Faculty and Staff

Department Chair

Brian Aldridge is a graduate of the University of Liverpool. Aldridge has worked as an academic clinician, educator and clinical researcher at universities in the United States and United Kingdom. He comes to Clemson from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) where he served as a Clinical and Health Innovation Professor.

Aldridge has used his passion for teaching and learning to assist and lead in the development and implementation of several high impact educational programs around the world, including new veterinary and medical school curricula in California, Illinois, the United Kingdom, and southeast Asia.

As the Chair of Farm Animal Health and Production at the Royal Veterinary College in London, he helped create a series of regional veterinary education centers in partnership with established livestock veterinary practice consortia throughout the UK. Aldridge’s recent programmatic leadership roles have involved the design, development, and delivery of new ‘extramural’ veterinary curricular offerings through the iLearning Center at UIUC-CVM.

View Brian Aldridge's full faculty bio.

Professor

Patty Scharko, who was raised in Columbia, S.C., earned a D.V.M. in 1983 from the University of Georgia and a Masters in Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. She completed an internship at Tufts University Ambulatory and a residency in production medicine at North Carolina State University. Scharko was on faculty at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada in the Ambulatory section for six years. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine in 1994. In 1995, Scharko became employed as the extension ruminant veterinarian at the University of Kentucky, Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center. In 2008, she joined Clemson University as an extension/field veterinarian at Livestock Poultry Health in Columbia, SC. She is currently involved with cattle, goats and sheep production/management/herd health. Her major areas of activities include biosecurity and FAMACHA/parasite control training in small ruminants, Scrapie eradication, Beef Quality Assurance.

Scharko is currently on the AVMA Food Safety Advisory Council, South Carolina Association of Veterinarians (SCAV) board, and Clemson University IACUC. She is past president for AABP (American Association of Bovine Practitioners), ACVPM (American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine), AASRP (American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners), and AAEV (American Association of Extension Veterinarians).

View Patty Scharko's full faculty bio.

Professor

Jeryl Jones is a veterinary radiologist and professor in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine at Clemson University. She moved to Clemson in the spring of 2015 from West Virginia University’s Animal and Nutritional Sciences Division in Morgantown, WV. Jones completed her undergraduate degree in Pre-Professional Studies, Zoology from Clemson University. During her time at Clemson, she worked as a research assistant for several projects and developed an interest in research. She went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Georgia. Upon completing veterinary school, Jones worked in private veterinary practices in Syracuse, NY; Aiken, SC; and Barnwell, SC.

After seven years in private practice, Jones entered a residency program at Auburn University to become a board-certified veterinary radiologist. During her residency program, she rediscovered her interest in research and went on to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biomedical Studies from Auburn University. Her research currently focuses on diagnostic imaging applications in natural animal and experimental animal models.

View Jeryl Jones' full faculty bio.

Multimedia and Graphic Design Specialist

Erin Thompson serves as the Multimedia and Graphic Design Specialist for Clemson University’s HareCollege of Veterinary Medicine. With a background in graphic design and marketing, Thompson is responsible for leading design projects, website development, social media strategy and contributing to overall content development.

Thompson received a BFA in Graphic Design with a minor in Marketing from Mississippi State University. She is currently furthering her education by pursuing an MBA in Digital Brand Communications at Clemson University.

The development of a new college at Clemson is a unique opportunity Thompson is excited to be a part of. She is looking forward to applying her knowledge and experience in graphic design, marketing and brand development to aid in the success of the college.

Facilities Manager

As the Facilities Manager for the College of Veterinary Medicine at Clemson University, Callicoat is responsible for all facility operations, capital planning, business continuity, utility utilization, occupancies, and security. He also represents the CVM team as the primary liaison to Clemson University facilities, construction teams, and project managers.

Callicoat has over 25 years of technical and leadership experience along with a master’s degree in Industrial Systems Engineering from Ohio University. While working for several fortune 500 companies, he has led teams of engineers, architects, project managers, and large facility organizations. In his senior leadership roles, he provided direct support to executives in finance and business operations, corporate lease & renewals, third-party contracts, capital forecasting, and growth planning.

Callicoat is thrilled for this opportunity and feels it is a true privilege to take on the role as Facilities Manager for the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine at Clemson University. He is dedicated to the success of our team and the well-being of the staff and students who call Clemson home.

