Clemson University President James P. Clements Announces Retirement After 12 Years of Transformational Leadership

Clemson University President James P. Clements has announced his retirement after more than a decade of guiding the institution through significant growth, progress, and national recognition. His retirement will take effect December 31, closing a remarkable 12-year tenure and a 17-year career as a university president.

Clements shared the news with the Clemson community in a heartfelt letter on Monday afternoon, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve and emphasizing the importance of prioritizing health and family.

“After much consideration and prayer, I have come to the conclusion that it is time for me to step aside and allow the University to begin its next chapter,” Clements wrote. “Serving as president of Clemson University has been one of the greatest honors of my life. After 17 years as a university president, I have reached a point where health and family must come first. I’m looking forward to spending more time with my wife, Beth, and our children and grandchildren. Clemson is more than a university to me — it is home.”

Clements also extended his appreciation to the Board of Trustees, the university’s leadership team, and the broader Clemson Family for their trust and partnership.

Board of Trustees Chair Kim Wilkerson echoed those sentiments in her own message to campus, recognizing Clements not only as a leader but as a mentor and friend whose passion for the university has left an enduring mark.

“We are incredibly grateful for Jim’s extraordinary leadership and tireless dedication,” Wilkerson said. “President Clements has been more than a leader — he has been a mentor, a friend and an advocate for every member of the Clemson Family. While we will certainly miss his guidance and enthusiasm, we also deeply respect and understand his decision to focus on his priorities.”

The Clemson University Board of Trustees will meet via teleconference on Wednesday, December 10, at 2 p.m. to honor President Clements’ legacy and begin charting the University’s path forward. The agenda includes naming interim leadership, forming a Presidential Search Committee, and taking steps to engage an executive search firm. The meeting will stream live at http://tv.clemson.edu/live2.

As Clemson prepares for its next chapter, Clements joins a distinguished line of leaders who have shaped the institution since its founding. His 12-year tenure ranks among the longer presidential terms in Clemson’s history and stands out for his focus on elevating academic excellence, expanding research, strengthening economic partnerships, and enhancing student success.

Past Presidents of Clemson University

• H. Aubrey Strode (1890–1893) – 4 years

• Edwin B. Craighead (1893–1897) – 5 years

• Henry S. Hartzog (1897–1902) – 6 years

• Patrick H. Mell (1902–1910) – 9 years

• Walter M. Riggs (1911–1924) – 14 years

• Enoch W. Sikes (1925–1940) – 16 years

• Robert Franklin Poole (1940–1958) – 19 years

• Robert C. Edwards (1958–1979) – 22 years

• Bill L. Atchley (1979–1985) – 7 years

• Walter T. Cox (1985–1986) – 2 years

• A. Max Lennon (1986–1994) – 9 years

• Philip H. Prince (1994–1995) – 2 years

• Constantine W. Curris (1995–1999) – 5 years

• James F. Barker (1999–2013) – 15 years

• James P. Clements (2013–2025) – 12 years

With Clements’ retirement, Clemson enters a period of transition — one marked by gratitude for his steady leadership and anticipation for the University’s future direction.