Tori White started her Clemson journey as a student, leading the Tour Guide Association between classes in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. After a short break from Tigertown, she found her way back, connecting with future Tigers in a new way as the manager of outreach and promotion at the Academic Success Center (ASC).
“My goal is to impact students,” White said. “I feel more passionate about my job because of my undergraduate experience.”
After nearly seven years in her role, White was looking for an opportunity for growth. Enter CU Grow: Clemson’s year-long professional development program for staff.
“[I was] at a point in my job where I was craving more of an impact,” she recalled. “I wanted to develop strategies and goals to make a difference for [students].”
A full picture of the University
It didn’t take long for White to get confirmation that she was experiencing something special. Through CU Grow, she explored Clemson from new viewpoints and gained a deeper understanding of the University’s operations. Between sessions with the Rutland Institute for Ethics, panels with campus colleagues, and tours around campus, she was captivated.
“Being able to see the ins and outs gives me greater appreciation for the University,” said White. Connecting employees to parts of the University they may otherwise not know about is one of CU Grow’s foundational components. Through intentional connections, staff members can break down silos and connect to resources and communities to impact the University’s mission.
Passion Project
The professional development skills White was acquiring were ready to be put to good use. CU Grow’s capstone project was the perfect opportunity. In her position at the ASC, White manages the center’s annual Student Planner and Resource Guide. She saw an opportunity to enhance the guide and add a section on financial wellness: a topic she feels passionate about.
“Financial well-being is different from financial literacy,” White noted. “It’s really about habits, attitudes, and behaviors. I want to help [students] build these habits now, because that’s when it’s most important.”
In April, she began working towards building the new section in the guide, with a long-range goal of exploring how to incorporate financial wellness into CU1000, Clemson’s introductory course for all new students. She expected that latter goal to take a good bit of time.
“This would have never happened without CU Grow,” White reflected. “CU Grow gave my project validity, and people took me seriously.”
By July, she had the green light, and she was ready to hit the ground running.
Through White’s financial literacy module and guide, she seeks to normalize conversations about early financial wellness by creating resources for first-year students. Working with partners across campus, including the Office of Student Financial Aid, CCIT and the student advisory board, White has developed approachable resources. Among these resources are quick-tip guides and introduction videos that will assist students in building healthy financial habits early in their college careers.
Beyond financial wellness, White also hopes her projects will one day serve larger financial literacy programs or initiatives at Clemson.
“I think this can be one of those projects that we build every year until eventually we have a dedicated financial literacy program,” she explained.
Renewed Purpose
White describes CU Grow as a true turning point in her professional journey. The program gave her confidence and a community she had been missing since the pandemic.
“CU Grow gave me back a little something I’ve been missing since COVID. It gave me confidence, support and a fresh perspective on what the University does and how we all support student success.”
The program also provided her with a support system and lasting relationships across campus.
“The people I work with in CU Grow believed in me even when I didn’t know what I was doing,” she said. “They knew I was going to succeed when I didn’t think I could.”
As she reflects on her CU Grow journey, White says she would encourage anyone to take the leap with CU Grow. “It’s a great opportunity to figure out who you are as a person but also figure out what you want to do in the future.”
White graduated from the program with her fellow cohort members on November 4. CU Grow helped her reconnect with the reason she stayed at Clemson in the first place: to make a difference in students’ lives.
“I had such a great experience here as a student, and now it’s my time to give back,” she said. “I knew I’d end up at Clemson—and I’ll probably be a lifer, if they’ll keep me.”