Director of IT

Chris Braswell is the Director of IT for the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine, where he oversees all IT operations, including both instructional and research technology. Braswell ensures the seamless integration and functionality of all technological systems within the college. 

In 2009, Braswell earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Lander University. Since then, he has built a diverse career spanning both higher education and healthcare sectors. His extensive experience includes classroom technology, data center management, data communications, and healthcare technology.

Outside of his professional life, Braswell enjoys kayaking, camping, and hiking with his wife, Jessica, their daughter, Elayna and dog, Enzo. These outdoor activities provide a perfect balance to his tech-focused career, allowing him to unwind and connect with nature.

Veterinarian

Emily Waggoner serves as the Veterinarian for our ambulatory service, which is the college’s mobile large animal vet service treating farm animals in the area. Her focus will be serving Clemson’s bovine and small ruminant herds while growing the ambulatory practice for future teaching purposes.

Waggoner developed her love for animals while growing up on her family’s dairy farm in Tennessee.  She moved to South Carolina in 2000 and graduated from Clemson University’s Animal and Veterinary Science Department in 2009.  She then received her DVM from the University of Georgia in 2013.  After graduation she returned to the Clemson area to start her own large animal ambulatory practice.  In 2018, she became the food animal veterinarian for Clemson University, caring for the animals on Clemson's farms.

Waggoner hopes to make a meaningful impact on the students that come through the program by imparting real-world knowledge applied in clinical situations, and she hopes to give them the support and tools they need to be successful in their careers.

Personnel Business Manager

James “Rainer” Neely serves as the Personnel Business Manager at Clemson University, utilizing his expertise in talent acquisition to drive business operations and strategic initiatives forward.

As the former Senior Director of Talent Acquisition and Retention, Neely implemented innovative talent pipeline programs. At Clemson University, Neely excelled as a Human Resource Manager II - Executive Talent Partner, where he crafted a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy, saving significant costs through data-driven methods. In his tenure at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Neely held multiple roles, including Technical Recruitment Advisor and University Engagement Program Manager.

Neely holds a BS in Human Resource Management from The Citadel and has been accepted into the MBA program in Business Analytics at Clemson University, set to begin in August 2025.

Academic Affairs Coordinator

Lynn Tumblin serves as the academic affairs coordinator for the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine at Clemson University. She plans, organizes, and directs a variety of complex administrative duties for our associate deans and department chair.

Tumblin is a native of Anderson, S.C., and she attended Erskine College where she received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. With nearly twenty years of experience at Clemson University, she brings with her an extensive background in finance, office management and human resources.

Tumblin is honored and excited for the opportunity to be a part of the team tasked with establishing the inaugural veterinary school in South Carolina.

Ambulatory Service Manager

Vicki Weber is the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine Ambulatory Service Manager; her role oversees the operations of the Ambulatory Service, which will include building and maintaining client relations, maintaining quality assurance and compliance and collaboration with CVM leadership for strategic planning, organization and development. She previously worked at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine  

Weber attended the State University of New York College at Morrisville where she earned her associate’s degree in Equine Science and Management in 2003 and attended the State University of New York at Delhi where she earned her associate’s degree in veterinary science technology and LVT (Veterinary Technician License) in 2005. She brings to Clemson a lifetime love of companion animal, farm animal and equine veterinary medicine, along with a strong passion for teaching, mentoring and sharing over 20 years of diverse veterinary knowledge and experiences.  

Weber is honored, excited and proud to be part of the Clemson University Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine team to build skilled, practical and effective veterinary professionals.  

Director of Admissions and Student Services

Dr. Tajuan Sellars is the Director of Admissions and Student Services. With an extensive background in academic and student affairs, Dr. Sellars brings a wealth of experience in student engagement, leadership, housing and residence life, and admissions and recruitment.  

In addition to his leadership role at Clemson, Dr. Sellars serves as Chair of the Admissions and Recruitment Committee (ARC) for the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), further solidifying his expertise in guiding future veterinarians. As he steps into this pivotal position, Dr. Sellars will play a crucial role in shaping South Carolina’s first Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program, designed to train veterinarians committed to serving the state.