Matthew C. Reinhart ’94

/ in / 0 Comments / by:

“Pop-up” Engineer

Take a biology major, mix in a portion of art training and a large serving of creativity, and what do you get? A pop-up engineer!
That’s the combination that resulted in a successful career for author, illustrator and paper engineer, Matthew Reinhart.
Reinhart began his Clemson experience with intentions of becoming a physician, but he had always enjoyed art and took art classes to build up his portfolio. After graduation, he realized that medicine was not his true calling and took off to New York City.
Reinhart attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, majoring in industrial design, with a concentration in toy design. His focus soon shifted to becoming a paper engineer. More precisely, a pop-up engineer.
Cutting, folding and taping small pieces of paper to make model after model to create dancing princesses, open-jawed dinosaurs and flying super heroes became his passion.
Reinhart apprenticed with renowned pop-up bookmaker Robert Sabuda, and soon they were collaborating. Reinhart made his first big breaks into the pop-up world with The Pop-Up Book Of Phobias, Animal Popposites and The Ark. Many book collaborations with Sabuda followed, including a trilogy of New York Times best-selling Encyclopedia Prehistorica and the series Encyclopedia Mythologica. He co-authored Mommy? with the ever-popular Maurice Sendak, and Brava Strega Nona with famous writer and illustrator, Tomie DePaola.
Reinhart’s solo pop-up books include The Jungle Book, Cinderella: A Pop-Up Fairy Tale, The Pop-Up Book of Nursery Rhymes, and STAR WARS: Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy, DC Super Heroes Transformers: The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe and Game of Thrones: A Pop-Up Guide to Westeros.
He continues to work and live in New York City, cutting, taping and folding paper into pop-up masterpieces.

Kendall G. Cochran ’12

/ in / 0 Comments / by:

Kendall ringstory3
A Ring Story

Kendall Cochran has a lot to be thankful for. In July, when he was on his way to work, an oncoming SUV crossed over into his lane and hit him head-on. Trapped in his truck with smoke filling the cab and the engine on fire, he managed to climb out the window.
Standing on the side of the road, watching his truck burn, the horticulture major called his dad to let him know he had been in an accident. After he confirmed he was okay, his next words were, “My truck is burning up, and my Clemson ring is in there.”
After the local fire department had put out the fire and EMS had cleared Kendall, he went to his charred truck to search for his ring, which he had placed in the driver-side door panel. It took the fire department’s jaws of life to rescue the ring, encased in the melted door panel. The firefighters cut out a chunk of the door panel with the ring embedded and handed it to Kendall. Not much else survived the fire, including a treasured Clemson horticulture jacket.
But he has his ring. He chipped it out of the plastic, buffed it a bit, and put it back on his finger.
Kendall and Bo

SPANDEX

/ in / 0 Comments / by:

Profile-WishboneTheatreCoAlumni return to Brooks Center with “super” production
If you saw a bolt from the blue last October, it wasn’t Superman. It was Clemson alumni of the Wishbone Theatre Collective, swooping in to perform their super hero-themed play, SPANDEX, at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts.
The Chicago-based theatre company spent a week in technical rehearsals and student-focused activities before giving two performances of their original work in the Bellamy Theatre. The poignant comedy/drama questions ideas of perfection, bravery and the American superhero through the eyes of children and adults.
Wishbone Theatre Collective was founded in 2009 by former members of the Clemson Players, the University’s student theatre troupe. Since then, the organization has staged mostly original works written by members of the company, including Returning from Madness (by Laurie Jones ’08) and En El Corazon (by Jones and Mandy Stertz ’08), as well as the classic ghost story, The Woman in Black. In addition to several non-Clemson company members, Wishbone’s current roster includes Elizabeth Finley ’08, Katie Jones ’08, Laurie Jones ’08, Erin Lovelace ’10, Mandy Stertz ’08 and Kimberly Van Ness ’08.
SPANDEX premiered in 2011 at the Chicago Fringe Festival and later traveled to the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. “We created the play as an ensemble through the inspiration of our childhood superheroes,” says Laurie Jones, who co-directs the production with her sister, Katie. “Wishbone did a children’s camp one summer, and we kept hearing the kids talking about good guys and bad guys. We thought we would take this childlike version of right and wrong and apply it to a real-life situation.”
While in Clemson, Wishbone conducted an improvisation workshop as well as a Q-and-A session for students. They shared stories of performing in less than ideal venues (their production of The Woman in Black was staged at a creepy funeral home) and of the joys and challenges of creating a theatre company from scratch.
Katie Jones, who was in the first graduating class of Clemson performing arts majors, told students that state-of-the-art equipment is not a requirement to produce a show: “You don’t need much. All you really need is six chairs and an imagination.”

