Meet a Tiger: Donnie Lloyd

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From concept to completion.

This Tiger graduated from Clemson in 2005 –  the first in his family to graduate from college. He came back to the university because he loved the family atmosphere and the chance to give back to the students and the community. He enjoys getting student interaction and input into a project and designing it to meet their needs.

Meet Donnie Lloyd.

Title: Associate director of projects

Years at Clemson: One

What I do at Clemson: Project management to ensure a successful and timely completion of construction and renovation efforts for university housing & dining.

What I love about Clemson: It’s true what they say: “There’s something in these hills.” I love the attitude of our Clemson family, the memories made while on campus and the feeling that all is right in the world.

My defining moment at Clemson: A defining moment for me is the birth of my youngest son. He was born premature at 30 weeks and spent 50 days in the NICU before being able to come home with us. The correlation to a defining moment at Clemson is when I realized I have the privilege to work alongside many others who have had a similar experience. I have been able to not only share my experience, but also provide hope to others that are going through (or have gone through) the same thing. I am equally privileged and grateful to have received encouragement from those who share similar stories.

Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Becoming a family man! I am extremely blessed to share my life with an amazing woman and two of the most precious boys you could ever meet.

Where I see myself in five years: I am learning this is not such an easy prediction. If you had asked me this question five years ago, I would have told you I would continue to build homes in Columbia, while enjoying the early makings of a beautiful family. Since that time, the company I was with has sold its ownership to another builder, and my family has not only grown, but has lived in two different states before ultimately returning home to God’s country. I teach my boys to dream big, and I do my best to encourage faculty, staff and students to do the same. I guess it is only fair that I follow that same teaching.

Last thing I watched on TV: Probably DuckTales or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Guilty pleasure: Being on the water with a bag of Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups and no other plans but making memories with the ones I love.

One thing most people don’t know about me: I started working in my field at the age of 13 and was the first in my family to attend and graduate college (Clemson ’05). I worked my way through school and built my first house while working full time and attending classes full time during my Junior year. It seems odd to think of myself as a 35-year-old with 22 years of experience, but I am grateful to be where I am today.

Want to nominate a colleague to be featured in Meet a Tiger? Contact Jackie Todd at jtodd3@clemson.edu.

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