netherlands. As part of her studies, she recently conducted research on the ethics of personalized prevention in the EU.

Prior to moving to Amsterdam, Kendra worked as an English Language Assistant in the public school systems of Madrid, Spain and later worked in healthcare consulting, covering topics such as antimicrobial resistance, healthy aging, telemedicine, and digital healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, trail running, traveling, and cycling to her classes.

Kendra earned her Bachelor of Science in Genetics and a minor in Philosophy from Clemson University, graduating cum laude. She is a graduate of the Clemson Honors College and was awarded General Honors and Departmental Honors in Philosophy. At Clemson, Kendra was the Vice President of CHANGE and the inaugural Distinguished Ethics Scholar through the Rutland Institute for Ethics.

H.J. Hayes, Jr.

Harskin "H.J." Hayes, Jr., PharmD, MLS(ASCP) is the Director of Sona Specialty Pharmacy in Asheville, NC. He is a proud cum laude graduate of Clemson University who continued his education with post baccalaureate studies in medical laboratory science, and graduated cum laude with a Doctorate of Pharmacy Degree from South Carolina College of Pharmacy-Columbia. With a passion for community pharmacy and health care advocacy, he furthered his training through a PGY-1 Community Residency with UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Moose Pharmacy. Prior to his present position as director of pharmacy, he worked as an Assistant Professor of Community Pharmacy Practice at South University School of Pharmacy in Columbia, SC.

In addition to serving the community through pharmacy and advocacy, Dr. Hayes is equally committed to mentoring the next generation of pharmacists and leaders. He precepts for several schools of pharmacy in the southeast region and also serves as an alumni mentor through Clemson’s FIRST program, an organization through which he was an inaugural mentor as an undergraduate student. He has had work published in both US Pharmacist and Pharmacy Today publications, is a licensed pharmacist in the states of SC, NC, TN, and VA, and is a member of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Hayes is the youngest of three children and is a very proud uncle and godfather who enjoys stand up comedy, concerts, and spending time with family and friends. 

L’Tanga M. Johnson

L’Tanga M. Johnson is a seasoned business professional with extensive experience in Human Resources, Information Security, and leadership management within dynamic corporate environments. She currently serves as the Americas Region Manager of Information Protection at BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC, where she has been employed for 25 years. In her role, she consults and audits 14 BMW legal business entities across Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the US to safeguard proprietary information, systems, and networks.

L’Tanga is also a certified Gallup Strengths-Based Leadership Coach, a Certified Independent Optavia Coach, and a Genealogist. She empowers individuals and teams through personalized coaching sessions, workshops, and the development of programs focused on leadership excellence, health, wellness, and ancestral reconnection.

Her academic credentials include a master’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Bellevue University, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a bachelor’s degree in Business and Public Administration from Drake University. She holds leadership roles, such as Communications Chair for the Drake University’s Black Alumni Association Board of Directors, and has been an advocate against domestic violence, serving as the past Board of Directors’ Senior Advisor for Standing Against Violence Everyday, Inc. (SAVE) in Upstate South Carolina. Additionally, she has served as Secretary on the Executive Board of Directors for the Greenville Literacy Association.

L’Tanga is a singer and musician residing in Woodruff, SC. She is a proud aunt to her nephews and nieces: Josiah, De’Zhane, JaeLynn, and Kaden Johnson.

Hunter Jones

Hunter Jones currently serves as the President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Upstate South Carolina. With over seven years of experience working with the Better Business Bureau, Hunter came to Greenville with the same mission: to establish a safe and trustworthy marketplace. By bringing awareness to scam red flags, as well as proper and ethical business practices, BBB of Upstate SC ensures communities in all ten counties make smart purchasing decisions. He emphasizes the educational resources the BBB provides to businesses and consumers, alike. Helping those that may be more vulnerable to unethical business practices is a top priority. “Being that scams and shady business practices are more common than ever, I am determined to keep your BBB as a primary resource for our consumers to do their shopping homework.”

