Faculty, staff and students will be honored at the 2026 University Spring Awards ceremony and reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, May 4, at the Owen Pavilion at The Clyde V. Madren Center.
The awards ceremony recognizes faculty for teaching, research and service; staff members for exemplary contributions; and honors undergraduate and graduate students with achievement honors and awards.
To attend, contact Lacy Randles at lspearm@clemson.edu.
- Provost Outstanding Teaching Awards
- Faculty and Staff Awards for Excellence
- Alumni, Public Service and Agriculture and Extension Awards
Here are the faculty and staff honorees:
Provost Outstanding Teaching Awards
Junior Non-Tenure-Track Outstanding Teaching Award
Sooyun Choi is a lecturer in the College of Science, joining Clemson in 2022. Since arriving at Clemson, Choi has made an extraordinary impact in large enrollment general and organic chemistry courses, teaching nearly 2,500 students in just over three years. Her teaching is grounded in structure, engagement and reflection, and she creates classrooms where students feel both challenged and supported as they grow into confident, independent learners.
Choi arrived at Clemson in 2022 after earning her Ph.D. in chemistry from Yale University and completing earlier study and research at Swarthmore College. Before coming to Clemson, she built a strong foundation in undergraduate teaching through instructional and mentoring roles that helped shape the thoughtful, evidence-based approach she now brings to Clemson’s classrooms.
What distinguishes Choi is the creativity and care she brings to student learning. Through innovative teaching tools, thoughtful course design and a deep commitment to helping students learn from both success and struggle, she has strengthened student learning in and beyond the classroom. Clemson is proud to honor Choi for the imagination, care and excellence she brings to teaching.
Senior Non-Tenure-Track Outstanding Teaching Award
Amanda Cooper Fine is a gifted teacher whose work reflects Clemson’s commitment to student learning, mentorship, and professional preparation. As principal lecturer in Marketing, she creates courses that are both intellectually rigorous and deeply connected to the world students hope to enter. Her teaching helps students move beyond theory and into practice through applied projects, industry engagement and learning experiences that build confidence and professional skill.
What distinguishes Amanda Cooper Fine is not only the strength of her classroom teaching, but the depth of her investment in students as individuals. She is known for creating a learning environment in which students feel supported, challenged and genuinely seen. Whether teaching introductory courses, honors seminars or specialized classes, she brings energy, relevance, and care to her work.
Her influence extends beyond her own classes through mentorship, faculty development and contributions to the broader Clemson community. Her work reflects the very best of Clemson’s commitment to teaching, mentorship, and student success.
Junior Tenure-Track Outstanding Teaching Award
Lauren Crosby is an innovative teacher, scholar and mentor whose work has strengthened Clemson University’s music theory curriculum and enriched the experience of students across the performing arts.
At Clemson, Crosby has distinguished herself through a teaching style that is rigorous, creative and deeply student-centered. She helps students connect music theory to the music they perform, study and love, creating a classroom environment that is both intellectually challenging and welcoming. Colleagues praise her ability to connect research and teaching in meaningful ways. She joined Clemson in 2022 after previous teaching roles at the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Florida and Florida State University. She holds degrees from Florida State University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Liberty University.
Her impact extends beyond the classroom through new courses in songwriting and music theory fundamentals, a placement system that better supports student success and service-learning partnerships that connect music to the broader community. Through her creativity and commitment to students, Crosby’s teaching reflects her belief that great teaching helps students grow not only as musicians, but as people.
Senior Tenured Outstanding Teaching Award
Garrett Pataky is associate professor of Mechanical Engineering, where he is widely admired for bringing intellectual depth and real-world relevance into the classroom. In foundational and advanced engineering courses alike, he helps students move beyond memorization to develop true conceptual understanding, critical thinking and confidence as problem-solvers. His teaching is known for active learning, practical examples and a commitment to helping students see how engineering principles matter in professional practice.
Pataky’s impact extends well beyond his own courses. He has helped strengthen the learning experience for large numbers of Clemson engineering students through course coordination, curriculum improvement, and mentorship of undergraduate researchers and student teams. Colleagues and students alike describe him as an educator who combines rigor with generosity, creating classrooms that are both demanding and supportive.
