MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University President Jim Clements is the new president at Clemson University. Clements was introduced to a large crowd Monday morning on the campus of the South Carolina school.
“The bottom line is this–the board of trustees is convinced that we got the very best person to be our next president. He is the right fit for Clemson University,” Clemson Board of Trustees Chairman David Wilkins said just before he introduced Clements.
Clements, 49, wearing an orange tie, eagerly accepted the position.
“Clemson truly is a gem in higher ed,” he said. “It truly is. This is a real special place.”
Clements introduced his wife Beth and four children and praised Clemson for being a great family atmosphere.
He also told the crowd he would work hard.
“My mother used to tell me a lot of simple things. She said, ‘Jim, be a good person and make a difference.’ And I can promise that we will do our very best to help all of you working together to fill the vision set forth by Thomas Green Clemson,” he said.
Clements has been lauded for his role in fundraising at WVU and he promised Monday to help Clemson meet its stated goal in an ongoing capital campaign. He also predicted a Clemson football victory Thursday night against Georgia Tech.
Clements will replace outgoing Clemson President James Barker who has been in that role since 1999.
Clements was hired to be WVU’s 23rd president in 2009. At that time, he was provost at Towson University.
In his role at WVU’s president, Clements has chaired the boards of the West Virginia United Health System, the WVU Hospitals and the WVU Research Corporation.