b'nervousnessoffreshmenduringorientation,evensaidtherewillalsobeanewbusinessincubator witnessing some cries from parents and students. forthedevelopmentofdowntownandwomen-owned businesses. The space will serve as a resource Then, to see the transformation at graduation. Thoseandlearningtoolfornewandexistingbusinesses, exact same parents are crying a different level of tears,includingsharedofficespaceandapartment tears of joy versus uncertainty and fear. complexes, living up to the live, work and play adage.Buttoattainthismetamorphosis,oneofFor 154 years, Claflins mission has included serving Warmacksfirstgoalswasimplementingthe5CsandenrichingthelivesofresidentsofOrangeburg ashisstrategicvisionforClaflinUniversity:aandsurroundingcommunities.Weplantoexpand commitmenttoexcellence;commitmenttovaluingourcommitmentbyofferingeducationaloutcomes people;commitmenttobeingstudent-centered;fornon-collegedegreeseekingindividualsinthe commitmenttoexemplaryeducationalprograms;Orangeburgregion,saidWarmack.Theresno and a commitment to fiscal responsibility. Warmacksreason why our communities should suffer.5Csalignwiththeuniversitysvisiontodevelopa diverse and inclusive community of globally engagedRECOGNIZING LEGACYvisionary leaders. WhilethisarticlefocusesonWarmackandhis goalsforClaflin,whentoutingtheuniversitys Toachievethisvision,thetransformationalleaderaccomplishments, he always uses the term we. The hasspearheadedrecordfundraising.Accordingtopresidentdeliberatelyandunselfishlyrecognizes Warmack, as of 2019, the highest the endowment hadthecollectiveteamworkneededfromallstaffto been in Claflins history was $26.8 million. It has nowachievesuccess.Healsoacknowledgestheworkof reached $58.7 million. his predecessor, Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, and the many UnderWarmack,ClaflinUniversityhasalsoothers who preceded him. maintaineditsnationalrankings.Fora13thI am standing on the shoulders of eight giants who consecutiveyear,ClaflinwasrankedaTop10came before me, said the 46-year-old. BestHBCUbyU.S.NewsandWorldReport.The universityisalsorankedNo.1inAnnualAlumniWarmacksaidhesometimescallsTisdalefor GivingPercentageatHBCUs;7thBestRegionaladvice,understandingthatwhilehehasaplethora Liberal Arts College in the South and 4th in Four- ofexperienceinhighereducation,a25-year-legacy YearGraduationRatesamongHBCUs.Studentfromaformerpresidentcanhelphimtobetter retention has increased to over 80 percent. comprehendthecultureofClaflinUniversity. Warmack emphasizes how culture and personality are Thenumberofacademicprogramshasincreaseddistinct to each institution and profoundly affect the during Warmacks tenure.The Center for Professionaldecision-making process. andContinuingStudiesandClaflinOnlineare now a part of the Center for Global Education. TheWarmackalsodeems Tisdaleasamodelofhigher programsarehousedintheDowntownCenteroneducation,thuspreviouslypresentingtheformer Russell Street.presidentwithanhonorarydoctoratedegreeand makingthesuggestiontotheboardtonamethe Claflin will soon begin construction of a new facilityMolecular Science Centerafter the alumnus. thatwillenhancetheUniversitysSTEM(Science, Technology,EngineeringandMathematics)Ibelieveincelebratinglegacy,saidWarmack. programs.A$17.4millioninvestmentfromSo,IalwayssayImbuildingonalegacywhile CongressmanJamesE.Clyburnwillsupporttranscending into the future.theconstructionofthenewCybersecurityandThatperfectmergingoftheoldandthenewis BiotechnologyCenter.Warmackisalsofocusedonhow Warmack is continuing to find success at South workforce and economic development in downtownCarolinas oldest HBCU. Orangeburg. Consequently,theinstitutionopeneditsDowntown Centertoensureeconomicrevitalization.Warmack IMARA13'