The Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) is an international organization that prepares students to become leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. When Arun Chidam arrived at Clemson, he knew he wanted to bring an experience he loved from high school to his college campus.
“I knew how much DECA had done for me in high school,” Chidam said. “It gave me a strong foundation in public speaking, problem-solving and networking. I wanted Clemson students to have that same opportunity.”
Working with a small group of peers, many of whom also competed in high school DECA, they began meeting with faculty advisor William Dinardo to bring it back.
That determination paid off. In its very first year, the Clemson chapter grew to 30 members and sent 14 students to compete at DECA’s International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in San Francisco this past spring. Six students placed as finalists.
Dinardo, lecturer in the Department of Management, says, “DECA builds self-confidence and teaches students to articulate ideas effectively,” he said. “Two of our competitors, Fernando and Sylvia, were in my entrepreneurship course, and they stood out from more than 160 students. That foundation gives them a real competitive edge in college and beyond.”
The ICDC competition combines a multiple-choice exam on business concepts with a live role-play scenario. Students have 30 minutes to prepare a case study solution and present it to a judge acting as a company executive. Scenarios can range from improving customer experience in a hotel to creating a marketing strategy for a new product.
“It forces you to think on your feet,” Chidam said. “Public speaking, problem-solving and leadership are all skills you have to use all at once. And it’s even more rewarding when you can apply what you’ve learned in class to a real-world situation.”
With the new semester starting, the DECA chapter meets monthly during the fall, often hosting guest speakers from companies like Total Quality Logistics. In the spring, meetings shift to a weekly schedule to prepare for competition season. Membership is open to all majors, and no prior DECA experience is required.
This year, the group is projecting 45–60 members and is already preparing for the 2026 ICDC in Louisville, Kentucky. Recruitment will kick off in August at Tiger Prowl, Clemson’s annual student organization fair.
Students interested in joining can connect through the organization’s Tiger Quest link.