Hunter came to Greenville with his wife, Mary, their four children, and their pup, Sawyer. By spreading relevant and accurate information, he hopes to further establish the Upstate as a safe marketplace for individuals and their families.

Connie McCullough

Connie McCullough is a retired high school mathematics teacher. She taught all offered subjects in mathematics over her 29-year career at Greer High School including all levels of Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, and Probability and Statistics. She taught Advanced Placement Calculus her last 15 years of teaching; she taught both AB and BC levels of AP Calculus. In 2002, she facilitated the first offering of an Advanced Placement Calculus BC course at Greer High School, and she taught this course until her retirement in 2015. She also taught two levels of IB Mathematics. She was the chair of the mathematics department, a Mentor Teacher to new teachers, and the sponsor of the National Honor Society. She also enjoyed sharing her love of teaching mathematics by assisting four student teachers in their student teaching experiences. She served as the Master Teacher for the Advanced Placement Calculus AB Institute with Clemson University for several years.

Connie’s recognitions include the Superintendent’s Award of Achievement for Improvement in Advanced Placement Mathematics, inclusion in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, a nomination for The Siemens AP Teacher Award sponsored by the College Board, and Teacher of the Year for Greer High School. She is also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a sorority for educators, where she has served as Vice President. While attending Clemson University, she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority where she served as the Chaplain for her pledge class.

Connie graduated from Clemson University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education Mathematics and a certification in Gifted and Talented. She then graduated from Converse College in 1991 with an Master of Education in Secondary Education Mathematics. She has been married for 39 years. She and her husband, Tony, have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. They continue to reside in Greer, SC where she enjoys taking care of her grandchildren.

Robert J. Rutland | Founder

Robert J. Rutland graduated from Clemson University in 1964 with a degree in Industrial Management and is a past chairman of Allied Holdings, Inc. In 2001 he established the Robert J. Rutland Center for Ethics, which later evolved into the Robert J. Rutland Institute for Ethics. His late wife, Cherry Braswell Rutland, was a strong supporter of the Institute until her passing in 2010. The Rutlands have three daughters, one of whom is a Clemson alumna.

For a complete biography and history of our Institute, see page 20 of our Rutland Institute Annual Report 2020-2021.

Honorary Board Members

Michael Brewington | Chair Emeritus

Michael Brewington has more than 38 years of experience in the Food Services Industry with international knowledge of fresh produce acquisition and bulk purchasing for wholesale companies and purveyors to federal institutions. He has been actively involved in community service, beginning 40 years ago at Clemson University as a charter member of the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

Michael’s commitment to uplifting young scholars has been seen as he advised at several local universities and colleges throughout greater New York City. He has been a key figure in organizing the Brooklyn-Long Island Alumni Chapter’s annual Holiday Food Basket Drive that feeds a number of families in the area. Michael is one of the architects who established the Brooklyn-Long Island Alumni Chapter Scholarship Foundation, now serving as its Chairman.  Since its inception in 1995, the Foundation, with Michael’s leadership, is responsible for distributing thousands of dollars in scholarships, as well as organizing many programs and events geared toward the youth in the community.

Now semi-retired, Michael is a native New Yorker who grew up in South Carolina. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Public Administration from Clemson University. While attending Clemson, Michael participated in a number of organizations including Blue Key Honor Society, Tiger Brotherhood and University Tour Guides. Amid all of his duties and responsibilities, his greatest joy is ‘serving’ as a dedicated and loving husband to his wife, Tammy, and as father to his two daughters and now a doting grandfather to 7-year-old Audrey.

Nicole Clifton

Nicole Clifton is a Vice President with the Financial Intelligence Unit at BB&T Bank in Charlotte, NC.  She graduated from Clemson University in 2001 with a B.A. in Modern Languages with a minor in Business Administration. After graduation, she returned to her hometown, Buffalo, NY, where she began and developed her banking career with HSBC Bank USA and M&T Bank. Nicole is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and is a member of the association’s (ACAMS) Carolinas Chapter. She recently joined and now serves on the board of the Rutland Institute for Ethics at Clemson.

