Faculty, staff and students honored with 2025 University Spring Awards

Holly Hawk is a clinical assistant professor in the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business and a trailblazer in accounting education. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education and a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Mercer University. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant, she combines industry experience with cutting-edge teaching innovations to prepare students for the rapidly evolving accounting field.

Hawk’s teaching focuses on emerging technologies, accounting information systems and data analytics, ensuring that Clemson students graduate with the high-level skills today’s business world demands. Her award-winning case study, Building Higher Order Thinking Skills through Assessment of User Account Access Management, earned her the prestigious George Krull/Grant Thornton EDGE in Teaching Award, recognizing excellence and innovation in accounting education.

Hawk plays a national leadership role in accounting education and has helped shape the CPA Evolution Model Curriculum, preparing future CPAs for emerging challenges such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and data analytics. She serves as an Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) and Chartered Institute of Management

(CIMA) Academic Champion, and her research on AI in accounting education has gained national recognition, earning her a CPA Practice Advisor “40 Under 40” Award. Outside the classroom, Hawk enjoys being outdoors playing sports with her family, experimenting with sourdough recipes and cheering on Clemson athletics.

Lena Burgess is a senior lecturer at the School of Nursing, where she is known for her exceptional contributions to didactic instruction, simulation-based learning and clinical education. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Clemson University and Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Nursing from Walden University.

A certified nurse educator and experienced registered nurse, Burgess has transformed traditional nursing instruction into immersive, real-world simulations. She serves as lead faculty for Medical-Surgical nursing and is a simulation coordinator, designing high-intensity clinical scenarios that prepare students for the pressures of actual patient care.

Her student-centered teaching emphasizes critical thinking, clinical decision-making and hands-on experience. Students describe her as an unwavering mentor who challenges them while ensuring they feel supported and prepared for their future careers – many credit her realistic simulations with building their confidence in life-or-death situations. Beyond her classroom, Burgess is involved in mentoring, curriculum development and nursing research, shaping how future nurses are trained at Clemson and beyond.

Elizabeth “Libby” Cieniewicz is an assistant professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, specializing in plant virology, disease ecology and epidemiology. She earned her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Lebanon Valley College. Cieniewicz is an active researcher and educator, blending cutting-edge scientific discovery with student-centered teaching. As part of Clemson’s Peach Team, she studies how plant viruses evolve, spread and impact crops to improve virus disease management strategies. She also directs the Clemson Clean Plant Center, ensuring the availability of virus-free propagation material for peach producers in the Southeast.

Her hands-on teaching approach immerses students in real-world research, preparing them for careers in plant pathology and agricultural sciences. In courses such as Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions and Scientific Writing and Grant Development, students engage in experimental design, data analysis and research proposal writing, with many securing competitive grants and presenting at national conferences. She mentors students at all academic levels, guiding them in laboratory research, scientific communication and professional development. Her commitment to fostering critical thinking and scientific inquiry has impacted her students and the broader field of plant pathology.

Vidya Suseela is an associate professor of soil ecology in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, where she explores the dynamic relationship between plants, soil and microbial communities. She holds a Ph.D. in Forest Ecology from Purdue University, a Master of Science in Agronomy from Kerala Agricultural University, India, and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Kerala Agricultural University.

Suseela’s research and teaching intersect at the forefront of sustainability and soil health. Her NSF CAREER Award-winning research investigates how soil organic carbon is formed and sequestered, a crucial factor for enhancing soil fertility and mitigating climate change. She brings this cutting-edge research into the classroom, ensuring that her students understand soil science principles and develop hands-on analytical skills using state-of-the-art techniques. Her student-centered approach integrates experiential learning, real-world problem-solving and research-driven teaching.

In courses such as Soil Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, she challenges students to design experiments, analyze soil health and apply scientific findings to agricultural and environmental solutions. Many of her students have gone on to present research at national conferences, secure competitive fellowships and pursue careers in academia, industry and conservation.

Her commitment to mentorship and outreach extends to graduate and undergraduate students and high school interns through various research programs. She fosters curiosity, scientific inquiry and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that the next generation of environmental scientists is well-prepared to tackle global challenges.

Sherece Smith is the associate director of the Breakthrough Scholars Program in the Clemson University Honors College. She manages every aspect of the program, including teaching workshops, planning recruitment and team-building events, hosting families and connecting scholars with mentors and professionals in their chosen STEM fields. Smith also advises Breakthrough Scholars as they navigate their academics, college life and plans for graduate school or employment. As the program’s first cohort prepares to graduate this spring, many scholars have described her support as inspiring and transformational.

In addition to her work with the Breakthrough Scholars Program, Smith teaches an Honors College creative inquiry course that researches, plans and records a podcast, “In the Spotlight,” highlighting college students, their lived experiences, and the research to help them thrive. She also serves as the faculty advisor for the Honors College’s Black Honors
Association.

An active supporter of women’s leadership on campus, Smith has served on the Women’s Roundtable Committee. She was also part of the second cohort for the Women’s Roundtable Leadership Development Series. Originally from Clemson, Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Presbyterian College and an M.Ed. in Counselor Education – Student Affairs from Clemson University. She is currently working toward her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership.

