Alton C. Standifer, Ph.D., will join Clemson University as vice president and chief of staff, bringing broad experience in executive leadership, institutional strategy and partnership development across public higher education. Throughout his career, Standifer has worked at the intersection of presidential leadership, academic affairs, student experience, government relations and community engagement, helping turn institutional priorities into coordinated action. His appointment is effective Aug. 31.
“Alton’s experience across presidential and provost leadership, strategic planning, academic innovation and external partnerships has prepared him exceptionally well for this role,” said Clemson President Benjamin Ayers. “He is a thoughtful and highly effective leader who knows how to align people and resources around important institutional priorities. Having worked closely with him at the University of Georgia, I have seen firsthand the judgment, integrity and steady leadership he brings to challenging work, and I am excited to welcome him to Clemson.”
Standifer comes to Clemson from Augusta University, where he serves as vice president for strategic initiatives, advancing priorities of the institution focused on executive leadership development, campus planning and community engagement. Before joining Augusta University, Standifer spent more than a decade at the University of Georgia, most recently serving as vice provost for academic and community engagement and chief of staff in the Office of the Provost. As a senior advisor to the provost, he led initiatives spanning academic innovation, institutional effectiveness, budget strategy, industry engagement, workforce development and community partnerships. His responsibilities included oversight of the Office of Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness, Office of Academic and Community Engagement, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the daily operations of the provost’s office.
Among his major initiatives at UGA, Standifer led the establishment of the Victoria K. Ivester School of Nursing following approval by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. The work required coordination of academic planning, accreditation, resource allocation, a founding dean search and collaboration with Augusta University, with the broader goal of expanding Georgia’s health care workforce pipeline. He also served as institutional lead for UGA’s Electric Mobility Initiative, strengthening connections among academic programs, research, industry and government, and was lead co-principal investigator for a National Science Foundation Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation grant valued at more than $3 million.
Standifer previously served in UGA’s Office of the President as deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president, managing presidential office operations and advising on matters involving faculty, staff, students and community engagement. In 2023, the University System of Georgia selected him to serve as interim chief of staff at Savannah State University during a presidential transition, where he supported incoming leadership, institutional operations, academic strategy and stakeholder communication. Earlier in his career, he led new student orientation and undergraduate admissions initiatives at UGA, experience that kept students and families at the center of his work as his responsibilities grew.
A scholar and educator as well as an administrator, Standifer earned a Ph.D. in public administration and policy from the University of Georgia, where his dissertation examined the influence of land-grant institutions on town-gown relationships. He also taught in UGA’s Master of Public Administration program, developing and teaching a course on town-gown relations for public managers, and has presented nationally and internationally on campus-community relationships. He holds a Master of Education in higher education administration and a Bachelor of Science in middle grades education from Georgia Southern University. His leadership and service have included the University System of Georgia Executive Leadership Institute, Leadership Georgia, the Rotary Club of Athens, First Tee of Athens and service as president of the Georgia Southern University Alumni Association.
“I am thrilled to join President and First Lady Ayers and the Clemson Family in this important role,” said Standifer. “As we work to continue moving Clemson Fiercely Forward, I am eager to contribute to our efforts to elevate the institution’s profile while also fulfilling our important land-grant mission. I want to extend my sincere thanks to President Ayers for his trust in me to serve his administration in this capacity and to the countless mentors, professors, colleagues, and friends who have supported me throughout my career and helped prepare me for this opportunity.”
Standifer, and his wife, Brittany, have a son, AJ.
