Meet a Tiger: Janeen Putman

[vid origin=”youtube” vid_id=”rrHqO60FrLc” size=”medium” align=”right”]

This Tiger is all about serving others. She spent decades giving service to Clemson as a student and an employee. During her term as Staff Senate president, she hopes to continue that tradition of service to her colleagues and bring recognition to the incredible things they do on behalf of Clemson.

Meet Janeen Putman.

Title: Student services manager in the department of bioengineering, 2019-2020 Staff Senate President

Years at Clemson: I started as a student in 1995. I earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in human resource development.  I’ve been at Clemson as a full-time employee since October 2001.

What I do at Clemson: I help undergraduate bioengineering students with their needs, but specifically, I do departmental scheduling, advising, honors and awards, plus I assist faculty as needed. This year, I will also serve as Staff Senate president.

What I love about Clemson: My favorite thing really is the family atmosphere here. The Clemson Family is a real thing and it is so hard to explain to people who haven’t been here, or as we’re recruiting them. I love that people will stop and help others. I enjoy that we have such a large following of alumni everywhere. I can’t think of a better community to be in with my husband, who also works on campus, and for us to be raising our two girls (ages 10 and 15).

My defining moment at Clemson: The best moments I can think of have been congratulating my students as they are getting ready to walk across the stage, shake hands with our dean and President Clements and receive that diploma they’ve worked so hard to earn. They’re grateful, full of potential and so excited. It “fills my cup” for another semester and reminds me why I love what I do.

Accomplishment I’m most proud of: From a work perspective, it is hands down being named as the the Staff Member of the Game for the Clemson vs. South Carolina game in 2016. It had been a difficult academic year, but to be picked and honored on the field was an absolutely amazing experience and one that won’t fade from my memory anytime soon.

Where I see myself in five years: Here, plugging away. I was lucky enough to be elected Staff Senate president for the 2019-2020 year, so I do hope that in five years I can look back and say I had a hand in making life for staff on campus better.

Last thing I watched on TV:  The Wonder Woman movie.

Guilty pleasure: Anything about ghosts! I love those shows that detail accounts from people and all that. It gets you thinking!

One thing most people don’t know about me: I am really good at finding four-leaf-clovers. I can be walking by and see them somehow. Once I found more than 30 in just a few minutes. If I’d known one could be in the Guinness Book of World Records for finding them, I’d have arranged for someone to come and time me that day!

Meet more Tigers here, and check out #FacesOfClemson on Instagram.