Contact Us

Staff

• Dr. William C. McCoy

  Director

  Dr. McCoy joined the Clemson University family as the Director of the Rutland Institute for Ethics on March 1, 2018. Previously, Dr. McCoy was the Director of Ethics Education and Diversity Initiatives for the College of Business at Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois. In his previous role, he advised a student ethics organization, and served as chair of the Interdepartmental Faculty for Ethics Committee and the BELIEF (Building Ethical Leaders using an Integrated Ethics Framework) Corporate Advisory Board. Dr. McCoy also served as the liaison between the College of Business and NIU’s office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Dr. McCoy has a Bachelor’s degree in English (NIU), a Master’s degree in Continuing and Vocational Education (University of Wisconsin–Madison), and a Doctoral degree in Educational Administration (Edgewood College).

  Dr. McCoy has a long history of serving in roles designed to help others. In the non-profit sector, he served as the Vice President of the Center for Sight and Hearing in Rockford, Illinois, an organization designed to assist hearing and/or vision impaired individuals in the Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin region. In the corporate sector, he served as the Manager of Management Development and Corporate Quality for Wisconsin Physicians Service, one of the largest Medicare Part B providers in the nation. Dr. McCoy was also the first Managing Director for INROADS/Oklahoma, an organization that trains and develops minority talent and prepares them for corporate and community leadership.

  Under Dr. McCoy, the Institute will push ethical decision-making to the forefront of Clemson Tigers’ education, engaging faculty, students, and staff members across all disciplines.

  864-656-6147
  wmccoy@clemson.edu

• Emily-Elizabeth Cotton

  Assistant Director

  Emily-Elizabeth Cotton joined the Rutland Institute for Ethics as the Assistant Director in Spring of 2023. Emily-Elizabeth is a proud Clemson University alumna, having received her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology with a concentration in Biomedicine as a member of the class of 2018. She began her career with Pfizer, Inc. and served as a Process Engineer and Microbial Control Specialist supporting Pfizer’s Global Supply Network. Emily-Elizabeth then went on to pursue her Master of Divinity at Emory University as a recipient of the Woodruff Fellowship, following her interests in organizational health, ethical behavior, and catalytic education. Her academic work centers on the intersection of community engagement and ethical praxis.

  864-656-2473
  eecaste@clemson.edu

• Matt Harrington

  Education and Operations Specialist 

  Matt has served as the Education and Operations Specialist for the Institute since May 2024, having previously acted as our Digital Transition Specialist since January of the same year. Matt began his time with us as an undergraduate member of CHANGE in Fall 2022, and he continues to be a member of the organization. As the graduate assistant for the Rutland Institute, Matt delivers classroom presentations on ethical decision-making, handles management and innovation of our digital platforms, and oversees the execution of the Ina B. Durham Annual High School Ethics Case Competition. Matt graduated from Clemson in 2023 with his Bachelor of Science in Genetics and is continuing his education here as a graduate student in the Department of Bioengineering.

  mdh2@g.clemson.edu

  

• Kaelyn Gannon

  Communication Specialist 

  Kaelyn joined the Rutland Institute for Ethics in the Fall of 2024 as our Communication Specialist. Kaelyn is currently a sophomore Communication major, working towards a double minor in Brand Communication and Writing. Through her work as the Communication Specialist, Kaelyn primarily focuses on digital and physical external marketing tools and public relations for the Institute.

  kaelyng@clemson.edu