Dean’s Corner: May 2025

The Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching went to Charles Starkey, Associate Professor of Philosophy and director of the fast-growing undergraduate philosophy major. To understand the enthusiasm Charlie generates in our students, look no further than their survey comments, which include: “He is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)”  and, “at least 4 of our class readings I have forced my boyfriend to read so that we could have meaningful conversations about our values.”

The Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research went to Lee Morrissey from the Department of English, who published two monographs in the last three years, both about John Milton, and both with Cambridge University Press, while actively directing a $200,000 NEH American Rescue Plan grant.

The Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service went to Associate Professor of French Pauline DeTholozany from the Department of Languages. Her service included the Department Chair advisory committee, University Awards Committee, Dean’s Faculty Advisory Committee, and much more. She also currently serves as a faculty senator and works to support victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

The Dean’s Outstanding Principal Lecturer Award went to David Stegall from the Department of Philosophy and Religion. David has been a quintessential teacher at Clemson for 25 years, covering from Logic to Business Ethics to Metaphysics to Philosophy of Law. His former chair remarked, “I truly can’t imagine anyone more deserving.”

The Dean’s Outstanding Senior Lecturer Award went to Lucian Ghita from the Department of English. Lucian is a Shakespeare scholar teaching courses on Renaissance drama as well as British and World Literature. Last summer, he was also the faculty leader of our Global Start Program in Rome.

The Dean’s Outstanding Lecturer Award went to Andrew Baker from the Department of History and Geography. Andrew teaches History 1010 — a course that fulfills the REACH Act requirement for learning about the nation’s founding documents. One of his colleagues noted, “I cannot prove it, but I am sure that the uptick in our majors is due in part to his passion for teaching this course, which is filled with non-majors who have yet to see the light.”

The Dean’s Staff Team Player Award went to Tracy Dudley, our Post Awards Coordinator. One of her colleagues pointed out, she “addresses situations that have the potential to develop into crises through a lens of problem-solving, rather than handwringing.”

The Dean’s Staff Innovation Award went to Director of Student Services Julia Dingle Robinson, who has led the college’s shift to a professional advising model. Among the positive outcomes of the change: the Fall 2024 semester was the first time that our college had zero students on the graduation deletion list.

The Dean’s Award for Excellence in Customer Service went to Nicky Jones, our Global Engagement Advising Coordinator. Not only does she bring friendliness to all interactions, but also goes the extra mile. In one instance, a student left their wallet in her office, so she found the student’s class schedule and ran across campus to get it back to them.

Lastly, the very first Dean’s Distinguished Lifetime Staff Award went to Shannon Baldwin, employee for 33 years and Administrative Coordinator to the Associate Deans since 2012. Words her colleagues have used to describe her include “unfailingly kind,” “tremendous asset,” “role model,” “consummate friendliness”, and “indispensable.”