Student Affairs

Student Affairs Talk: Jimmy Mullinax

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Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of the “Student Affairs Talk” podcast for 2019-20. Communications Director for Student Affairs Philip Sikes visits with various leaders from the staff and student communities. This week’s featured guest is Jimmy Mullinax, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and current director of facilities and operations for Campus Recreation.


Jimmy Mullinax’s military career began and ended in Clemson’s Army ROTC program, first as a cadet and then as professor of military leadership. He retired in 2016 and is pictured from the ceremony alongside his former instructor, Col. Eric Schwartz.

The story of Jimmy Mullinax is almost too good to be true. Nearly 22 years after commissioning in Tillman Hall as an officer as part of Clemson’s Army ROTC Program, he stood on the very same stage and retired as the leader of the program that prepared him for a long and distinguished military career. After a handful of Army assignments and multiple deployments — including tours in South Korea, Germany and Iraq — Mullinax’s career came full circle when he was named a professor of military leadership at his alma mater.

He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2016 and was thrust into civilian life. Early-morning ROTC cold weather training inside Swann Fitness Center at Fike gave way to the formation of relationships with the Campus Recreation staff. The department needed someone as a groundskeeper and facility manager at the up-and-coming Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Center, and Mullinax’s background in logistics made perfect sense. A few months later, he was named director of facilities and operations. Today, he’s in charge of a crew that maintains oversight of not only Swann and Snow facilities, but also the Douthit Hills Fitness Center.

In this week’s podcast, Mullinax discusses the whirlwind that brought him back to Clemson, a recent honor he earned from the Division of Student Affairs and what it’s like working with the Campus Rec team.

Click the green ‘Play’ button below to listen. Read the entire interview transcript.

2019-20 Podcasts
Paige Zoltewicz, University Housing & Dining
Miles Maynard, Graduate Student
Sarah Custer, Emergency Management
Cam Walters, Sophomore
Pam Davis, Campus Activities & Events
Ty Robinson, Junior
Jack Debbout, Senior
Almeda Jacks, Vice President for Student Affairs
Olivia Loynes, Junior
Kristin Walker-Donnelly, Student Affairs Business Operations
Melondy Munson, Senior

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