Our Mission
The Pearce Center promotes effective communication as an integral part of the learning process throughout Clemson University undergraduate and graduate education. The Center offers undergraduate client-based internships, professional development for graduate teaching assistants and faculty writing workshops. The Center has plans for a revitalized professional editing service and recently introduced a new Visual Information Design internship to help Clemson students with visual projects. Our work is thoroughly and consistently interdisciplinary, collaborative and project-based.
For more information on how the Pearce Center is working to achieve its mission of improving communication across Clemson’s campus, please take a look at the most recent Annual Report.
Pearce Center Annual Report
Our Goals
WAC/WID Initiatives:
- Enhancing communication and Writing Across the Curriculum at Clemson through student-driven initiatives such as the Grad WAC Fellows and Client-Based Programs
- Supporting faculty across campus that are teaching or conducting research in communication and Writing In the Disciplines
- Sponsoring funded projects that emphasize writing to learn as well as oral, visual and digital communication
Student Initiatives:
- Giving students experience writing, editing, designing and producing print and digital publications
- Providing space and technology in the Class of 1941 Studio for Student Communication that allows for collaborative work
- Encouraging the use of multimodal technologies to enhance teaching and learning
Sponsorship Initiatives:
- Offering workshops designed to improve the communication abilities and skills of students and faculty members who teach writing and communication
- Securing resources through foundation grants, private gifts and corporate partnerships
Our History
Mr. Roy Pearce (1919-2004), President of Clemson University’s class of 1941, maintained that his professional success was directly related to his effectiveness as a communicator. Most noteworthy was his involvement in a family business that became one of the largest businesses in South Carolina. However, his legacy lives on through the creation of the Class of 1941 Studio for Student Communication.
After graduating from Clemson in 1941, Pearce went on to stay very active in the Clemson community. He used his communication skills to serve as President of the Clemson Alumni Association and Clemson Foundation Board. He received the Distinguished Service Award, an honorary doctorate and the Clemson President’s Award. In 1991, he received Clemson’s highest honor: the Clemson Medallion.
Outside of Clemson, Pearce served as vice-chairman of the South Carolina State Development Board, President of the Rotary Club and Director of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Pearce attributed his success in these roles to his ability to communicate effectively.
Pearce held a firm belief that all students should have an opportunity to become effective communicators. He envisioned a center whose mission was to prepare students for the communication challenges they would face as professionals in their chosen disciplines. In 1989, he and his wife, Marnie, established the endowment for the R. Roy and Marnie Pearce Center for Professional Communication at Clemson University in recognition of Clemson’s contribution to his development as a communicator. In 2001, Pearce’s graduating class endowed the Class of 1941 Studio for Student Communication, which opened its doors in Daniel Hall in 2004.
The Class of 1941 Studio for Student Communication
The Class of 1941 Studio for Student Communication opened in January 2004 thanks to a generous million-dollar gift honoring the class’s 60th anniversary in 2001. Combining teaching and research, the Studio fosters oral, written and digital communication. By providing customized project space for work groups, state-of the-art multimodal communication tools and software and additional space for guest speakers and other events, the Studio enriches student collaboration and communication.
Entering the Studio, visitors are greeted in the office and reception areas, which contain a display of books and handouts for the public. The Production and Design Studio occupies the next room and offers a large collaborative space designed to facilitate the production, discussion, design, revision and completion of projects. The conference room serves as a meeting space available to faculty and student organizations. With abundant collaborative space and technology, the 1941 Studio serves as an essential tool for many events and classes held at Clemson University. A partnership with Adobe has presented the Studio with many other technological benefits, allowing students access to programs including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Premiere Pro and enabling students to use these programs for writing, art and design.
In the 2022-2023 academic year, the Pearce Center and Class of 1941 Studio for Student Communication were moved from Daniel Hall due to building renovations and are now housed in the new Humanities Hall building. Despite the move, the Studio was able to host a wide range of events, from meetings and classes to workshops, presentations and photo shoots.
Have a question or want to talk to the Pearce Center staff about a potential project?