Dr. Kathy Coleman, director of Clemson University’s Sandhill Research and Education Center near Columbia, S.C., has been named recipient of the John W. Parris Agricultural Leadership Award by the South Carolina  Association of Agricultural Educators.

The award was presented in November  by Dr. Tom Dobbins, state director of the Clemson University Extension Service., during the annual state conference of agricultural educators.

An employee of Clemson University for 33 years, with more than 29 of those years devoted to governmental affairs, Coleman was named director of the Sandhill Research and Education Center in 2015. She continues to assist the Clemson Public Service and Agriculture advocacy team with legislative strategies.

Coleman is  a native of Hopkins, S.C.,  and earned a B.S. and an M.S. at Clemson University and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics at Texas A&M University. Coleman and her husband, Greg, reside in Saluda, SC, and they have two sons, Lewis and Thomas (deceased), and a grandson, Weyman.       

The John W. Parris Agricultural Leadership Award was established several years ago by the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators in honor of John Parris of Columbia, SC. A graduate of Clemson University,  Parris is a nationally-recognized agricultural leader and conservation visionary with more than 60 years of professional service

After retiring as executive director  of the South Carolina Land Resources Commission, Parris served for 15 years as director of public affairs for the South Carolina  Agricultural Education Program. The first South Carolinian named to the National Conservation Hall of Fame, Parris is the only one from this state to receive the National Professional Conservationist Award.

Source: South Carolina Agri-News Service, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.