Nicole maintains residences in Charlotte, NC, and in Amherst, NY, where she frequently visits to spend time with her family and friends. She is a long standing member of Faith Missionary Baptist Church and its community. She has a wide variety of interests including cooking, Latin dancing, playing Topgolf, and, of course, Tiger football!

Ansley Cordero

Ansley is a recent graduate of Clemson University and double-majored in Supply Chain Management and Language & International Business. Thereafter, Ansley became a Software Implementation Consultant for the Professional Services sector of Manhattan Associates Inc, a global leader in supply chain commerce solutions. Ansley has previously had similar experience in supply chain while doing rotations with TMC | C.H. Robinson and Southeastern Freight Lines. During her time at Clemson, Ansley also pursued business studies at an international-level and became certified in the French language with functional fluency. A former member of CHANGE, she is the first Distinguished Ethics Scholar and young alumni representative to join the Advisory Board.

Ansley is the eldest child of her family and has 2 younger brothers whom she is very close with. Ansley is from Lexington, South Carolina and moved to Atlanta, Georgia shortly after graduating from Clemson. Ansley enjoys participating in co-ed soccer leagues, trying new places to eat with friends, going on the lake, taking road trips on the weekends, as well as growing her community via her attendance at Passion City Church.

Clete Cordero | Chair Emeritus

Clete is the Vice President of Pricing for Southeastern Freight Lines in Lexington, SC, a billion dollar less-than-truckload motor carrier, where he has been since 2010. Previously he was the Vice President of Business Improvement at Benton Express in Atlanta, GA. He is a member of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association and the current Vice Chairman of the National Classification Committee.

Clete holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee in Transportation Logistics and was the top graduating senior from the business school in 1996 and played rugby for the university. He and his wife, Carie, have three children, the oldest a current Clemson student. Clete enjoys being on the lake with his family, working with the youth at his church, and both coaching and playing sports. He currently serves as the Directional Elder for Radius Church based in Lexington, SC.

Debbie DuBose | Chair Emeritus

Debbie DuBose has more than 40 years of experience in community relations, public relations and public speaking.  She has been in the fundraising business for 25 of those years, working for more than 10 years for the Oconee Memorial Hospital Foundation and 15 years in alumni relations and development at Clemson University.  She currently owns and operates a consulting business offering expertise in event planning, marketing and fundraising management. 

She has served two terms as president of the Seneca Rotary Club and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.  She is a former member of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy and past president of the Seneca Chamber of Commerce.  She also served in numerous volunteer leadership roles for the United Way of Oconee County.  She served as a commissioner on the Pendleton Historic and Recreation Commission for more than 20 years.  She’s a previous member of the Clemson Rotary Club, received the Clemson Alumni Association  Distinguished Service Award in 2004 and is a member of Tiger Brotherhood and Blue Key. 

She is a 1975 graduate of Clemson University, is married to Bob DuBose and has two daughters, Anna and Brock.

Harry Durham

Harry Durham retired, after 30 years, from Clemson University as Associate Vice President for University Relations. After his retirement, he taught a course entitled, “Business Ethics and Communications” in Clemson’s MBA program for eight years.

He has a BA from Auburn University and an MA in Mass Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to his work in higher education at Duke University and Clemson, Harry worked in commercial film production in Atlanta. An ROTC graduate, he served two years active duty in Germany. Harry remained in the Army Reserve for 30 years and retired as a colonel.

He is an honorary member of the Clemson University Class of 1943, for which he produced a documentary highlighting their 50^th reunion. He and his wife, Ina, have two children, Kathy and Kelly; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

He was a charter member of the advisory board of the Rutland Institute for Ethics.

