Connie Powell, President
Connie is trained as a Speech/Language Pathologist. She retired in May 2006 from Pickens County School District having had a long professional career working with special needs children ages 3-15. Connie is active in the Clemson United Methodist Church where she has served as a member of the Building Committee and the Staff/Parish Relations Committee. Connie joined the CCDC Board in 2007 and is beginning a second 3-year term. Currently, she is serving a 2nd year as Board president and is grateful for all the time and energy Board members, teachers, staff and the multitude of volunteers give to make CCDC what it is today.
Judy Benson, Vice President
Recently, Judy Benson joined our Board of Directors. That gives us a full roster of 15 busy people! After receiving her M.Ed. from the University of North Carolina, Judy and her husband, Paul, spent the next 34 years following his career as a geologist. As she and her family moved around over the years Judy was always involved in “anything to do with children”... from Scouts and Sunday School, to PTA. Professionally, Judy was director of 3 pre-schools in the Chicago area, taught 2nd grade language arts in New Orleans, and taught 5th and 6th grade in North Carolina. She was a volunteer aide at the American School in London. The family returned home to South Carolina 10 years ago. Judy strongly believes that helping prepare young children for success in school is one of the most rewarding and important things we can do. Judy currently volunteers her services in our K4 class to provide extra help for some students.
Marshall Pickens, Treasurer
Marshall Pickens is an Anderson native and has worked for Capital Bank in Clemson for over a year. Having two children, he firmly believes in early childhood education and the foundation it builds for the rest of the child’s life. He is currently in Leadership Pickens County, a member of the Clemson Rotary Club and is very active in his church. He enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his family. He lives in Anderson with his wife, Michelle, and their two girls.
Rosemary Bryan, Secretary
Rosemary is retired from the School District of Pickens County after 22 years as library media specialist atPickens Elementary school. Prior to moving to Clemson in 1981, she taught kindergarten and worked in schools and libraries in Virginia, Spain, and Bahrain. Currently, she is a library liaison on the Education Committee atUniversity Lutheran Church, works in a local shop, and participates in various church and volunteer activities. Rosemary served on the CCDC Board a number of years ago and says she looks forward to being involved in the Center's exciting future.
Subhash Anand
Subhash was born, raised, and educated as a civil engineer in India, a country he left almost 50 years ago to go to Germany for some advanced engineering experience. He came to the US as a graduate student atNorthwestern University, where he met his wife, Vera, who was born and raised in Brazil. Vera also was a graduate student in civil engineering. They have two daughters who attended all Pickens County schools. Subhash taught in Sacramento, CA, and Chicago, IL, before coming to teach at Clemson University in the Department of Civil Engineering in 1972. After 33 years of academic career at Clemson, Subhash retired in December, 2005. He has been seeking to get involved in Clemson community activities as a volunteer. He is looking forward to working with the most worthwhile work of the Clemson Child Development Center.
Ruth Andreasen
Ruth and her husband, Bob, moved to the Clemson area about five years ago. Ruth is a semi-retired interior decorator. Ruth began volunteering at CCDC last year and has “jumped in with both feet.” She helps Lori, our Development Officer, with different fairs, helping with presentation boards, pictures, etc.; and fund raisers where the interior designer comes out in her. Ruth did all the decorations for the Murder Mystery Night and the Holiday Revue. Ruth is a willing volunteer for any projects we may have for her. Ruth told us that when she taught school while her husband continued his education. She remembers how hard it was to find quality childcare and added, “A quality early childhood education is crucial to the parents and the children and I look forward to coming in to volunteer because I always leave feeling good about the experience and the sense of being needed.”
Marcia Barker
A native of Kingsport, TN, Marcia and her husband, Jim, have two sons. After studying for three years atWinthrop College, Marcia earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Georgia StateUniversity in 1972. Marcia has taught 7th grade in St. Louis, MO, and kindergarten for 17 years. Before beginning service as Clemson’s First Lady in 1999, she was Director of Fort Hill Presbyterian Kindergarten in Clemson. She is currently Chairman of the Board of Fort Hill Kindergarten. She also serves on the board of America Reads, Clemson University and on the board of the Friends of Lee Gallery. Marcia was named an honorary member of the Clemson University Alumni Association in 2001 and was also made an honorary member of the Blue Key in 2001. She received the Clemson University Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2001.
