As the clock ticks closer to Ellen Vincent’s Aug. 5 retirement date, a lot of things have started to cross her mind.
What will it feel like to no longer teach students? What will it be like not working for the first time in her life? How will she spend her time?
But as she ponders what her career as a principal lecturer of horticulture and an environmental landscape specialist at Clemson University has been like, “rewarding” is the first word that comes to mind for Vincent.
An example came in her final Horticulture 4090 senior Capstone class this spring when the students were required to do ethical judgement oral presentations on such issues as GMO’s and native plants vs. non-natives.
“One of my goals is for students to be positive change agents,” Vincent said. “I saw that this spring semester very, very strongly. I’m so impressed. It’s largely due to their critical thinking skills.
“It’s impressive for me to see students be willing to change their mind, be able to share personal experiences, those are things I’ve been teaching since Horticulture 1010, the very first class that is required for horticulture and turfgrass majors. It’s really rewarding for me to see this ability to think so broadly and to be willing to change one’s mind as new information becomes available. And the ability for deep listening. Those things matter a lot to me.”
There were a lot of things that mattered to Vincent which is why she was beloved across campus. It was more than wanting the best for her students.
It was things like starting the Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden, located in the courtyard between Lehotskly and Barre halls, that was created to showcase native plants, a garden that allowed her students to engage in kinesthetic learning, which was one of the three teaching methods Vincent utilized.
The students weeded, mulched, transplanted and polished the signs in the garden. They also had to submit a log every Friday with their work hours and detail what they did, as well as conduct educational ambassador engagements with passersby.
“Ellen’s commitment to her students’ personal and professional growth was unsurpassed,” said James Faust, professor and interim department chair in the Plant and Environmental Sciences Department. “She brought compassion, understanding and a positive attitude to her classroom every day. She believed in the power of a kind word and the inspiration that horticulture and plants bring to our lives. Ellen made Clemson University a better place to study and to work.”
The garden also allowed Vincent to develop meaningful relationships with Clemson’s landscape service team, which assisted in the gardens upkeep.
“Dr. Ellen Vincent has been a great partner to the University’s Landscaping Services Department over the past 12 years that I have served as the landscaping director,” said Tommy Fallaw. “From her willingness to serve on our “Tree Campus Higher Education” advisory committee, to the many projects that she has collaborated with us, she has been and will continue to be greatly appreciated.
“From my perspective, I think Ellen has done an exceptional job exposing and preparing her students for the challenges they will face in their professional careers within the horticulture field. Her guidance and leadership will continue to live on through the lives that she has influenced.”
People also mattered to Vincent. People like Lori Kinley in Clemson Online, David Knox of Critical Thinking, those on the IT support team, and administrative workers that provided financial support.
“Every year at my annual review, I submit a letter of gratitude,” Vincent said. “That’s where I start to identify all of these groups and people that have helped me throughout the year.”
Horticulture wasn’t always in Vincent’s future. She grew up in the Hudson River Valley region of New York where she immersed herself in art, architecture and agriculture. She graduated from the State University of New York – New Paltz with a bachelor’s degree in American Culture. During the summer’s, Vincent worked on the grounds and in the greenhouses at Vassar College.
It was after a brief stint in human services that Vincent learned she wanted to work with plants. So, she received a horticulture certificate from the New York Botanical Gardens before starting a low-maintenance perennial and herb nursery, and landscape design business on her family’s farm in New York. She also taught continuing education classes at local colleges and historical sites.
After doing that for nine years, Vincent pursued a master’s degree in agriculture/horticulture at Northwest Missouri State University. From there, she worked in Extension offices for the University of Missouri and Cornell University before joining Clemson’s Cooperative Extension Service, serving Beaufort and Colleton counties with commercial horticulture programs and county landscape beautifications.
Vincent pursued her doctorate from Clemson in Environmental Design and Planning. Her research focused on landscapes and health. She began teaching at the University after receiving her doctorate in 2009.
“The teaching has been the thing that I have enjoyed so much, finding out how to reach people and learning about the psychology of teaching,” Vincent said.
Now, from her home in Greenville, Vincent will learn the psychology of not teaching. Just relaxing and spending time with her four inside cats, one dog, one bird and five community cats that her and a neighbor care for. That comes with serving the community cats the same food as her indoor cats and providing cooling mats in the summer and self-heated beds in the winter to sleep on her porch, an area known as the “Kitty Café.”
“My plans are to see what emerges and to be free and peaceful,” Vincent said. “I’m not afraid of retirement. Apparently, a lot of people are, and they make tons of plans, so they’ll be super busy. I just want to see what it’s like to not define myself based on my paid job. I’ve done that my entire life. There are very few times that I can remember where I didn’t work, but I’ve always loved it, so it was not a big deal.
“But I’m very tired now. And everything takes more energy. I want to be able to do more exercising and yoga and just looking and walking around my beautiful environment.”
What they’re saying about Ellen Vincent:
“Ellen’s guidance in leading a Creative Inquiry has been so valuable to me as I develop my own teaching philosophy. She really is a collaborative educator and passionate about developing a sustainable community of folks who champion the garden beyond just students.” – Patricia Whitener, 4-H natural resources programs.
“Dr. Vincent has been the light of my time here at Clemson. She pushed me to do the things I never thought myself capable of. I hope she continues to experience the joy she deserves, the joy she has given other.” – Ridgely Jackson ’26.
“Dr. Vincent taught me to look at the world through inquistive and optimistic points of view. Her classes were always my favorite and I am grateful to have studied under her.” – Maggie Payne ’26.
“Ellen invited me to speak to her Senior Capstone class each year about careers in Cooperative Extension. It was a highlight for me and resulted in several successful Extension hires. I was always impressed with her commitment to helping students see the full range of opportunities within the field of horticulture and her investment in preparing them for the workforce.” – Cory Tanner, Clemson Cooperative Extension horticulture program team director.