Walter L. Dantzler ’67

/ in / 0 Comments / by:

Profile-DantzlerFamily and farm
By any measure, Santee farmer Walter Dantzler is a blessed man. After graduating from Clemson’s advanced ROTC program in June 1967, he helped his father bring in the harvest before heading off to Vietnam. Then he served a 13-month tour of duty before returning to the family farm.
“I got home from Vietnam on a Saturday, went to church with my family on Sunday and was back farming by Monday,” Dantzler said.
Dantzler was named South Carolina winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. He visited with the other state winners at the Expo in October.
“It was good talking about the joys and challenges of farming with people who understand. To a person, they all talked about wanting their families involved in their operations,” Dantzler said.
Therein lies Dantzler’s other great blessing: His is a multigenerational family farm, with wife Maida Owen ’68, son Bryan — who attended Clemson, daughter-in-law Gina and 11-year-old grandson Dyson all putting shoulder to the wheel. And the Dantzlers aren’t just a farming family — they’re a Clemson farming family. Maida is retired after 39 years teaching science at Holly Hill Academy. Son David ’98, M ’07 works for the Coastal Regional Commission of Georgia. Youngest son Brook, a Citadel graduate, is an agency manager for Farm Bureau Insurance.
“All three of my sons grew up baling hay and working in the fields. 
I gave them the choice, and David and Brook chose to work away from the farm. That’s all right. I’m proud of all my children,” Dantzler said.
Dantzler farms approximately four thousand acres of corn, cotton, peanuts, soybeans and wheat, along with 512 acres of timber. He uses guidance systems for planting and irrigation, grid sampling to reduce fertilizer and chemical use, and strip tillage for better weed control and less erosion.
“The technology has changed some things, but farming is still a hot and sweaty job with long hours,” Dantzler said.
Dantzler is confident grandson Dyson will be the next generation to work the land. “Dyson shows a real love for being outside and working hard. When it’s his turn, we’ll have drones flying over these fields.”

My Clemson: Kate Blackmon ’81

/ in , / 0 Comments / by:

Kate Blackmon '81


The technical knowledge I gained in my first undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at Clemson, combined with more human-centered history and English literature classes there, has enabled me to take on a wide variety of challenges in managing human and technical systems. Currently this is as senior proctor of the University of Oxford, a post that dates back to the 1100s.
Two colleges elect proctors each year, and a third elects an assessor. We uphold the University’s statutes and regulations, attend key committees, oversee all examinations, attend official university ceremonies and investigate student complaints and discipline. (But we can no longer hang students for misconduct!) The proctors and assessor are visible because we wear subfusc (academic dress) every day, as well a velvet-sleeved gown, ermine stole and hard-shell mortarboard on official occasions such as degree days (graduations, held in Latin) or the Queen’s Garden Party.
After my year as senior proctor, I will return to my “normal” life, where I am an associate professor of operations management at Oxford’s Said Business School, and a fellow and tutor in management studies at Merton College, which is celebrating the 750th anniversary of its founding this year.

