063-Annual-Report-2023-v13 Final pages - Flipbook - Page 19
Work of ClemsonLIFE executive director showcases
the benefits of endowed professorship
Joe Ryan, founder and
initial donation in 2014 to support the expansion efforts
executive director of
already underway and later shared their concerns
ClemsonLIFE (Learning
about the sustainability of ClemsonLIFE in the long
is for Everyone), was
term. To help promote the program’s sustainability,
named the Sue Stanzione
Bob and Kaye donated funds to create an endowed
Distinguished Professor
professorship in memory of Bob’s mother.
in 2016, making him the
“It has been amazing to see what an investment years
first endowed professor
ago in an endowed professorship has done for the
in the Clemson University
program,” Bob said. “The accelerated advancements
College of Education. An
that the program have made in that time have been so
endowed professor is
satisfying to witness. It is also reassuring to know that
financially supported by a donor’s gift, the principal of
the University will continue to use that gift to ensure
which is invested. The earnings from these generous
that the program and its leadership will continue
donations support a faculty member’s salary or
without losing momentum.”
scholarly activities. Endowed positions are critical for a
university to attract and retain top-tier faculty capable
After 16 years, the ClemsonLIFE program has
of enhancing its level of scholarship,
established itself as a national
instruction and its overall reputation
model for post-secondary
across the country and internationally.
education for students with
“The endowed professorship
intellectual disabilities, and,
was
not
only
a
personal
“The endowed professorship was not
according to Ryan, the numbers
honor
for
me,
but
it
only a personal honor for me, but it
speak for themselves. National
has
helped
support
the
has helped support the sustainability
employment outcomes for this
sustainability
of
the
entire
of the entire ClemsonLIFE program,”
student population range between
ClemsonLIFE
program.”
Ryan said. “Through this support, we
14 and 34%, while nearly all
have been better able to expand the
(97%) ClemsonLIFE graduates are
program’s research arm, which has
employed
after
graduation.
Similarly, while only 16% of
gone far in helping our students develop job skills and
adults
with
intellectual
disabilities
live on their own in
the ability to live independently. Additionally, whenever
the
U.S.,
67%
of
ClemsonLIFE
graduates
are now living
the program’s key faculty transitions or retires, the
independently.
University can recruit another leading expert within
the field.”
Bob and Kaye Stanzione, Bob a 1969 alumnus and
Kaye an honorary alumnus of the University, created
the position and have supported Clemson University
in numerous capacities over the years. Bob graduated
with a degree in engineering, and he and Kaye first
learned about ClemsonLIFE when a friend shared a
video of Rion Holcombe, now a ClemsonLIFE alumnus,
opening his acceptance letter to the program. Bob,
whose younger brother lived with an intellectual
disability before passing away in April 2024, said the
video was truly an emotional experience for him.
After visiting the program, meeting with staff and
learning about the success of the program’s graduates,
Bob and Kaye reviewed a proposal to double the
program’s size from 20 to 40 students. They made an
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