The World Needs Visionaries
Claflin University Mourns the Passing of Former First Lady Alice Carson Tisdale

Alice Carson Tisdale's extraordinary contributions to Claflin were the manifestation of her unyielding commitment to providing students the essential academic, cultural, and spiritual preparation necessary for their transformation into globally-engaged visionary leaders. Mrs. Tisdale made her peaceful transition on Saturday, July 25, 2020. She was the devoted wife of Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, who served for 25 years as Claflin's eighth president. "We came as a team," Dr. Tisdale often said, and their combined efforts figured prominently in Claflin's emergence as one of the region's premier liberal arts universities."
 
"Mrs. Tisdale played a pivotal role and joined her husband, President Emeritus Dr. Henry N. Tisdale in shaping the 25-year success story of Claflin University," said Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack, president of Claflin University. "Not only did Mrs. Tisdale help strengthen the academic profile of the University through the Honors College, but she also displayed compassion, guidance, and kindness to hundreds of students who passed through the halls of Claflin. We are forever grateful for her visionary leadership."
 
In 1996, Mrs. Tisdale was honored by the Claflin University Board of Trustees by the naming of the University's honors college as "The Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College." During her tenure, the graduation and retention rates of ACT Honors College students surpassed 80 percent and produced the University's first-ever Harry S. Truman Scholar. Honors College students have been selected for the J. William Fulbright,  Thomas R. Pickering, Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarships, and other national scholarships and awards. Honors College students have also earned internships and career opportunities at prestigious graduate and professional schools, and Fortune 500 companies.
 
In 1986, Mrs. Tisdale received the District Teacher of the Year award while teaching in the Smyrna School District, Smyrna, Delaware. Before moving to Orangeburg in 1994, she taught in that district for 21 years. In 1991, she received the State Chamber of Commerce "Superstars! In Education Award" from the State of Delaware for innovative teaching strategies and later, the "NAACP Educator of the Year Award" from the Dover, Delaware, Central Branch of the NAACP. In 2004, she was awarded the "Outstanding Director of the Year" by The National Association of African American Honors Programs (NAAAHP). In 2011, she received the Community Service Award from the Delta Zeta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and was the recipient of the IMARA Magazine Community Service Award. She received the 2012 Education Award from the Orangeburg, S.C. Branch of the NAACP, and in December of 2013, she and her husband, received the Times & Democrat "Persons of the Year" for the phenomenal transformational change taking place at Claflin University. In September 2014, she received the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian award in the State of South Carolina, presented by former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. 
 
She had a ubiquitous presence on a slate of community boards and organizations. She served on the Governor's Mansion and Lace House Commission; Board Member, The Oaks; Past National President and Secretary/Treasurer of the National Association of African American Honors Programs; past Board Chair of the Orangeburg County Salvation Army; and past Board Chair of the Orangeburg County Community of Character. She was also a member and Co-Founder/Director of the "Praise Kids" children's Christian Theater at Trinity United Methodist Church. She was a very popular motivational speaker for children and people of all ages. 
 
Mrs. Tisdale was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Orangeburg, S.C. She also was a member of the Beta Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Orangeburg Chapter of the Links, Inc., and The Girl Friends, Inc. (Columbia S.C. Chapter).
 
She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Dr. Henry N. Tisdale; daughter, Dr. Danica Camille Tisdale Fisher and son-in-law, Dr. Damany Fisher; son, Brandon Keith Tisdale; and two grandchildren, Asa Toure and Anansa Theodora Fisher.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the  Alice Carson Tisdale  Endowed Scholarship Fund by clicking here.

Other stories in memory of Mrs. Alice Carson Tisdale
Claflin Participates in Virtual Second Chance Pell on Capitol Hill Day

Claflin University participated in Second Chance Pell on Capitol Hill Day on Wednesday, July 29. Claflin is one of 67 colleges and universities recently selected as a Second Chance Pell Experimental Site by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).
 
The university will begin offering for-credit courses to currently incarcerated individuals during the 2020 winter session. Claflin is one of few historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the only higher educational institution in the state of South Carolina selected by the Vera Institute of Justice to speak with S.C. congressmen this year.
 
Dr. Belinda Wheeler, director of Claflin's Pathways from Prison Program and the Center for Social Justice, represented Claflin at this virtual event. Wheeler met with several members of Congress from South Carolina to discuss the importance of providing educational options for incarcerated individuals. Wheeler is also an associate professor of English at Claflin.
 
"I am honored to have represented Claflin University, our exceptional Pathways from Prison Program, the Center for Social Justice, and educational partners across the state who are committed to reinstating Pell grants for all," Wheeler said. "The benefits of an education are well documented. Everyone should be able to pursue an education regardless of their status. I am grateful to the Vera Institute for organizing this event and S.C. congressmen who have agreed to be a part of this important conversation."
 
For more information about Claflin's Pathways from Prison Program, contact Dr. Belinda Wheeler at bwheeler@claflin.edu or (803) 535-5717.

Dominion Energy Announces 11 Schools to Benefit from  $35 Million Promoting Higher Education Equity Initiative

Claflin University is one of 11  historically black colleges and universities to receive support through a $35 million initiative of Dominion Energy (NYSE: D)  aimed at promoting higher education equity.  The  six-year "HBCU Promise" program will provide $25 million in funding to select institutions. Additionally,  a $10 million scholarship fund will support African American and underrepresented minority students across the company's service territory.
 
"We have all been witness to our country's evolving conversation on race and social justice. The country is changing, and we have been looking for ways that we can make a difference," said Thomas F. Farrell, II, the company's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Investing in these important institutions - which serve as a springboard for social and economic mobility for so many - is one way we can help.  We have actually partnered with HBCUs for nearly 40 years, offering volunteer and financial support.  As I have said before, we are humbled and honored to continue supporting them with  this current initiative." 
 
In selecting the institutions, Dominion Energy looked at a range of factors, including locations with a significant customer presence, past partnerships and opportunities to make immediate impact. In structuring the partnerships, Dominion Energy will focus on four general areas: operating needs, urgent capital needs, endowment and scholarships. Some details remain to be worked out, but Dominion Energy plans to tailor packages to the needs of each institution.
 
More than seven  million customers in 20 states  energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. Dominion Energy is  committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy  and is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy with more than $100 billion of assets providing electric generation, transmission and distribution, as well as natural gas storage, transmission, distribution and import/export services. Dominion Energy is committed to achieving net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its power generation and gas infrastructure operations by 2050. 

Alumni News


Simone Phipps-Prieto, '05, and Leon Prieto, '04, were featured in an article on Quartz, an online news source for business leaders. The article titled "The history of black management reveals an overlooked form of capitalism," discusses the lack of acknowledgment of Black business leaders in management history and the racial inequalities in business today. "We learned a lot about African American history, but when we were reading the management textbooks, I was like, 'Ok, there are a lot of things that can be here, but they're not listed.' I felt that there had to be African Americans who contributed to the field," Prieto said. To read the full article, click here.


July 31, 2020
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@Claflin is published by the Office of Communications & Marketing 
President: Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack
Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement: Marcus H. Burgess, '96
Assistant Vice President for Communications & Marketing: George Johnson Jr.
Public Relations Director: J. Craig Cotton
Public Relations/Social Media Coordinator: Charnita Mack
Web Communications Manager: Colin Myers, '07
Sports Information Director: Romanda Noble-Watson
Photographers: Cecil Williams, '60, Geoff Henderson and Colin Myers, '07