President Clark to keynote Freshman Convocation Sept. 8
September 7, 2016
SC State University will celebrate its newest class of scholars by hosting its annual Fall Convocation, which will be held 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8 in Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.
President James E. Clark will address the Class of 2020 as the keynote speaker. The ceremony marks his first Convocation as president.
Clark, who is recognized as a visionary leader, began his role as the 12 president of the 120-year old university on July 1. The former Fortune 5 business executive, has had an exceptional career in business, a long-time involvement with higher education in South Carolina and a close association with SC State.
His distinguished business career includes being vice president of a $1-billion division of AT&T, which he converted from a money-losing operation into the most profitable operation in AT&T’s computer business. A graduate of M.I.T. and the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management, Clark also worked with General Electric, Gillette and Exxon International.
His commitment to public service has centered on higher education, having served the previous year as vice chair on the SC State Board of Trustees and on the Benedict College Board of Trustees for 18 years. Additionally, Clark used his expertise in research and development to lead the University of South Carolina’s Research Foundation for three terms as chair.
Also making his first official appearance, Demarco Poole, a Stone Mountain, Georgia native, will give remarks as freshman class president.
SC State University’s Fall Convocation is free and open to the public.
| Founded in 1896 as a land grant institution with a mission of providing service to the citizens of the state, South Carolina State University has evolved from a small teachers’ college into a major University center of learning and research. Located in Orangeburg, S.C., with a student population of some 2,900, South Carolina State offers more than 50 different fields of study on the undergraduate and graduate levels. South Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools. |