Ryan ’02 and Loran Rogers ’04 Kerrigan

/ in / 0 Comments / by:

Encouraging Teens to Meet the Challenge

Teen gang member “James” arrived at Peak 7 Adventures with a criminal record — and a chip on his shoulder.

As part of a community service requirement, James was required to participate in the outdoor adventure rock-climbing program. He had no interest in climbing, only proving his toughness.

But James’ bravado turned to fear as he ascended a rock. He was afraid of heights, and his guides met those fears with assurance. By the end of the trip, his defenses came down. Three climbing trips later, the Peak 7 staff saw a new James, one who wanted a more positive life.

James’ story is repeated time and again at Peak 7, a Spokane, Washington-based organization founded by Ryan and Loran Rogers Kerrigan. [pullquote align=’right’ font=’oswald’ color=’#3A4958′]The program takes young people on kayaking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, backpacking and rafting trips to teach them about the outdoors — and life.[/pullquote]

While Peak 7 serves teens from various backgrounds, they focus on underprivileged and at-risk youth, partnering with treatment facilities, group homes, drop-in centers and other programs. The Kerrigans started the faith-based organization in 2006, serving 137 teens. By 2013, Peak 7 had served more than 13,000 youth. Since most of the teens cannot afford the cost, the organization relies on grants and donations for support.

“Many of our kids come from challenging circumstances,” Ryan says. “So when they do the work necessary to finish a trip, it gives them a glimpse of what they are capable of.”

The Kerrigans are graduates of the University’s parks, recreation and tourism management program — Ryan in travel and tourism, and Loran in therapeutic recreation. Loran worked full-time as a recreational therapist while Ryan worked sans salary to start Peak 7. Loran is now the organization’s sponsorship coordinator.

Clemson equipped them with the knowledge to start Peak 7, but it did even more, according to Ryan. “The national reputation of Clemson’s parks, recreation and tourism management program opened doors for us, and we grew as people and leaders at Clemson,” he says. “Professors took an interest and encouraged us.”

And now, the Kerrigans are encouraging James and thousands like him.

Mark J. Charney ’78

/ in / 0 Comments / by:

Educate. Inspire. Connect.

Educate. Inspire. Connect. These are the perfect words to describe the career and dedication of Mark Charney.
It’s also the mission of the Actors Hall of Fame, which honored him for his work with the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Chair of Texas Tech University’s Department of Theatre & Dance, Charney also serves as national coordinator for the Kennedy Center’s Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy and its Dramaturgy Initiative.
Charney is both a playwright and an administrator. He’s the associate chair of the National Critics Institute for the O’Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Connecticut, conference planner for the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) and has served as secretary of the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC). [pullquote align=’right’ font=’oswald’ color=’#3A4958′]He has twice received the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion of Honor for his work advancing theater in colleges and universities around the U.S.[/pullquote]
As a playwright, Charney has won the David Mark Cohen National Playwriting Award for his play, “The Power Behind the Palette.” His “The Decameron Project” traveled to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, where it was featured for two weeks. His semi-autobiographical comedy, “37 Stones or the Man Who Was a Quarry,” played both off Broadway and in Washington, D.C., and his most recent play, “The Balloon Handler Makes Good,” was developed by ATHE in D.C., and performed in the New Works Festival in Santa Clarita, California, the Ten for TENN Play Festival in Tennessee, and the Warner International Playwrights Festival in Connecticut. For three years, Charney was co-artistic director of the playwrights lab, WordBRIDGE.
Charney earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Clemson, served as chair of the English department and as director of performing arts, where he worked in the Brooks Center of the Performing Arts, furthering the major and the playwriting program.

