Tribute to Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, President of Claflin University

TRIBUTE TO DR. HENRY N. TISDALE, PRESIDENT OF CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY (Extensions of Remarks - May 19, 2004)

SPEECH OF HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN
OF SOUTH CAROLINA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2004

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Henry Nehemiah Tisdale, the 8th President of Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. A native South Carolinian, Dr. Tisdale's commitment to higher education has enabled scores of students to achieve their dreams of a college degree. This year marks his 10th year as President of this esteemed institution, and I believe a good time to highlight some of his outstanding contributions to South Carolina's higher education community.

Born in Kingstree, South Carolina, Dr. Tisdale received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Claflin University in 1964. In 1967, he was awarded a Master of Education degree from Temple University, and in 1975, received a Master of Arts in Mathematics from Dartmouth College. He later obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Mathematics from Dartmouth College in 1978.

Dr. Tisdale's professional experiences include a twenty-four-year tenure as Senior Vice-President and Chief Academic Officer at Delaware State University, where he also served for a year as Assistant Academic Dean for Administration, Planning, and Information Management.

His vision and zeal to position his alma mater Claflin University as a premier institution in the Southeast is nothing short of extraordinary. Under his tutelage, the University has earned "Top Tier" and "Top Ten" ranking among comprehensive baccalaureate granting institutions in the South with U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2003." He has increased enrollment by 60 percent, achieved national accreditation for Business Administration and Teacher Education, restored many of the campus buildings, and transformed the campus with the new Living and Learning Center and Legacy Plaza.

Dr. Tisdale has also been the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) Distinguished Alumni Award, Who's Who Among Black Americans, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Educator of the Year Award.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in commemorating Dr. Tisdale's ten years at Claflin University. He has blazed a trail in his community through education and service that continues to influence future generations and enhance the national reputation of South Carolina in the field of higher education. Not only are Claflin's students and faculty, friends and alumni fortunate to have a person of Dr. Tisdale's caliber at the helm of their institution, but South Carolina is also a grateful beneficiary of Dr. Tisdale's passion for public service, and I am personally proud to have him as a personal friend.

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