The monthly “Elevate Well-Being” blog series shares thoughts and reflections of Clemson Well-Being Council members and University faculty, staff and students. Our August 2026 blog is courtesy Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Cole Smith.
As we prepare to launch the Fall 2026 semester, I’ve been reflecting on some lessons I’ve learned about leadership in higher education, especially during seasons of intensity, complexity and rapid change. I’ve been fortunate to learn from outstanding colleagues, mentors and friends across higher education. These are very different people, with different styles from widely different cultures. But they all have one vital thing in common: They prioritize their physical and mental well-being.
That is much harder than it sounds. Calendars fill quickly, colleagues and classmates need support, family and friends need our attention, and — sometimes — we even have to learn new enterprise software. Our work frequently follows us home as we think through upcoming decisions, catch up on emails and texts, and prepare to tackle tomorrow’s challenges. It becomes easy to view exercise, rest, or even routine medical appointments as “optional.” We know that sacrificing those things is a poor long-term strategy, but many of us have done it anyway.
About 15 years ago, I decided to establish (and protect!) time for exercise and other healthy activities. At first, I worried that I would fall behind or become less productive. Instead, I discovered the opposite. I became more focused, more patient and better equipped to navigate complex challenges. Protecting my well-being didn’t take away from my work — it made me better at it.
The other key lesson that I learned: Community is often essential for success. I had family and friends who made me accountable for showing up for workouts so that I would not simply skip out. Many of those healthy habits have just become a part of who I am, while others I still definitely struggle with. I think many of us are in that boat.
That is why our work around Elevate Well-Being matters. Creating a culture of well-being is not about adding one more initiative to our list. It is about creating an environment where caring for ourselves and one another is expected and embedded into how we teach, learn, work and lead.
As Provost, I believe well-being is foundational to academic excellence, innovation and outreach. I encourage each of us, regardless of our role, to model this commitment by setting healthy boundaries, using available resources and remembering that sustained impact depends on sustained health.
As we begin the Fall 2026 semester, let us lead with intention, care and a shared responsibility for one another’s well-being. We are stronger, both individually and collectively, when we do this work together.
Cole Smith
Provost