David O. Prevatt M ’97, PhD ’98

/ in / 0 Comments

He follows where the wind blows

When tornadoes strike, David Prevatt gets his Wind Hazard Damage Assessment Team into action. He and his civil engineering graduate and undergraduate students rush to sites around the country to investigate tornado damage done to buildings and homes. Through a Faculty Early Career Development research grant from the National Science Foundation, the team is working to develop engineering solutions for tornado-resilient and sustainable housing communities.
Prevatt is an associate professor in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment in the department of civil and coastal engineering at the University of Florida.
[pullquote align=’right’]You might have heard about him on NPR and NBC News.[/pullquote] Prevatt is a leading spokesman for improving construction and building guidelines. As a strong advocate for more federal funding to increase coordination and sustained research support in wind engineering, he testified before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Joint Hearing of Research and Technology Subcommittees and Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
The National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology in his home country of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, awarded Prevatt a silver medal in recognition of his research. Prior to his appointment to the UF faculty, Prevatt was an assistant professor and director of the Wind Load Test Facility at Clemson. He’s a director of the American Association for Wind Engineering and member of the U.K. Wind Engineering Society.

Valerie N. Pezzullo M ’14

/ in / 0 Comments / by:

Graduating and Giving Back

Valerie Pezzullo had two things to celebrate this spring: She received her master’s degree in mechanical engineering and took first place in MTConnect Challenge 2, a contest to develop innovative and unique software applications for manufacturing.
Pezzullo’s software application detects vibrations in metal-cutting machines so that corrections can be made before parts are damaged. The application is expected to help manufacturers that rely on computer-controlled machines to make highly precise parts for a variety of industries, ranging from automotive to aerospace.
It could have an especially large impact on manufacturers that use high-value materials. Regenerative vibration, or “chatter,” can ruin parts that cost as much as $20,000 each in raw materials alone. By the time the vibrations are audible, it’s too late because the part already may be damaged.
“As a student, it was exciting to go through the design and see it through to the final product,” said Pezzullo, who is from Selden, a hamlet on New York’s Long Island. “The app is very practical and useful for industry.”
Pezzullo’s application was part of her thesis and an offshoot of previous research done by her adviser, Laine Mears, associate professor of automotive engineering.
“It will have a big impact on manufacturing, especially in the Upstate, because manufacturing is such a large part of the economy,” he said. “This is a great example of automatically generating information and using it to improve manufacturing quality and productivity.”
And the $100,000 prize? Pezzullo has said she will pay off her student loans and establish a scholarship for female students studying engineering.
Pezzullo did her research at the Clemson University-International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) and worked on machines provided by Okuma America Corp., a Charlotte subsidiary of Okuma Corporate. The contest was sponsored by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Defense-wide Manufacturing Science and Technology (DMS&T), AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the U.S. Army Benét Labs.

Robin Lennon Bylenga M ’91

/ in / 0 Comments / by:

Robin Lennon Bylenga M ’91

Getting Women Rolling

Robin Lennon Bylenga is getting women rolling.
Bylenga has always been conscious of physical fitness, but when she decided to take up cycling, she found the atmosphere of the typical bicycle shop intimidating and often geared toward male cyclists in products and shelf appeal. Bylenga decided to open a bicycle shop geared toward women cyclists.
In 2010, she founded Pedal Chic. The colorful Greenville store carries footwear, helmets, pads, sports apparel and clothing, as well as commuter, road and mountain bikes. [pullquote align=’left’]Operating on the premise that men and women shop differently, think differently and purchase for different reasons, this entrepreneur has gained national attention for her efforts and business.[/pullquote]
Pedal Chic was named “Best Bike Shop for Women” in 2012 and one of “America’s Best Bike Shops” in 2013 at Interbike, North America’s largest bicycle trade event. Bylenga and her shop have been featured in publications such as Garden & Gun, Money, Adventure Cyclist, Southern Living, Greenville Business Magazine, Momentum Magazine and The Boston Globe.
Bylenga, daughter of former Clemson president Max Lennon, received her master’s degree in human resource development from the University. She’s a board member of Bike/Walk Greenville and a motivational speaker for women’s cycling and exercise, and for entrepreneurial and empowerment opportunities.
Bylenga is passionate about what women can achieve.
For more information about Pedal Chic, go to www.pedalchic.com.