Board Member Spotlight
Clete Boykin ’79*
Celeste “Clete” Boykin, a Manning native, grew up in Lancaster and graduated summa cum laude from Lancaster High School. Once at Clemson, she was one of the first African Americans to be a member of Tiger Band.
In 1979, she graduated with honors and received a Bachelor of Science degree in plant sciences. She joined E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company as the first African American woman to work as a sales and marketing representative in the company’s Agricultural Chemicals business.
Among Clete’s many volunteer leadership roles for Clemson, she is a former member of both the University’s Board of Visitors and the Clemson University Foundation Board of Directors. Currently, she chairs the Clemson Institute for Parks Board of Advisors. She is a member of the Clemson University Tiger Band Association and a longtime board member of the Baltimore/Washington, DC Clemson Club.
She has helped to organize various Clemson events in the Washington area, including 2017’s Clemson Day at the White House honoring the University’s national championship football team. She also helps students of color in the D.C. area who are interested in attending Clemson with advice about the correct points of contact on campus and taking campus tours.
Clete is a member of the Clemson Legacy Society, which honors donors who have included Clemson in their estate plans, and she supports Clemson athletics as a member of IPTAY.
Clete is an extremely proud member of the “Benet Babes,” a group of Clemson alumnae who lived on the fourth floor of Benet Hall and who won the 1978 Women’s Intramural Flag Football Championship. In 2015, the group established a scholarship fund to give future students the opportunity to make their own lifelong friends and memories while getting a high quality Clemson education.
* This information was taken from the Clemson Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award website.
Upcoming Events
See AllFootball Watching Party vs Boston College
Football Watching Party vs Boston College
October 11
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7:30 pm
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11:00 pm
Come out to cheer on our Tigers with fellow local alumni, parents, and fans. Everyone is welcome – whether you’re a die-hard fan or just want to be part of the Clemson spirit. We’ll be watching the games all season long at the locations listed below while enjoying food and drink specials exclusively for our group as we celebrate those Tiger touchdowns.
Kickoff is at 7:30pm.
2025 Game Watch Locations
- Arlington, VA – Astro Beer Hall, 4001 Campbell Avenue
- DC – Mission Navy Yard, 1221 Van Street SE
Don’t forget to check in when you arrive each week at the parties, and we’ll make an Annual Fund donation in your name from the Club! We’re always looking for more Tigers to help host watch parties. Want to volunteer for a game or two? Contact beth@clemsonclub.org.
Football Watching Party vs SMU
Football Watching Party vs SMU
October 18
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12:00 am
Come out to cheer on our Tigers with fellow local alumni, parents, and fans. Everyone is welcome – whether you’re a die-hard fan or just want to be part of the Clemson spirit. We’ll be watching the games all season long at the locations listed below while enjoying food and drink specials exclusively for our group as we celebrate those Tiger touchdowns.
Kickoff time is TBD.
2025 Game Watch Locations
- Arlington, VA – Astro Beer Hall, 4001 Campbell Avenue
- Baltimore, MD – Little Havana, 1325 Key Highway
- DC – Mission Navy Yard, 1221 Van Street SE
- Bethesda, MD – BT’s** (pilot location), 4866 Cordell Avenue
**While Tiger fans are most welcome to watch games at BT’s each week, the Club will only be officially hosting a few games there this season. Stay tuned for which games!
Don’t forget to check in when you arrive each week at the parties, and we’ll make an Annual Fund donation in your name from the Club! We’re always looking for more Tigers to help host watch parties. Want to volunteer for a game or two? Contact beth@clemsonclub.org.
CU@Home with Nathan McNeese
CU@Home with Nathan McNeese
October 29
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12:00 pm
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1:00 pm
***NEW DATE – this event has been rescheduled from September 10.***
Join us for an engaging virtual discussion on the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence with Dr. Nathan McNeese, Associate Professor in Clemson’s School of Computing and a leading voice in human-centered AI research.
Dr. McNeese will share insights into Clemson’s latest advancements in AI, the impact of machine learning across industries, and how his team is designing technologies that work hand-in-hand with people. Whether you’re curious about AI’s role in everyday life or looking to understand the future of intelligent systems, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Football Watching Party vs Duke
Football Watching Party vs Duke
November 1
@
12:00 am
Come out to cheer on our Tigers with fellow local alumni, parents, and fans. Everyone is welcome – whether you’re a die-hard fan or just want to be part of the Clemson spirit. We’ll be watching the games all season long at the locations listed below while enjoying food and drink specials exclusively for our group as we celebrate those Tiger touchdowns.
Kickoff time is TBD.
2025 Game Watch Locations
- Arlington, VA – Astro Beer Hall, 4001 Campbell Avenue
- Baltimore, MD – Little Havana, 1325 Key Highway
- DC – Mission Navy Yard, 1221 Van Street SE
- Bethesda, MD – BT’s** (pilot location), 4866 Cordell Avenue
**While Tiger fans are most welcome to watch games at BT’s each week, the Club will only be officially hosting a few games there this season. Stay tuned for which games!
Don’t forget to check in when you arrive each week at the parties, and we’ll make an Annual Fund donation in your name from the Club! We’re always looking for more Tigers to help host watch parties. Want to volunteer for a game or two? Contact beth@clemsonclub.org.
Football Thursday Lunch - Graham Neff
Football Thursday Lunch - Graham Neff
November 6
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12:00 pm
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1:00 pm
As the season winds down, join us for a special lunchtime discussion with Clemson Athletic Director Graham Neff. This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the leader of Clemson Athletics as he reflects on the current season, shares insights on the Tigers’ performance, and looks ahead to the final stretch of games.
Graham will join us via Zoom to provide updates, answer questions, and give an inside perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing Clemson Athletics. Whether you’re eager to break down the season so far or curious about what lies ahead, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Bring your Tiger spirit and your questions for Graham Neff as we wrap up another exciting season of Clemson Athletics!
In person attendees will enjoy a catered lunch with the lively discussion. Members are $10, non-members are $25. Please register so we have enough food for everyone.