Reeta Singh is a former faculty member and has been a member of the Clemson family for more than 30 years. She is a community member who embodies the University’s core values and inspires others to embrace them and put them forward in their respective communities. Her commitment results in a global community empowered to give to others through empathy, leadership, creative activities, research, teaching and mentorship. She offers workshops and seminars focusing on the multidimensional understanding of communication skills and how to incorporate them into academic work and related environments.

As former vice president of Clemson Area International Friendship, community liaison of Clemson Indian Student Association and advisor to the International Student Association, Singh transformed the student community by hosting students at home, listening and providing comfort, love and affection to many students from all over the world. She fostered a culture that reflected family away from home for many of these students. She is committed to helping students 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in any emergency or crisis. She played a leadership role in the formation of an interfaith community on campus which is supported by the Gantt Multicultural Center.

Currently, she serves as chair of the City of Clemson Sustainability Committee, which is working jointly with Clemson University’s sustainability committee. She has a master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Oklahoma. Singh received the 2022 MLK award for her services to the Clemson University and Clemson community.

As Alumni Distinguished Professor of Political Science, William Lasser‘s creativity and care have transformed the student experience in the Department of Political Science. Lasser creates a law school-style classroom in his Constitutional Law courses, which are challenging, immersive and built to spark deep thinking. His students develop legal insight and a lifelong love of learning. Outside the classroom, Lasser mentors Dixon Global Policy Scholars and took the lead in restructuring the Departmental Honors Program, ensuring it remained vibrant and rigorous during the transition.

One student facing a chronic illness credited Lasser’s support, through Zoom meetings, exam flexibility, and ongoing feedback, with helping them succeed during a tough semester. That kind of personal investment defines his approach. Lasser pushes students to think critically, weigh multiple perspectives, and grow confidently. He sets a high bar and helps students rise to it.

Michael Sehorn is an associate professor in the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology at New Mexico Tech and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Louisiana State University Health Science Center. His postdoctoral studies took him to the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and Yale University School of Medicine. He is a member of the Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center and the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies with a research focus on DNA repair and genome stability. Sehorn is dedicated to student mentorship, having guided numerous undergraduates to postgraduate education at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania and to winning major awards, including the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship, Norris Medal, Truman Scholar and Beckman Scholar.

His long-standing engagement with Creative Inquiry is evident through his service on the CI + UR Advisory Committee and as a Creative Inquiry Fellow. As an experiential learning ambassador, Sehorn advises and facilitates experiential learning initiatives supporting Clemson Elevate. He developed two courses that provide pre-med students with clinical research and shadowing experiences. Additionally, Sehorn is the faculty advisor for the pre-med Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-health organization. He has led multiple Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation Faculty Learning Communities to enhance teaching effectiveness.

Emily DaBruzzi serves on the University Veterans Commission, Pickens and Anderson County Veterans Councils and Upstate Veterans Alliance Network and is a Clemson Corps Board Member. Additionally, she is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and the National Association of Veterans Personnel Administrators, and she serves as the advisor to the Pershing Rifles military drill team.

Her overarching goal is to improve access and opportunities for veterans and military-connected students in higher education. She advocates for a learning environment where all students succeed and feel a sense of belonging and respect. As director of the Office of Military & Veteran Engagement, she provides tangible tools, support and services to optimize academic success to over 1,400 military-connected students as they transition to campus life. Under her leadership, Clemson University is currently designated as a Top Ten Military Friendly® School, ranked No. 2 nationally among Tier 1 Research Institutions.

She is a passionate advocate for veterans and military families in the local community and works closely with Upstate Warrior Solution, a partner nonprofit, and the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs to serve in that capacity.

Sarah Griffin, professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, is a nationally recognized leader in community-engaged health research and applied public health intervention. With over two decades of experience, she has secured more than $8.7 million in funding from agencies including the CDC, NIH, USDA and the Department of Defense. Her interdisciplinary projects focus on improving access to care, school-based health, pediatric health navigation and obesity prevention, especially in underserved rural communities.

A prolific scholar with over 100 peer-reviewed publications, she has advanced the field of health promotion through innovative, scalable programs in real-world settings. She is also a passionate teacher and mentor, having guided 13 doctoral students and leading Clemson’s graduate public health programs with distinction. Her leadership extends to service as interim department chair and as Faculty Scholar with the Clemson University School of Health Research. Griffin’s collaborative ethos and commitment to public impact embody the mission of a land-grant university. Her work improves lives across South Carolina and informs national models of health equity and policy change. She has earned numerous recognitions, including the Excellence in Student Engagement Award and selection as a Provost Leadership Fellow.

Kim E. Alexander is the founder and chair of the Institute for Global Road Safety and Security and program director of the Master of Transportation Safety Administration (MTSA), the first of its kind in the United States. Alexander’s career with Clemson University spans 35 years. She is a clinical associate professor and holds Bachelor of Science, Master of Education and Doctor of Education degrees from Clemson, with her doctoral work focused on curriculum development and risk perception.