He lives in Pendleton with his wife and two young sons, and enjoys sharing with them his love of woodworking, sports and board games. Through his teaching, leadership and deep investment in student success, Pataky has made a lasting contribution to Clemson engineering education.
Faculty and Staff Awards for Excellence
Frank A. Burtner Award for Excellence in Advising
Originally from Summerville, South Carolina, Katie Black earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural education from Clemson in 2003 and 2005. She now serves as the director of advising and registration for the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, where for more than two decades she has been a welcoming and steady presence for students. Known for her patience, approachability, and dedication, she has guided countless students, from prospective high school students to transfers and undeclared majors, helping them find both their academic path and a sense of belonging within the college.
Black also serves as a key resource for advisors and registration coordinators across CAFLS, mentoring new advisors and helping promote consistent, high-quality advising practices. Her leadership extends beyond the college through service on university committees that strengthen the student experience and improve advising systems across campus.
In addition, she supports recruitment and retention efforts and collaborates with campus partners to improve the processes that shape students’ daily lives. A true servant leader, Katie Black has made a lasting difference for Clemson students through her guidance, care, and steadfast commitment to their success.
Algernon Sydney Sullivan Non-Student Award
Alesia Smith has devoted more than three decades to advancing student success, equity and community well-being through a life defined by service, leadership and mentorship. She currently serves as assistant vice president in the Division of Student Affairs, where she works closely with graduate students to help ensure they have the resources, advocacy and support needed to thrive.
Since joining Clemson in 1996 as the inaugural director of Student Judicial Services, Smith has held a number of important leadership roles, including Associate Dean of Students, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Executive Director for Equity Compliance, Title IX Coordinator and Assistant Vice President for Access and Equity. Across these roles, she has helped shape a campus culture grounded in accountability, care, and opportunity.
Her commitment to service extends well beyond campus. Smith serves on Clemson City Council, promotes civic engagement through Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and has spent years mentoring youth through recreation and basketball programs. Smith is especially deserving of this recognition for a career defined by compassion, integrity and sustained service to others.
Phil Prince Innovation in Teaching Award
David Peyton, professor in the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, is recognized for innovative teaching and an extraordinary commitment to students. Known for his energy, authenticity and genuine care for student learning, he creates a classroom environment where students feel encouraged to participate, think critically and grow. His teaching is highly interactive and grounded in practical tools that help students connect classroom learning to the demands of the workplace.
Peyton served for 21 years in the United States Navy, where he was stationed on five aircraft carriers and led the training of sailors responsible for maintaining complex aircraft avionics systems. That experience shaped his enduring belief that when people are given strong preparation and support, they gain the confidence needed to succeed.
Peyton helps students understand not only how to complete an assignment, but why the material matters — fostering one of the most engaged and participatory learning environments students encounter at Clemson. Through his innovative teaching, real-world approach and unwavering dedication to student success, David Peyton exemplifies the spirit of the Phil Prince Innovation in Teaching Award.
Ted G. Westmoreland Faculty Excellence Award
Donald Hagan is associate professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation and a teacher-scholar whose work has made a lasting impact on undergraduate education at Clemson. A forest ecologist by training, he teaches foundational courses such as Dendrology, Forest Biology, Forest Ecology, and Forest Communities, helping students build both deep disciplinary knowledge and a strong sense of purpose in the natural resources field.
What distinguishes Hagan is the way he connects classroom learning, field experience and research. His teaching and Creative Inquiry projects have taken students from the Clemson University Forest to the southern Appalachians, coastal South Carolina and the Bull Mountains of Montana, giving them opportunities to engage the natural world directly and to see how scholarship and practice inform one another. He also works closely with the Fire Tigers and mentors Honors students whose work has appeared in major journals and earned prestigious recognition, including the Udall Scholarship. He is a fitting recipient of this award for the depth of his teaching, the generosity of his mentorship and the lasting example he sets for students.
Class of 1956 Staff Excellence Award
Stacey Miller serves as Administrative Coordinator and Education Abroad Coordinator for the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, where she has become a trusted guide, advocate and steady source of support for Clemson students. Through her daily work, she helps students navigate academic questions, pursue education abroad opportunities and find the encouragement they need to succeed both on campus and beyond.