Joy Boatwright
Joy is an Administrative Assistant at Clemson University in the Department of Graphic Communications. She has lived in Clemson for 48 years. Joy has served in many community organizations such as President of the Clemson Lions Club, Secretary of the District 32A Lions, Girl Scouts Board, school volunteer and currently serves as Sunday School Director at First Baptist Church, Clemson. She is married to Randy Boatwright and they have two children, Nicholas 20 and Kathleen 16.
JoEtta Gant
JoEtta was born and raised in Memphis, TN. She has lived in Clemson for over 30 yrs. She is married to Ron Gantt and they have two adult children, Brian and Ronda. JoEtta is a retired school teacher, certified in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Special Education/Learning Disabled. She brings to CCDC board, 30 yrs of classroom experience and hope to actively volunteer in the classrooms. "I believe that every child can learn, given the proper nurturing and appropriate curriculum."
Jane Hamilton
Jane and her husband, Ed, moved to Clemson in 1988. She spent the previous 23 years accompanying Ed as he pursued a career in the Army. She has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. Her love is children and she graduated from Mary Washington College with a major in English and a minor in Elementary Education. During her “Army” years, she taught kindergarten-4th grade in many different schools. When she arrived in Clemson, she taught at The Episcopal Day School for 8 years. She then did homebound instruction for Oconee County for 8 years. She is enjoying retirement and her volunteer work. She is already a familiar face at the Center, volunteering in several areas.
Ethel Pettigrew
Ethel is married to Stephen Pettigrew, and they have two sons. Ethel is a partner in the CPA firm, Whitener, Pettigrew, and Co., CPAs. She has lived in Clemson for over 30 years. Ethel received her M.Ed. from Clemson University and started her career as a kindergarten teacher in the Seneca area. She returned to Tri County Technical College to get her CPA, and has been following that field ever since. She has been active in several community organizations including the Foothills Area Family YMCA and the Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce, serving both of these organizations as Chairman of the Board. With expertise in both education and finance, she has unique qualifications to be on this Board.
Paul Prichard
Paul retired from the Pickens County Schools in 2004. He received his teaching preparation from Iowa State Teachers College and holds graduate degrees in Education Administration from East Carolina University and the University of North Carolina. He was a teacher and administrator in North Carolina Public Schools for 30 years and spent 14 years in Clemson as the principal of Morrison and Clemson Elementary School. He recently served 4 years on the advisory board for the “Growing Place” pre-school at First Wesleyan Church. Paul is married to Melanie Prichard who was a Reading Recovery Teacher at Liberty Elementary School.
Scott and Susan Schiff
Scott and Susan are co-board members!
Scott Schiff has been a member of the civil engineering faculty at Clemson University since 1989. He is involved in both teaching and research related to structural and wind engineering. He and Susan have raised four children – the oldest three graduated from Daniel High School and attend college, the youngest is currently attending Daniel High School. Scott has been involved in community activities, including serving as a Board Member of the Clemson Elementary School PTA, coaching many youth sport teams associated with the Clemson/Central Park Districts and helping with various CCDC events.
Carol Ann Wiley
Originally from Honolulu, Carol has been actively involved with Early Childhood Education since 1974 as a teacher and director of a center. She taught on the East and West Coasts, Mid-West and most recently in Pickens County School District as a K5 teacher. After retiring in 2007, she accepted a position with the Office of First Steps as a Technical Assistant and Trainer. Now that she is fully retired, she brings her expertise to CCDC in the hope that she can be of some assistance to CCDC in areas most needed.
Mable Wynn
Mable, her husband Eddie, and their two children moved to Clemson in mid-August 1974. Both children, April and E.J., are graduates of CCDC and are the main reason Mable feels compelled to join the Board and contribute to the future success of the Center. Mable served on the Clemson University faculty in the Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management Department as a Community Leisure Services and Program Planning Specialist for 37 years. During that time, her service to youth and the community include: Girl Scouts, YMCA, 4-H Club & “Visions for Youth” and other volunteer activities (Member of Clemson Lions Club, AWP, Pendleton Elk Lodge). Mable’s passion for dance performance and teaching led to service on several Arts Commissions on the local, county and state levels. Her deep concern for justice and human compassion led to a six year term with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. January 2010 marks Mable’s 10th year of retirement. Although she continues to advise and direct student groups on and off Campus, she is ready to “give back to her children’s roots – CCDC.”