Kelly Durham | Chair Emeritus

Durham recently retired from First Sun Management Corp., where he served as president and co-owner of the 47-store Wendy's franchise. During his tenure, the company was recognized by Wendy's Corp. for the best operation, best marketing and best sales in the United States.

In 2012, Durham was one of six winners of the Distinguished Service Award, the Clemson Alumni Association's highest honor. Durham is part of Clemson University's Board of Visitors and and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Clemson University Foundation, as well as the Clemson Corps. He wrote, directed and produced a documentary about the Scroll of Honor Memorial, which honors Clemson alumni who have died in service to their country. He was a member of the WestZone initiative committee.

Durham graduated from Clemson University in 1980, having received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, “in recognition of the recipient's influence for good, excellence in maintaining high ideals of living and genuine service to others." Durham served in the US. Army from 1981 to 1985, stationed in Germany, attaining the rank of captain.

Durham and his wife, Yvonne, are residents of Clemson and active members of First Baptist Church. The Durhams have three daughters, Mary Kate (a Clemson graduate), Addison and Callie.

Sam Erwin

Sam Erwin serves as Regional President – Carolinas for IBERIABANK, a regional bank that entered South Carolina in 2016 and North Carolina in 2017. In this role he leads IBERIABANK’s efforts as it seeks to build out a retail and commercial banking presence in the Carolinas.

Previously, Mr. Erwin served as Chairman, President and CEO of The Palmetto Bank in Greenville, SC from 2009 until 2015. The Palmetto Bank was acquired by United Community Bank in 2015. Mr. Erwin served as a Regional President with United Community Bank until October 2016.

Mr. Erwin is a Greenwood County native and a cum laude graduate of Clemson University. He is involved in a wide variety of civic and professional organizations including serving on the Board of Directors for The South Carolina Bankers Association where he serves as its Chair, Greenville Tech Foundation where he serves as Immediate Past Board Chair, The Hollingsworth Funds where he serves as a Board Member and the Business Development Corporation of South Carolina where is a Board Member. He is a Liberty Fellowship graduate, Class of 2011 and currently serves on the Liberty Fellowship Board. He serves Clemson University through his participation on the Board of the Rutland Ethics Institute.

Mr. Erwin and his wife Meg reside in Greenville. They are the parents of two boys, Sam (22 and a recent graduate of SMU) and Patrick (19 and a student at Clemson University). He has a wide variety of interests to include traveling with his family, hunting, fishing and playing golf.

John C. Knapp

John C. Knapp, Ph.D., is the 13th president of Washington & Jefferson College and a professor of religion in the Department of Philosophy. Before joining Washington & Jefferson in 2017, Dr. Knapp was president of Hope College in Holland, Michigan, beginning his term on July 1, 2013. He also held appointments as Professor of Religion and Professor of Management.

Previously, Dr. Knapp was the founding director of Samford University Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership . He served concurrently as University Professor and Mann Family Professor of Ethics and Leadership from 2008-13. Before joining Samford, Dr. Knapp was Professor and Director of the Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility at Georgia State University's Mack Robinson College of Business. The center was established under his leadership in 1993 (as The Southern Institute for Business and Professional Ethics).

In 2003, he was appointed by the Governor of Georgia to develop principles of ethical governance and lead training sessions for gubernatorial appointees, including the boards and senior officers of more than 50 state agencies. Earlier, he had a successful career in business, gaining extensive management experience for more than a decade as president of a corporate communication firm.

Dr. Knapp earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree, in theology and religious studies, in 1999 from the University of Wales, United Kingdom, where he was an Honorary Visiting Lecturer. Dr. Knapp‘s scholarly work was recognized in 2009 when he was named a fellow of the Caux Round Table. Dr. Knapp frequently speaks about the moral issues in higher education, traveling to locations such as England, Lebanon, North Korea, South Africa and Switzerland. He has been on numerous boards in Georgia and Alabama and is a charter member of the advisory board of Clemson University's Rutland Institute for Ethics.

