Members of the Clemson University and City of Clemson communities are joining together in the Holcombe Family Engagement Room of the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center on Thursday, Aug. 6 for a 2026-27 kickoff meeting of the Joint City University Advisory Board (JCUAB). The annual kickoff event brings together University and City leaders prior to the start of the academic year.
The JCUAB has been in existence since 1985 and went through a restructuring in 2019, establishing several working groups aimed at strengthening the relationship between the University and City.
“Our town and gown partnership is strong, and we know it will continue to grow under the leadership of our new president, Benjamin Ayers,” says Julio Hernandez, who assists the president on community outreach and engagement. “I am thankful to our University and City leaders who come together to make up this advisory board and for their ongoing commitment to our students and our community.”
Thursday’s meeting begins with a welcome from Ayers, who earlier this week began his tenure as Clemson University’s 16th president. Following his remarks, committee chairs provide updates from their respective areas, highlighting recent wins, effective collaborations and upcoming opportunities. JCUAB’s seven committees consist of:
- Economic Development
- Housing
- Public Safety
- Public Works
- Transportation
- Humanities, Arts and Recreation
- Communications
The kickoff also includes a presentation from economic development committee members DJ Laws (Clemson University) and Lindsey Newton (City of Clemson). Laws works with Hernandez on the University’s community relations and outreach team, and Newton is community engagement coordinator for the City. The two presented jointly in May in College Station, Texas at the annual International Town & Gown Association (ITGA) conference. They focused on how to leverage partnerships during non-peak seasons, highlighting recent successes such as the Death Valley Nights summer concert series.
