Clemson Alumni Association welcomes five new members to its Board of Directors

The Clemson Alumni Association announced the appointment of five distinguished alumni to its Board of Directors. These individuals bring a wealth of experience, leadership, and dedication to the Clemson community and will help guide the association in its mission to connect and serve more than 195,000 living alumni.

Travis Earl Blanks Jr.
A two-time Clemson graduate, Blanks earned his B.A. in Sociology in 2015 and his MBA in 2020. He is Vice President of Operations at Interstate Waste Services in Teaneck, NJ and a former Clemson football team captain. Blanks has remained actively involved with IPTAY, PAW Journey, and the Fiercely Forward Campaign, and is a passionate ambassador for Clemson’s long-term success.

Bharat Ganesan
Ganesan graduated Clemson in 2009 with a degree in Industrial Engineering and earned his MBA from Emory University in 2015. He serves as a Sr. Product Line Manager at AFL Global. He currently serves as the President of the Greenville Clemson Club, where his leadership has significantly expanded alumni engagement and community impact, showcasing a record number of events this past year.

Courtney Meeks
Meeks holds both a bachelor’s degree in Language and International Trade and an MBA from Clemson. She is Senior HR Manager at Milliken & Company and a former President of the Clemson MBA Alumni Council. Named to the Clemson Alumni Association’s Roaring10 in 2022, Meeks is a passionate advocate for inclusive leadership and alumni engagement.

Katherine Sloan Shafer
Shafer earned her B.S. in Marketing in 2002 and her MBA in 2006, both from Clemson. She is President of EP+Co, a leading advertising agency, and Clemson Rowing’s first All-Conference and Academic All-American honoree. Her strategic expertise and commitment to community service bring a valuable perspective to the board.

Sydney Elizabeth Tindall
A 2021 Clemson graduate with a degree in Chinese and International Business, Tindall is a Senior Account Executive at Blackbaud in Charleston. She has held leadership roles in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Charleston Clemson Clubs, and served as a student leader in SAC, Blue Key, and Kappa Delta. Her energy and insight into young alumni engagement will help shape the future of the association.

The alumni board has 22 members and is the governing body for the Clemson Alumni Association. Primary responsibilities of the board include general oversight of the programs and initiatives of the association, financial audit and review, the establishment of governing policies and strategic planning.

The Clemson Alumni Association is an open-membership, nonprofit organization. Since its inception in 1896, the program has connected members of the Clemson family, inspiring pride, celebrating achievement, providing service and strengthening relationships. Learn more at www.clemson.edu/alumni.