Experts Guide

Whether you’re looking for commentary on breaking trends shaping the world or a background briefing, our experts are available to help.

Clemson's Experts at Work

Portrait of young woman listening to music with earpods while standing outdoors on the street. Portrait of young woman listening to music with earpods while standing outdoors on the street.

The marketing genius of Spotify Wrapped

The success of Spotify Wrapped, an annual campaign by the popular streaming music platform, is connected to a couple of fundamental, and somewhat contradictory, human needs.

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Associate professor, School of Architecture – College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities

With timber as a renewable, carbon-friendly resource, Dustin Albright’s research focuses on different applications of prefabricated light-framing and mass timber systems, including those with cross-laminated timber (CLT). The use of timber in buildings positively impacts its carbon footprint, and, for South Carolina, it contributes to the state’s $21 billion forest products industry. As a founding member of Clemson University’s Wood Utilization + Design Institute, Albright’s work contributes to wood-based construction materials’ design advancements.

Professor, School of Computing – College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences

Society depends on cloud-computing in ways most people don’t even realize. It’s more than photo storage. It’s being able to go to school online during a pandemic, knowing how long an automobile wreck is going to delay a commute, and providing a developing country with an opportunity to communicate and export goods globally. As an internationally recognized expert and leader in her field, Amy Apon explores the performance, improvement and evaluation of parallel and distributed systems, and utilizes various cloud-computing architectures in order to solve important scientific and industry-related problems.

Executive Director of the Center for Career and Professional Development

What can students expect as they transition into the workforce, and how can they stand out to employers? These are the questions Neil Burton and his team seek to answer on a daily basis. As the leader of the country’s premier career center, Burton provides career guidance and resources to Clemson’s 25,000 students, and his team is a big reason why 90 percent of Clemson graduates are employed, continuing or planning to continue their education or are not currently seeking employment within six months of graduation.

Acting Associate Dean for Research — Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business

Every year, the White House releases an economic report. If you look in the chapter on international trade, Scott Baier and his co-author’s information can usually be found there. Baier is a nationally recognized thought leader in economics whose research consistently has a real-world impact on trade policy. His subject matter expertise includes but is not limited to the causes and consequences of globalization, the economic impact of free trade agreements and economic growth. From 2007 to 2008, he served as a senior economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisors under George W. Bush. From 1999-2012, Baier was a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta. He has also served as a consultant to the Congressional Budget Office, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

J.E. Sirrine Endowed Chair in Optical Fiber, Department of Materials Science and Engineering – College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences; Founding member of the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET)

Optical fibers are used in a growing range of applications central to modern life ranging from communications, e-commerce, manufacturing, defense and medicine. John Ballato has spent his career researching the fundamentals of fiber optic development by looking at materials and how they influence light. His work has led Clemson to become the only university in the United States with the industry scale capability to make and test optical fiber.

Director, Clemson Extension Food Systems and Safety Program Team – College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences

Kimberly Baker comes to work every day with food on the brain. Whether it’s food safety, shelf stability or the creation of nutrition fact panels, Baker’s expertise in food science, nutrition and the culinary arts addresses food safety from a unique scientific and health-conscious perspective – without sacrificing flavor. Her work includes establishing the Food2Market program and teaching all aspects of food safety, working with food entrepreneurs, small and large manufacturers, organizations, consumers, farmers and both state and national entities.

Assistant Professor of Psychology, College Of Behavioral, Social And Health Sciences

Mental health is a critical component of overall well-being that influences one’s ability to cope with stress, overcome challenges, build relationships and contribute to communities. Studies have shown a concerning correlation between social media use and mental health challenges. Clemson University expert Brooke Bennett addresses the impact social media has on body image and how negative body image affects those struggling with mental health. She examines how the shift from traditional media to influencer culture has affected modern-day body ideals and increased the range of people negatively impacted by body image.

Extension entomologist, Public Service Activities; Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences

It is believed there are over 5 million insect species on earth. While most insects are beneficial, most people can agree you don’t want any pests in your home, office space or anywhere else you commonly frequent. At Clemson, one man has dedicated his life to figuring out how to control the unwelcome intruders in our lives. Eric Benson studies the insects that invade the places where we live, work and play, analyzing their habits and learning their weaknesses. He uses the data he collects to create new and better ways to manage them.

Assistant Professor

As the power of social media continues to grow every day, its connection with the cultural and political world around us is becoming increasingly more difficult to understand. Clemson University expert Brandon Boatwright provides in-depth insight into social media analytics by leveraging minute-by-minute sentiment analyses and analyzing how influential social media accounts are discussing important topics on both a macro and micro level. From political and cultural movements to major events such as the Oscars and the Super Bowl, Boatwright is able to leverage technology and social media analytics to provide insight into the ins and outs of how the general public is discussing topics in real-time.

Professor, Department of Psychology – College of Behaivoral, Social and Health Sciences

Due to the changing landscape of workplaces, there is now increased attention on the mental health needs of workers across the nation. Clemson University expert Thomas Britt explains the importance of prioritizing mental health in the workplace for those in high-risk occupations, including but not limited to military personnel, police officers, firefighters, first responders and intelligence analysts. Britt can provide insight into how the stigma of mental health and other barriers to care influence employees in high-risk occupations seeking mental health treatment. Additionally, Britt can explain why it is important that employers create a supportive psychosocial climate where employees feel like their mental health matters.