Alexander is a C5/6 quadriplegic due to a spinal cord injury she sustained as a passenger in a single vehicle, run-off-road crash in 1979. She has made it her life’s work to save lives through her commitment to road safety and traffic injury prevention. Alexander led an interdisciplinary team of researchers in the creation of MTSA, an online graduate degree program that incorporates all the disciplines involved in road safety, including both behavioral and infrastructure. As an educator and researcher, she is focused on the attitudinal, cognitive, behavioral, social and cultural aspects of road traffic injury prevention critical to strengthening the human-vehicle-road system. Alexander’s work centers around creating a pipeline of leaders equipped to save lives and build safe communities worldwide.

Amy Csernak Craft recently celebrated 20 years of service at Clemson, where she has served in various roles and is currently the associate director of Annual Giving. In this role, she works directly with students and alums to identify and create class projects, overseeing each project to completion. Gifts from students and alums have given back millions of dollars for scholarships and created memorable spaces across Clemson’s campus, such as the Memorial Park at the Scroll of Honor. She works very closely with the University’s ROTC and military and veteran engagement teams to increase awareness and capacity to impact military-connected students.

Csernak Craft also leads Clemson Give Day, a 24-hour event, during which all friends and alums of the University are encouraged to give to Clemson. Clemson Give Day activities include overseeing the development of marketing materials, communications, staff coordination and on-campus events for the day. She regularly works with all teams within the Advancement Division to ensure the success of the University. Amy earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Clemson.

Tony Cawthon is an Alumni Distinguished Professor of Student Affairs and Higher Education in the Department of Educational Organizational and Leadership Development. He also serves as Executive Director for the Southern Association for College Student Affairs. His more than 40-year career in higher education has been as a housing administrator, department chair and graduate preparation program faculty. In his 35 years at Clemson, he has served on over 100 dissertation committees and graduated more than 900 master’s students; co-edited three books; served on the board of directors of three professional associations; and as editor of two national journals. He has been recognized as an ACUHO-I Parthenon recipient, ACPA Diamond Honoree, NASPA Pillar of the Profession and SACSA Gavel and Gravel recipient.

Brooke Bennett is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and director of the BEAM (Body image, Eating, Access, and Media) Lab. She earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a dual specialty in Health Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her research goal is to improve the health and well-being of individuals navigating the current sociocultural and environmental barriers to eating well and developing a positive body image. To advance this mission, she works to identify how digital technology negatively impacts the health of its users and determine how technology can be used instead to expand the reach of and enhance evidence-based care for all people.

Bennett provides mentoring to students in the Body Image and Technology Creative Inquiry project. Her students learn about the theoretical underpinnings of body image and what the current research says about the influence of technology on worsening and improving body image and eating disorders. Students participate in studies that include the impacts of TikTok on body image and disordered eating among emerging adults, as well as an experimental assessment of the effects of viewing Instagram content generated by artificial intelligence on body image and trust in technology. Her students noted, “She is so passionate about eating disorders and body image, and her passion definitely shines throughout our CI meetings because she is so enthusiastic, optimistic, and insightful.”

Mark Cawood has been a lecturer at Clemson since 1999. He has co-created, led and prepared courses for the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences’ actuarial science and financial mathematics emphasis areas, accounting for over half of mathematical science majors. In his 26 years as a principal lecturer, he has taught 24 different courses and varying levels of the mathematics curriculum. In addition to coursework, Cawood also co-hosts a dedicated internship and job fair, advises students and continually updates actuary courses and seminars. These efforts and many more prepare students to pass at least two of the six actuarial exams by the time they graduate from Clemson. In and out of the classroom, student success and support are at the forefront of Cawood’s teaching model. Cawood earned his Master of Science and his doctorate in Mathematical Sciences from Clemson. He holds bachelor’s degrees in mathematical sciences and computer science from Manchester College.

Guido Schnabel is a plant pathologist at Clemson with over 25 years of experience working with pathogens of fruit crops. He has an active research and extension program focused on the management of diseases of small fruits and stone fruits. His MyIPM smartphone application provides fruit growers with disease and pest management information. His lab publishes in highly ranked, peer-reviewed journals. Since 2019, he has been Associate Editor of Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology. His research and extension activities were recognized with the APS Lee Hutchins Award for Excellence in Tree Fruit Research in 2011, The APS Excellence in Extension Award in 2015, the Clemson University Godley Snell Award for Excellence in Research and the Clemson University Centennial Professorship Award. As the Research Advisory Board and the Institutional Biosafety Committee, his leadership extends internationally, chairing committees such as the ROSEXEC and contributing to initiatives such as the International Cotton Genome Initiative.

David Coyle is an associate professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation at Clemson University. He joined the faculty in 2018, and his Extension and research program focuses on forest and tree health and invasive species management in natural and managed landscapes across the Southeast.

Prior to Clemson, he created the Southern Forest Health and Invasive Species program, which provides education and training to forestry professionals across the southeastern U.S.
Coyle uses various forms of communication, including social media, traditional writing, and in-person visits, to help educate people about tree health, invasive species and forest management. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters and the Entomological Society of America and has served as president of the North American Invasive Species Management Association and ProForest. He is a permanent member of the South Carolina Invasive Species Advisory Committee.