Claflin President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack Selected 2024 Times and Democrat Person of the Year

Warmack leads South Carolina’s No. 1 HBCU on its Upward Trajectory as a Leading Liberal Arts University

The Times and Democrat Newspaper announced that Claflin University President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack was named the publication's 2024 Person of the Year honors not only for his bold and effective leadership.  His selection emphatically confirms that the campus community, residents of the state of South Carolina, and beyond profoundly appreciate and respect the "Elevation and Transformation" that has permeated the campus since his arrival in August 2019. The T&D praised Warmack for spearheading "transformative change at Claflin University with everything from the erection of new buildings to the development of new and innovative majors of study."  

"I am honored to receive this award," Warmack said. "You're not in this community 155 years without giving trusted service.   I truly see it as a blessing. I do this work because it's God's calling. I never do it for accolades; I never do it for recognition."

Warmack's galvanizing leadership has produced innovative curriculum development and research, an influx of advanced technology, and historic fundraising success. The University continued its streak of impressive national rankings, including a U.S. News & World Report's Top 10 Best Private HBCU for 14 consecutive years, No. 1 HBCU in South Carolina, and No. 1 National Liberal Arts University in South Carolina in Social Mobility. 

Claflin's noteworthy accomplishments during the year include opening the New Student Center in March, which has become the center of campus and community engagement.  Warmack also considers the $44 million, three-story, state-of-the-art facility the University's "New Living Room." The student center has Orangeburg County's largest conference center/banquet room with seating for more than  800 guests; a movie theater that seats 172 patrons; offers first-run movies on a 30-foot screen with Dolby sound and stadium-style seating; an Esports Lab; conference and study rooms; administrative offices; a high-rise terrace; retail shopping; and other features.  

Warmack said that the Student Center supports the community.  "It provides access and opportunity to residents in our community who can't travel to Charleston or Columbia to see movies. We are excited about how the community is taking advantage of the New Student Center.  We experienced a lot of activity during the summer, and our numbers will be larger this year.  We are receiving quite a few reservations for national conferences, receptions, weddings, workshops, and other events.  The Student Center has elevated our community engagement," Warmack said.

Claflin's SmartHOME -- and its focus on helping to mitigate healthcare disparities that affect African American and other minority communities – were introduced to the campus community and a national audience during the Fall 2024 semester. The SmartHOME uses home automation technology – including robots – to provide convenience and comfort inside the home. However, it also compiles critical data on the health and wellness of groups and individuals that could impact public health initiatives. The SmartHOME was featured in a South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV) documentary and several national print and digital publications.

"Our Nursing Department is playing a vital role in our efforts to improve the quality of health care," Warmack said. "Students in the RN to BSN and Master of Science in Nursing programs are highly skilled expert nurses who are linking residents in rural and remote areas in South Carolina to essential health services. I envision the nursing and computer science programs utilizing the SmartHOME to develop solutions to mitigate health disparities in rural populations."

Warmack's proudest moment in 2024 may have been in September when Claflin hosted the inaugural HBCU Tech Summit.  Tech industry luminaries from Silicon Valley, prominent Capitol Hill legislators, university presidents, students, representatives from municipal, state, and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and other guests attended the one-day conference to discuss the projected growth and influence of new and existing technology and career opportunities for HBCU students.

Warmack, Congressmen Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL.), and Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed, Federal Co-chair - Southeast Crescent Regional Commission were the primary organizers of the event that was held in the New Student Center.

"The intentionality of being here in Orangeburg -- in the rural South -- has tremendous meaning," Warmack said in his opening remarks at the HBCU Tech Summit. "Technological investment in infrastructure usually happens in large metropolitan cities like Atlanta, Washington, D. C., and Chicago. But bringing these global tech executives and influential elected officials to Orangeburg is game-changing."

The recent rebranding and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the venerable H. V. Manning Library at Claflin University was another seminal event.  The library rebranding provides a blueprint for modernizing and expanding the capacity of the central resource for academic information and research materials on college campuses. Through advanced technology and reimagined spaces, new pedagogical approaches will increase engagement and collaboration.

"The H.V. Manning Library now has a new futuristic design that reimagines the facility as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and discovery," said Claflin President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack during the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony. "This transformation represents more than just bricks and mortar. It symbolizes our dedication to providing our students and faculty with state-of-the-art resources and spaces that inspire creativity and achievement."

Among the features of the three-story facility are:

• 3D visuals on wall-mounted TVs
  
• Traditional Study Pods with seating for multiple students and Study Pods for individual students equipped with magnetic dry erase boards, and Smart TV monitors w/cameras.
  
• Two (2) pods dedicated to Virtual Reality
  
• The traditional circulation checkout desk for books will be a student support resource that assists students with using various technologies for research and other projects.
  
• Panther Podcast Room equipped with acoustic wall panels, a microphone, a green screen, and lighting.

"We are ushering in a new era of learning through digitization and how people around the world comprehend information," Warmack said.  "We saw an opportunity to use this space to reimagine the library and provide more space for student and faculty collaborations. This includes creating spaces for our growing number of graduate students." 

Warmack's strategic agenda also promotes academic partnerships that expand academic, pedagogy, and research opportunities for Claflin's world-class faculty and high-achieving scholars.  In 2024, Claflin established partnerships with Ohio Wesleyan University, Yale, and The University of Florence.  

Claflin signed a "sister school" Memorandum of Understanding Ohio Wesleyan University – one of the most comprehensive collaborations between a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) and a Predominantly White Institution (PWI).  Claflin is also one of four HBCUs participating in Yale's Alliance for Scholarship, Collaboration, Engagement, Networking, and Development (ASCEND) Program. Claflin will receive $10 million over five years to support research and pathway programs for Claflin students. 

 Warmack and a group of University faculty and staff traveled to Italy and the University of Florence last Spring to sign an agreement with one of the country's most influential universities.

"I'm just very fortunate to work with amazing individuals," he said.  "If anyone deserves credit for our accomplishments, it's the Board of Trustees.  They have steered the ship in such a great way. I'm fortunate to work with a spectacular staff, fantastic faculty, and the most superb students anyone could work with.  

 I was reflecting on what God is sharing with me about 2025.  Eyes have not seen, and ears have not heard what God is about to do at Claflin University next year.  The best is yet to come."