Colleagues and students alike praise Miller for her responsiveness, kindness and extraordinary commitment to student success. Whether she is helping a student manage a complex process, solving a problem behind the scenes or offering reassurance at the right moment, she brings both professionalism and genuine care to every interaction. As one nominator observed, her work reduces student stress, removes barriers, and opens doors to transformative opportunities.
Her impact extends beyond her department. Miller is deeply committed to service, leadership and community engagement, including her work as the 2025–2026 Staff Senate President. This award honors the extraordinary care, steadiness and leadership she brings to the lives of Clemson students.
Ralph D. Elliott Award for Outstanding Service to Off-Campus, Distance and Continuing Education
Lillie Langlois, senior lecturer in the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences and director of the online Master of Wildlife and Fisheries Resources program, is recognized for expanding access to high-quality, hands-on learning for students across the country. Through her teaching and mentorship, she has helped build a dynamic and supportive learning community for graduate students in wildlife and fisheries resources.
As advisor to more than 100 graduate students, Langlois is deeply committed to helping students grow academically and professionally. She has strengthened Clemson’s nationally recognized online MWFR program through innovative approaches that include virtual field experiences, expert guest lectures, and mailed lab materials that bring experiential learning to distance students.
She also developed a GIS Applications for Natural Resources concentration and certificate that equips students with technical skills in high demand, and she leads an immersive summer field course that brings online learners to Clemson for intensive field-based training. Her work has expanded what accessible, high-quality graduate education can look like at Clemson.
Thomas Green Clemson Award for Excellence – Faculty
For more than two decades at Clemson University, Diane Perpich has helped shape academic life through creativity, collaboration, and a deep commitment to students. Beginning her career as a professor of philosophy, she played a central role in establishing the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies in the College of Arts and Humanities and in creating programs that connect ideas across disciplines and link learning to real-world experience.
Her most transformative achievement is the creation of Clemson’s Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Leadership, the first degree of its kind in the nation. Launched in 2013, the program grew from an existing minor into a nationally recognized major with an exceptional record of student success. Through it, Perpich has mentored students who have gone on to prestigious graduate schools, nationally competitive scholarships and meaningful leadership roles.
She has also raised more than $2 million to sustain and expand the program, creating new opportunities for internships and student growth. Through her vision, leadership and dedication to students, Diane Perpich has made a lasting impact on Clemson University.
Thomas Green Clemson Award for Excellence – Staff
Craig Mahaffey’s impact on Clemson University’s academic environment has been both transformative and enduring. A 1998 Clemson graduate, he began his career as a staff photographer and quickly elevated the creative, technical and professional standards of photography across campus. His work reshaped expectations for how Clemson’s classrooms, faculty, research, and students are visually represented, strengthening the University’s ability to communicate its academic excellence with clarity and distinction.
As Director of Photo Services, Mahaffey advanced his team’s capacity to support Clemson’s mission. He successfully advocated for professional-grade equipment and expanded access to national conferences and professional development opportunities. This outstanding leadership empowered his team to elevate their craft, delivering Clemson’s academic story with accuracy, depth and visual excellence.
Now serving as logistical coordinator, Mahaffey remains the operational backbone of the team, managing schedules, coordinating freelance photographers and ensuring academic units receive timely and equitable support.
Through visionary leadership and steadfast dedication, Mahaffey has strengthened Clemson’s institutional voice and visual identity, leaving a lasting mark on the University.
The Phil and Mary Bradley Faculty Award for Mentoring in Creative Inquiry
Shahid Mukhtar is a professor of Genetics and Biochemistry whose career reflects a sustained commitment to scientific discovery, academic leadership, and student mentorship.
At Clemson, Mukhtar mentors undergraduate students in the Creative Inquiry project Dissecting Plant Complexity: From Arabidopsis Mutants to Soybean Drought Mechanisms. In that setting, he introduces students to the collaborative and investigative nature of scientific research while helping them build confidence, independence and technical skill. His students consistently describe him as generous with his time and deeply invested in their growth. Through his example as a researcher and mentor, Mukhtar helps undergraduate students see themselves as contributors to meaningful scientific work.