Dick Sargent

S. Richard “Dick” Sargent is the President and Owner of D & M Inc. in Greenville, SC. Now semi-retired, he grew up in Lakeland, FL before attending Clemson University. A member of the baseball team from 1961–1964, Sargent graduated from Clemson in 1965.

Following his graduation, he achieved success in the business world and was honored by being selected in 1971 as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America. He has also been honored for his business leadership by being selected for Who’s Who Worldwide, Presidential Who’s Who, and Princeton's Who’s Who Among Business and Professional Achievers and The Heritage Registry Of Who’s Who.

A supporter of Clemson, he is a member of IPTAY, a contributor to the Clemson Fund for 51 consecutive years and is a member of the Clemson Tiger Letter Winners Association (now the Block “C” Club). He has served Clemson as a Committee Chair on the Commission for the Future of Clemson University and served as a Team Leader in the Baseball Fund campaign to build the new player facility. He was honored to throw out the first pitch before the Tigers’ game on April 22, 2011.

Sargent and his wife Mary live in Greenville, SC and just celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. They have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.

Caroline Stewart | Chair Emeritus

Caroline B. Stewart is retired from Louis P. Batson Company, a third generation family held business which sells machinery, spare parts, and accessory items to the textile and nonwovens industries.

Stewart holds a Bachelor of Science in Textile Science from Auburn University and an Associate in Applied Science from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She began her career with Milliken & Company in their Gent, Belgium office and was with Louis P. Batson Company from 1982 until 2020.

Stewart is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Greenville and treasurer of Roper Mountain Science Center Association. Her past community involvement has been on the boards of Centre Stage, Meals on Wheels Greenville County, Roper Mountain Holiday Lights, Inc., Western South Carolina International Trade Association, YMCA's Endowment Board of Directors and as President of the Greenville High All Sports Booster Club. She is a past President of the Junior League of Greenville, Inc. and continues to remain involved in the organization.

She and her husband, Dick, are residents of Greenville and active members of Westminster Presbyterian Church. They have three grown children. Their eldest had the distinct pleasure of opening the taxi door for the Tiger Cub when he first arrived in Clemson in 1993.

Joe Turner | Chair Emeritus

Joe Turner is chairman and chief executive officer of First Sun Management Corporation, a 47-unit Wendy’s franchisee headquartered in Clemson, SC. In 30 years in the Wendy’s system, Joe has led his team to Wendy’s highest awards for sales, marketing, and overall operations. Twice, Joe’s team has been recognized as one of the best franchisees in the Wendy’s system and was named Marketer of the Year in 1998 and 2002. He was inducted into The Wendy’s Hall of Fame in 2007.

Joe grew up in Williston, SC and graduated from Clemson University in 1971. He received his Master’s degree from Clemson in 1978. Joe also worked for Clemson University from 1971 to 1985 on the staff of the Alumni Office and as Executive Director of the Athletic Fund Raising Organization, IPTAY. Joe and his wife Cathy live in Clemson and are the parents of Jackson, Anne and Tate, and the grandparents of Kate, Hutch, Bo, Earl, Gus, Francis, and Quincy.

Nancy Whitworth

Nancy Whitworth recently retired after a long tenure with the City of Greenville serving as the director of economic development and deputy city manager. She was instrumental in establishing public private partnerships resulting in Greenville’s successful downtown and city-wide redevelopment. She is currently a consultant and advisor for OneSpartanburg Inc, an organization dedicated to the business, economic and tourism development of Spartanburg.

She is an Abbeville County native and received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Clemson University and resides in Greenville with her husband Jeff. 

Whitworth is a member of the boards of the Community Foundation of Greenville, Clemson University Advancement Board for Real Estate Development and is a South Carolina Department of Transportation Commissioner. 

Whitworth has received numerous awards throughout her career including the Order of the Palmetto, recognizing her exemplary vision and leadership as well as her achievements in economic and community revitalization.