Clemson alumni Bob and Beth Shepard have made a significant gift that will bring together Clemson Libraries and ClemsonLIFE in several different ways.
The Shepards are giving more than $789,000 which will be used to establish a neurodiversity and Clemson LIFE collection in Special Collections and Archives and fund a ClemsonLIFE student assistant position in the Libraries.
ClemsonLIFE offers a collegiate experience that prepares students with intellectual disabilities for competitive employment and independent living through a combination of academic coursework and career exploration. Bob said he learned about the program through serving on the University’s Board of Visitors when the program was established.
“I’ve been impressed with ClemsonLIFE ever since I was able to see first-hand how the program got started,” he said. “I saw the benefits not just to the students but also to their parents and the impact it has had on the whole University. I think it’s wonderful that we have this program to help these young people who want to be able to have a job and contribute to society.”
The majority of the money will fund the hiring of an archivist for the neurodiversity collection and help purchase items to start the collection. The search for the archivist is currently underway. Nick Richbell, head of Special Collections and Archives, says the collection will be one of the first of its kind in the country.
“This is a very special gift for us, as people who are neurodivergent have often been overlooked and are not represented in the archives. This will help us include voices of all of our community members in the archives. The generosity of the Shepard family is overwhelming, and we wouldn’t be able to do this important work without them.” — Nick Richbell, head of Special Collections and Archives
Richbell said the new collection will focus on documenting the history and current activities of the ClemsonLIFE program, as well as collecting books, small archives, oral histories and other items that will help document the history of neurodiversity on a national scale.
Another portion of the funding will pay for a student assistant position in the Libraries specifically for a ClemsonLIFE student. The gift will not only fund the students’ salary but will also cover training for staff to learn how to work with and mentor students with differing needs.
“We are happy to provide an opportunity for these young men and women to self actualize and help the library at the same time,” said Bob.
The Shepard’s gift has funded a position for ClemsonLIFE student Dan Doran, making him the first ClemsonLIFE student to work for the Libraries. A native of Newton, Massachusetts, Doran is a junior in the program. He works at the security desk in Cooper Library.
Doran is responsible for making sure people scan their IDs to enter the building and signing in visitors who do not have University ID cards. He also helps answer questions for visitors and periodically walks around the building to make sure furniture is in place and that there are no security issues.
“I love it here,” Doran said. “I like everything about it. I can’t pick a favorite thing about this job.”
Doran said he is proud to be the first person from his hometown to participate in ClemsonLIFE. He is still not sure what he wants to do after graduating, but he said he is learning skills working in Cooper Library that he can take into other jobs.
The gift also provides $100,000 for the Brook T. Smith Launchpad, which is the University’s hub for entrepreneurship. Located in downtown Clemson, the Launchpad provides educational, networking and support opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.
Bob and Beth Shepard, residents of Charleston, both graduated from Clemson in 1978.
Bob has spent more than 40 years in the environmental industry as a builder and operator of solid waste management operations. He is currently the owner of R.N. Shepard Investments LLC and vice president at GreenRock Strategies LLC, an environmental consulting firm. Bob has served on the Board of Directors of the National Sold Waste Management Association and is past chairman of the Clemson Board of Visitors.
Beth taught first grade for several years in Summerville before leaving the workforce to focus on raising their three sons — Neil, Travis, and Nicholas. Beth has always been active in the life of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charleston and has served in many roles including Chairman of the Diaconate.
The Shepard’s gift is part of the Fiercely Forward capital campaign.
About Fiercely Forward Capital Campaign
Clemson University is embarking on its most ambitious campaign to date, Fiercely Forward. It’s a call to action. A spark to ignite the potential within each of us. A testament to a legacy that began in 1889 and has led to Clemson becoming one of the most innovative research institutions in the nation. Fiercely Forwardwill create a future where brilliant minds launch into lives of purpose and significance, where cutting-edge research unlocks the mysteries of human potential, and where ingenuity and innovation forge a better tomorrow for all. With a dedication to academic excellence, state-of-the-art facilities, and an unmatched student experience, we charge Fiercely Forward toward tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
For more information, visit FiercelyForward.clemson.edu.
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