Before joining Clemson in 2024, he served for fourteen years on the faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he established an internationally recognized research program in plant immune network biology and earned distinction for both teaching and service. He completed his doctoral training at the Max Planck Institute in Germany and postdoctoral work at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Alumni, Public Service and Agriculture and Extension Awards
Alumni Master Teacher Award
Andrew Pyle, associate professor in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, is celebrated as the 2026 Alumni Master Teacher for the remarkable impact he has on Clemson students both inside and outside the classroom. Since joining Clemson in 2014, he has taught courses in public relations, crisis communication, intercultural communication and the Honors College, creating learning environments that are intellectually engaging, personally supportive and deeply memorable.
Students describe Pyle as approachable, generous and fully invested in their growth. He is known not only for his skill as a teacher, but also for the sense of connection and belonging he fosters among students. Whether through thoughtful classroom engagement, informal gatherings or one-on-one encouragement, he helps students feel seen, challenged and at home at Clemson.
A scholar of social media and intercultural crisis communication, Pyle brings both expertise and humanity to his teaching. His students consistently praise his humility, character and commitment to their success. Few teachers do more to help students feel both challenged and at home in the Clemson community.
Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievements in Research
Timo Heister, professor of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, is internationally recognized for advancing computational science through open, collaborative research. His most influential work centers on deal.II, a powerful open-source software library that helps scientists and engineers simulate complex physical systems and has become a global resource supporting discovery across disciplines.
Heister also co-created ASPECT, a widely used software platform that has transformed the field of geodynamics by giving researchers new tools to study how Earth’s mantle moves, how tectonic plates shift and how planets evolve over time. In addition to his research accomplishments, he has helped build an international community of scholars through workshops, collaboration and mentorship of graduate students and early-career researchers.
At Clemson, Heister has strengthened both research and education through graduate mentorship, textbooks and major federal support for computational science. In 2025, he and his collaborators received the SIAM/ACM Prize in Computational Science and Engineering, one of the field’s highest honors. This award recognizes his exceptional contributions to discovery, collaboration, and open science.
Godley-Snell Award for Excellence in Agricultural Research
David Jachowski, professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, is recognized for a research program that combines scientific rigor, public impact and a deep commitment to conservation. Since joining Clemson in 2014, he has built an internationally respected body of work in wildlife ecology and natural resource management, with research that advances both knowledge and practice in the stewardship of imperiled and harvested species.
Jachowski’s scholarship has produced more than 130 peer-reviewed publications and two books, supported by an extensive record of externally funded research. His work has delivered meaningful benefits to South Carolina and beyond by helping inform management strategies that balance agricultural production, landowner interests and the needs of wildlife populations. His research has also influenced conservation policy at the national level.
A dedicated mentor as well as a distinguished researcher, Jachowski previously received CAFLS Outstanding Faculty awards for Research and for Advising and Mentoring, and he has guided students into leadership roles in universities and government agencies.
In 2024, he was named the first director of the Clemson Boone and Crockett University Program, the only program of its kind in the Southeast. This recognition celebrates Jachowski’s exceptional contributions to research, conservation and the next generation of scholars.
Rowland P. Alston Sr. Award for Excellence in Public Relations
Denise Attaway has built a career around one of Clemson’s most important public responsibilities: helping people understand and use research-based knowledge to improve their lives. As a communications agent with Clemson Extension, she translates the work of faculty, researchers and Extension professionals into clear, accessible stories for farmers, livestock owners, home gardeners and communities across South Carolina and beyond.
A skilled writer, editor, photographer and media strategist, Attaway works across print, digital, broadcast, social and visual media to extend Clemson’s public reach. Her professional background includes journalism, radio, public relations, website development, photography and video, giving her unusual breadth as a communicator. Her writing has appeared in outlets including The Florence Morning News, The Times and Democrat, Southeast Farm Press, Cotton Grower and Direct Driller.
Before joining Clemson in 2016, Attaway began her Extension career with the LSU AgCenter, where she was among the early communicators to use social media strategically to publicize research and engage communities. Her work stands as a powerful example of the public service and outreach at the heart of Clemson’s land-grant mission.
