The Clemson University Department of Psychology recognized two alumni for their outstanding career achievements and contributions to their respective fields during its annual awards celebration.
Frank Merritt, Ph.D., ’78 received the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award and Susan Redmond, MD, 06’ received the Distinguished Early Career Achievement Award.
“Each year, we recognize individuals whose lifetime and early career achievements have advanced their fields in significant and lasting ways,” said Pat Raymark, chair of the Department of Psychology. “Together, these honors reflect our commitment to academic and professional excellence and inspire current and future generations of students to strive for purposeful careers and an enduring legacy. It is a privilege to recognize Frank and Susan for their outstanding career achievements.”
Frank Merritt, Ph.D., Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award
Merritt, a clinical psychologist and founder and chief executive officer of Touchstone Learning and Consulting, received the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for his career contributions to the field of business psychology.
He graduated from high school at 16 years old and worked full-time at Walmart to put himself through college at Clemson University. As a student in the Department of Psychology, he attended class in the morning and worked in the evening. At 18 years old, he was the youngest associate store manager to earn the position.
Merritt said his success at Clemson was a result of hard work, perseverance and the support of incredible faculty, staff and peers. He recalled a time when one of his professors, Len Berger, drove to Walmart in Easley to personally deliver a message during his work shift – a gesture that has remained deeply meaningful to him throughout his life.
After working for several years, Merritt earned both a master’s and doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi before accepting a career-defining position with a business psychology firm, advising clients on organizational and behavioral dynamics within companies.
Driven by an entrepreneurial mindset, he later purchased the partners’ shares, became the firm’s sole owner and founded TalentQuest, where he developed an innovative assessment tool designed to assist businesses in the evaluation of employee performance, productivity and retention.
In 1997, he brought TalentQuest’s capabilities online and positioned the company as a leader in digital workforce solutions. Over the next several years, he expanded TalentQuest’s offerings to include a performance management software that enabled organizations to more effectively develop and evaluate their employees and an online succession planning tool to assist organizations in identifying and preparing future leaders.
By 2006, major corporations such as Coca Cola Enterprises were engaging his team to design comprehensive 360-degree evaluation processes that incorporated insights from subordinates, peers, managers and even customers.
Under Merritt’s leadership, the company acquired a learning company in 2017 and further expanded its offerings to include a robust library of more than 500 microlearning courses for managers, employees and customers. By the time he sold TalentQuest to enterprise system company Energage in 2025, he had developed a stem to stern talent management platform.
“My experience in the Department of Psychology taught me that relationships are the foundation of success. The relationships I developed with faculty and peers taught me the value of active listening, collaboration and trust, and those experiences continue to influence how I approach my work and leadership today,” said Merritt.
Susan Redmond, MD, Distinguished Early Career Award
Redmond, a double board-certified physician in family and integrative medicine, received the Distinguished Early Career Award for her career contributions to the medical field.
As a first year Clemson student, Redmond considered a variety of degree paths before a pivotal moment led her to discover a passion for health care. Her uncle suffered a seizure while driving and, within a day, was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. Redmond witnessed the compassionate care of her uncle’s oncologist – care that allowed him to die with dignity – and the experience profoundly shaped her perspective on medicine.
With the support of Robin Kowalski, professor of psychology, Redmond changed her major to psychology with a minor in physical sciences.
In 2005, she studied abroad in Australia at an integrative oncology clinic and in Costa Rica with the Foundation for International Medical Relief for Children. These experiences exposed her to integrative medicine and holistic health and demonstrated the importance of caring for individuals across all stages of life.
On campus, Redmond participated in a Creative Inquiry course with psychology professor June Pilcher. As part of the course, Redmond conducted cognitive testing for Pilcher’s sleep research study. She said the opportunity to conduct research as an undergraduate student instilled in her a desire to evaluate and assess data and taught her the importance of evidence-based models of care.
Redmond said the unique experiences she had as an undergraduate student solidified her passion for person-centered health care. After graduation, she earned a Doctor of Medicine from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed residency at Tufts University Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance Family Medicine.
Over the years, Redmond continued to serve internationally through medical mission trips to Tanzania and Haiti. She also completed a fellowship at the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine where she grew her knowledge of integrative care.
Today, she operates her own practice, Balance Medical and Wellness, which she opened in 2025. Her work combines traditional primary care with integrative medicine to support patients’ overall health and well-being.
“Clemson provided life-changing experiences that challenged my worldview, expanded my skill sets and shaped my philosophy of care,” said Redmond. “The core values that drive me to care for the whole person were forged during my time as an undergraduate student and continue to motivate how I practice medicine today. Through hands-on research, meaningful mentorship and opportunities to explore health care across cultures, I learned to think critically, ask more thoughtful questions and approach each patient with compassion. Those experiences continue to define the kind of physician I strive to be each day.”
The Department of Psychology is a part of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. Established in July 2016, CBSHS is a 21st-century, land-grant college that combines work in nine disciplines – communication; nursing; parks, recreation and tourism management; political science; psychology; public health sciences; sociology, anthropology and criminal justice – to further its mission of “building people and communities” in South Carolina and beyond.
