Thursday, May 14, 2015

Spearman Announces SC State Appointment

Columbia, SC – State Superintendent of Education Molly M. Spearman announced her appointment to the Board of Trustees for South Carolina State University.

“I am very pleased to appoint Dr. Doris Helms of Clemson, a talented educator who has years of experience in higher education,” said Spearman.  “Dr. Helms is widely respected in her field with a successful 40-year career at Clemson University, where she served as a professor, associate dean, provost, and vice president.  She served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and as Chair of the association’s Council on Academic Affairs.  Dr. Helms is an excellent addition to this board and will make an immediate impact in implementing a strategic plan to assist South Carolina State University,” concluded Spearman.

“I would like to thank Superintendent Spearman for the opportunity to give back to the students of South Carolina State University in this new role,” said Dr. Helms.  “It is truly an honor to serve in this position, and I look forward to working with the new trustees to do what is best for this important institution of higher learning in our state,” concluded Helms.

Helms developed many innovative programs at Clemson, including the Faculty Activity System, Creative Inquiry, Bridge to Clemson, the on-campus Internship/Co-op Program, and the Emeritus College.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Chief Academic Officers affiliated with the American Council on Education; College Board Science Advisory Committee; Educational Testing Service (ETS) Higher Education Advisory Committee (Chair); and as Chief Reader for Advanced Placement Biology for the College Board.

Helms helped establish 13 Science and Mathematics hubs to support the K-12 public education system throughout the state in the 1990s, in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education and South Carolina Department of Education.  She also helped to develop the South Carolina Alliance for Minority Participation program with the University of South Carolina, which boosted math and science skills of high school students through summer programs.