Sometimes growth happens when we least expect it. For Rachel Anderson M’14, that growth came during one of the most difficult times of her life.
Today, Anderson serves as the director of peer learning support programs at the Academic Success Center (ASC). But more than a decade ago, when she first arrived on campus, she wasn’t sure Clemson would become a long-term home. It was the strength of the community that convinced her to stay.
When she stepped into a leadership role in the ASC, Anderson was pushed to navigate challenges amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. By early 2023, Anderson was finally finding her rhythm, until tragedy struck. That January, her colleague and close friend, Sarah Marshall, passed away.
Still grieving, Anderson hesitated when her supervisor encouraged her to apply for CU Grow, Clemson’s professional development program for staff. “At the time, I was really hesitant about taking on something else,” she recalled. “I was still trying to get a hang of my role as director, but [my supervisor] pushed pretty hard, and I ended up applying.”
She joined the next CU Grow cohort just one year after Marshall’s passing.
A Rocky Start
New CU Grow cohort members participate in a program kick-off in January: a way for participants to get to know one another and the program’s goals.
Sitting in that ballroom around a table of peers, Anderson felt uneasy.
“Throughout the kick-off event, all I kept thinking was, ‘I shouldn’t be here!’” she said.
As she left the room, she realized why: the room had also hosted Marshall’s memorial service a year earlier.
“No wonder I was crawling out of my skin!” said Anderson.
Despite the painful reminder, Anderson stayed the course. Slowly, she found that CU Grow gave her not only tools for leadership but also the community she needed to heal.
A Partner in the Process
Mentorship is a key pillar of CU Grow. Participants are matched with mentors based on professional goals, personality and project ideas to ensure a meaningful connection.
Anderson’s mentor provided exactly what she needed: an honest space to explore leadership.
“I really appreciated the genuineness he brought to our conversations,” she said. “He wasn’t afraid to share the messiness of being a leader in higher education. The investment he put in me made the experience even more valuable.”
With the support of her mentor, she felt like she had a “true partner in the process,”.
Now, she’s taking mentorship full circle. This year, Anderson is serving as a mentor for a current program participant, eager to provide the same encouragement she once received.
Full-Circle Growth
Reflecting on her experience, Anderson said CU Grow was more than professional development – it was a path toward resilience.
“I didn’t realize it then, but CU Grow helped me with post-traumatic growth,” she said. “Being able to dig in and invest in myself helped me process the pieces of my life. It’s shaped me as a leader because I can be compassionate and empathetic.”
She proudly displays her CU Grow certificate – not alongside her awards, but next to her diplomas.
“For me, it felt like a degree-level thing because of the time and energy it took. It’s not something that’s easy. They make you work for it.”
More About CU Grow
CU Grow is built on four pillars: intentional mentorship, personalized development planning, authentic relationship building and a capstone project. Together, these pillars guide Clemson staff to put leadership into practice.
The next CU Grow cohort will be announced in November, showcasing another group of staff members who are eager to grow and strengthen their community.
For more information regarding the program, visit the program’s website.
Sarah A. Marshall Legacy of Leadership Award
In Marshall’s honor, the University community has established the Sarah A. Marshall Legacy of Leadership Award to recognize student employees and faculty or staff whose leadership reflects her values of compassion, mentorship and development.
