Mattson to serve as CBSHS staff senator

Wendi Mattson, an administrative coordinator working in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences’ associate dean’s office, has been appointed staff senator representing the College.

Mattson has been employed at Clemson University for four years and began serving as the College’s staff senator on April 11. She said she looks forward to taking on more responsibility as a staff representative helping to guide the College in the coming years.

“Our staff will require representation as our College continues to succeed and grow,” Mattson said. “I have had a passion for assisting staff in my current and previous positions, so I look forward to serving CBSHS going forward.”

Mattson previously served as staff at Western Illinois University, where she was employed for 11 years. For more than half of that time, she served on a staff council similar to Clemson’s staff senate. During two years of this term, she served as president.

She said her experience in a similar role at Western Illinois University will inform her service as staff senator in CBSHS. Mattson said working in the associate deans’ office has given her a unique, broad perspective of the College as a whole as well as specific insight into the inner workings of each department.

“I will do my best to make sure all staff are represented and feel they have a voice,” Mattson said.

Mattson is taking over the role as staff senator previously occupied by Kristen Lawson, who was then project manager for the School of Nursing. Lawson now serves as strategic project manager for Tony Wagner, executive vice president for finance and operations at Clemson University.

CBSHS Dean Leslie Hossfeld said Lawson accomplished a great deal as a leader for staff in the College, especially considering her tenure began in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hossfeld said Lawson helped to increase communication among faculty and staff in the departments that make up CBSHS through its staff engagement committee, and she prioritized inclusion and equity efforts undertaken by staff in the staff inclusive excellence committee.

Hossfeld said that Mattson’s years of service to Clemson and her background as a staff leader will serve her well in the role going forward.

“Our staff has done amazing work both inside and outside of Clemson University to help drive our College mission in building people and communities,” Hossfeld said. “I look forward to working closely with Wendi to discuss staff concerns, activities and updates as we continue to see that mission through.”

Established in 2016, the Clemson University College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences is a 21st-century, land-grant college that combines work in seven departments – Communication; Nursing; Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management; Political Science; Psychology; Public Health Sciences; Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice – to further its mission in “building people and communities” in South Carolina and beyond.