The monthly “Elevate Well-Being” blog series shares thoughts and reflections of Clemson Well-Being Council members and University faculty, staff and students. Our September 2026 blog is courtesy Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Learning Sean Brittain.
The mission of the Division of Undergraduate Learning is to serve our partners across the institution as we work together to deliver the No. 1 student experience. We have a responsibility to our students, our communities and our state to prepare students for an ever-changing workplace, responsible civic participation, leadership in their communities, and to pursue lives of meaning and purpose. From formal academic support initiatives to informal conversations with struggling students pondering their future, this work is vital. It can also be taxing.
I had a colleague who would often say, “You can’t give what you don’t have.” When I’d hear this, I would inwardly roll my eyes. The thought seemed unoriginal. And indeed, in some ways it is obvious — I can’t teach a student about astronomy if I don’t know anything about astronomy. But over the years, the phrase has stuck with me, and I think I have a deeper understanding of what he was trying to get across.
Balancing the demands of varied stakeholders, addressing difficult situations, adapting to sudden change — all while balancing all that life throws at us — can take a toll. To serve our students and campus partners well, we need to be well.
Each summer, I have the privilege of presenting the keynote address at Ready, Set, Roar!, Clemson’s in-person orientation. I take this opportunity to provide incoming students with a few pointers about how to get the most out of their time at Clemson. One of the points I emphasize is the importance of proactive classroom engagement. This begins by showing up ready to learn. I remind students that they should not underestimate the importance of taking care of themselves — emphasizing that they eat well (the foundation of a healthy diet is not Red Bull, Doritos, and Oreos!), get enough sleep, make time to get a little exercise, and time to socialize.
This isn’t just good advice for our students; it’s important for us as well. We need to ensure we’re able to be our best selves inside and outside of work, and healthy lifestyle choices are the cornerstone of this approach. It can include simple things like making time to take a walk during the day, having lunch with colleagues, or taking time to celebrate milestones. It also means ensuring our internal processes support staff. For example, by cross-training our staff so that when they take time off, they aren’t interrupted with emails or returning to a mountain of work left undone. I encourage my leadership team to be proactive at protecting their staff’s time off.
For many of us, we got into this work because we are passionate about helping students. We can’t help but feel a little guilty when we take personal leave. I’ve appreciated it when my own leaders have reminded me of the importance of taking time away to rest and recharge. A reminder that rest is not frivolous — it is necessary in order to do my best work. To deliver the No. 1 student experience and serve our students and partners across Clemson well, we need to create the No. 1 workplace — a place where our colleagues thrive professionally and personally. After all, we can’t give what we don’t have.
At our leadership meetings in the Division of Undergraduate Learning, we set aside time to discuss wellness when we brainstorm ideas for things we can do to support our teams and ourselves. These range from sharing information about on-campus resources to reminders that when our colleagues take personal leave, that time is protected so that they can truly unplug. Incorporating these simple practices can do wonders for you and your respective team’s well-being — especially when times are taxing.
Sean D. Brittain, Ph.D.
Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Learning
