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, in recognition Clemson’s contribution to his development as a communicator, the Pearces established the endowment for the Roy and Marnie Pearce Center for Professional Communication at Clemson University.
Our Goals
Enhancing Communication and Writing Across the Curriculum at Clemson through student-driven initiatives such as the Writing Fellows and Client-Based Programs
Giving students experience writing, editing, designing and producing print and digital publications
Sponsoring funded projects that emphasize writing to learn as well as oral, visual and digital communication
Providing a space and technology in the Class of 1941 Studio for Student Communication that allows for collaborative work
Supporting faculty across campus that are teaching or conducting research in communication and Writing in the Disciplines
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
Encouraging the use of multimodal technologies to enhance teaching and learning
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 and Information Design internship to help Clemson students with visual projects. Our work is thoroughly and consistently interdisciplinary, collaborative and project-based.
Class of 1941 Studio
As the face of the Pearce Center, the Class of 1941 Studio provides state-of-the-art technology and collaborative workspaces for learning, teaching and research. The Studio brings together the study and practice of the communicative arts in innovative and exciting ways.
Visit the 1941 Studio