Award for Excellence
Congratulations to Dr. Robert F. Baldwin
Dr. Baldwin becomes our newest honorary member of The Great Class of 1939.
Clemson University faculty named Dr. Robert Baldwin, Clemson faculty for 20 years, as one of the best among its ranks by selecting him for the 2024 Class of ’39 Award for Excellence. As professor and chair of the Margaret H. Lloyd SmartState Endowment, in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation (FEC), Dr. Baldwin developed an environmental education center on 800 acres of Clemson property in Camden. The center has served 1,200 students in the past two years. Recently appointed as the Executive Director of the Clemson Experimental Forest, his focus is the long-term viability of the forest land, on the people who work there, and the community who depends upon it for recreation and respite. This is a significant responsibility: the forest has seven area managers, a research staff member, numerous student interns, and an annual budget of $800,000.
Baldwin has demonstrated excellence in research, teaching, and service to the University and broader community. Over the last five years, Baldwin published 35 peer-reviewed papers, including 34 student authors, served on 29 graduate student committees across four departments, graduated four doctoral students, mentored three postdoctoral scholars, and served on eight University committees, two of which he chaired. Dr. Baldwin’s contributions extend globally. He participates in an international research program in the Central Indian Highlands, focused on landscape-scale conservation. Multiple international news outlets have profiled his student researchers in India. He organized the FEC’s contributions on the ClimateSmart Forestry proposal to the National Resources Conservation Service. The project was funded at $70 million, representing the largest single grant to Clemson.
Dr. Baldwin models thoughtful and trustworthy leadership, all while contributing valuable scholarship that betters the lives of citizens in South Carolina and beyond. As Dean Matt Holt reflected, “Dr. Robert Baldwin’s contributions to global conservation research, transformative mentorship, outstanding teaching, and selfless service have left an indelible mark on Clemson University and the world. We are immensely proud to celebrate this remarkable achievement.”
The Faculty Senate administers the program. Early in the school year, the call goes out to the entire faculty, asking for nominations for the current year's award. Nominations detail the past five year accomplishments of the nominees. They flow through administrative channels to the Provost, who passes them along to a select faculty committee for assessment. That committee includes the two prior year Award for Excellence winners. The committee studies the nominations and selects a maximum of four for consideration by the entire Faculty Senate, who by secret ballot determine the winner for the year.
At the December graduation exercises, the Provost announces the name of the winner, who is invited to the rostrum to receive a certificate signed by the President of the University and to be given a medal signifying his or her award, which thereafter will be worn as part of the academic uniform. Then in January, the Faculty Senate holds a ceremony at the Class of '39 Bell Tower near Tillman Hall honoring the current winner. Each winner's name is engraved in granite on the Bell Tower. The Class of '39 has a standing invitation to attend this final recognition of the Award for Excellence winner, who at that time is invited to become an honorary member of the class.
Resolution to Honor the Clemson University Class of ‘39
“Whereas the Class of ‘39 established the Class of 1939 Award for Excellence “to inspire the greatest possible level of achievement by members of the faculty of Clemson University;” and Whereas the Award for Excellence is presented annually to one distinguished member of the faculty whose outstanding contributions have been judged by peers to represent the highest achievement of service to the University, the Student Body, and the larger community; and Whereas Faculty who have received this distinction become members of the Class of ‘39; and Whereas the members of the Class of ‘39 have bestowed the privilege of the Award facilitation to the Faculty Senate; and Whereas the Class of ‘39 respects and believes in the importance of the faculty and its impact on students and the future of Clemson University; Resolved that the Faculty Senate does hereby honor and celebrate the members of the Great Class of ‘39 for its trust and confidence in the recognition of the faculty of Clemson University. - Passed unanimously by the Faculty Senate, November 11, 1997
List of Recipients:
- William C. Bridges (2023)
- Brian A. Powell (2022)
- Rhondda R. Thomas (2021)
- Delphine Dean (2020)
- Mary Elizabeth Kurz (2019)
- Lisa Benson (2018)
- Terry Tritt (2017)
- Antonis Katsiyannis (2016)
- June J. Pilcher (2015)
- Catherine Mobley (2014)
- John Ballato (2013)
- Windsor Westbrook Sherrill (2012)
- Richard Figliola (2011)
- Melanie M. Cooper (2010)
- Webb M. Smathers (2009)
- William (Bill) Pennington (2008)
- Alma Bennet (2007)
- Donald M. McKale (2006)
- Ben Sill (2005)
- Art Young (2004)
- Kinly Sturkie (2003)
- A.P (Hap) Wheeler (2002)
- Jerry Waldvogel (2001)
- Chip Egan (2000)
- Judy Melton (1999)
- Larry Bauer (1998)
- Chalmers Butler (1997)
- Larry LaForge (1996)
- Fran McGuire (1995)
- Cecil Huey (1994)
- Budd Bodine (1993)
- Ray Turner (1992)
- John Idol (1991)
- Joel Brawley (1990)
- Dixie Goswami (1989)
