Founded company
in 1984; sales now
in millions of
dollars annually
Practices motto of
“A promise of
honesty and
professionalism ”
Distinguished alumna Suzanne Clifton donates
$500,000 charitable gift policy to college
By RANDY BRANTLEY
Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations
A visitor to Chowan College will quickly sense a renewed sense of
optimism throughout the campus community.
Dr. Stan Lott has assumed his duties as the 21st president of the
college. He brings with him 15 years of experience as academic dean at
Louisiana College, a sister Baptist institution.
Students are excited about policy changes and increased social
activities on campus. The Student Life Office, led by new Vice President
Ed Dadez, has been working to insure student satisfaction and retention.
Mrs. Austine Evans and the Enrollment Management staff are
responding to an increasing number of inquiries from college-bound
high school students.
The athletic program, under the direction of Mr Jim Garrison, began
the year on a high note when the men's soccer team won the Blue Ridge
Tournament, defeating Lynchburg, Western Maryland and Marymount.
Academic Dean Frank Lowe and Assistant Dean David Gowler are
continuing their work with curriculum transformation. In addition to
offering three new majors—psychology, athletic training and biology—
the Academic Affairs Office is working to insure that Chowan graduates
receive both a solid core of liberal arts courses and superior preparation
for an evolving job market.
On August 21, a Chowan alumna. Suzanne Clifton, placed a cherry on
top of all the optimism. After joining the faculty and staff for dinner,
Clifton presented President Lott a Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Com
pany charitable gift policy in the amount of $500,000. For several months
prior, Clifton had arranged for the policy with E. Vincent Tilson,
Chowan’s vice president for development, and
Jefferson-Pilot representatives.
A resident of Cary, Clifton is owner and
president of Executive Staffing Services, Inc., a
company she herself founded in 1984. With
sales in the millions of dollars. Executive
Staffing Services has operated under the motto.
“A promise of honesty and professionalism.”
On September 5, Randy Brantley, Chowan’s
director of foundation and corporate relations,
traveled to Clifton’s office located in Cary’s
MacGregor Park. In the following interview,
Clifton discusses her family, her business and
her obvious love and support for Chowan
College.
SUZANNE CLIFTON .. . distinguished alumna
RB: Suzanne, you are a 1964 graduate of
Chowan College and a 1991 Distinguished
Alumna Award recipient. Tell me about your
memories of Chowan College.
SC: Well. Randy, as 1 think back now, I can say
I was very apprehensive. 1 didn’t know what to
expect. It was a time in my life—and I am sure
most students feel this way—when 1 was
leaving my family and doing something other
than being right at home every day. I knew that
I wanted to do something more, but I didn’t
know what it was going to be. 1 think many
students do that.
Today there is a greater need for professors,
staff—whomever—to direct young people into
the workforce or life itself They’ve had more
experience than these young people. 1 think
guidance and direction are needed.
Chowan Today
USPS 715-880 ISSN 1051-9580
E. VINCENT TILSON Hce President for Development
CHARLES AYCOCK Director of Alumni Services
RANDY BRANTLEY ... Director cf Foundation and Corporate Relations
JACK GOLDBERG Sports Information Officer
FRANCES EASON Staff Writer
Published by Chowan Collie, a four-year senior college founded in I84S and controlled
by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
Comments, suggestions and informational submissions from alumni, friends and parents
are welcome. Please send them to Director of College Relations. PO Box 1848, Murfreesboro,
NC, 27855.
Published four times a year in March. June, September and December. Postmaster: Send
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Now, for my fondest memories. I do remem
ber a lot of the professors, but as a person
grows older, she can’t put them all in place. If I
sat down and thought about each subject, I
probably could put them in place.
The other night I was at the opening dinner
for staff and faculty and saw Jim Chamblee. I
understand Warren Sexton is coming back on
an interim basis. I’ll always remember Mr.
Sexton because he was a very unique person,
and I’m sure he has affected a lot of people in
positive ways. Anna Belle Crouch was the kind
of person who cared about students. These
people stand out in my mind.
1 felt that I could go to someone and get
help or could get direction in my subjects or
about what was happening on campus. I didn’t
get lost, so to speak, in the process.
The one thing that does stand out in my
mind about Chowan, though, is the day that
the president of the United States was assassi
nated. I was walking across campus. I had just
come out of a government class. I don’t
believe I’ll ever forget where I was or what was
happening, and the results of that weekend.
We turned around and went back into class
and talked.
That is the very sort of approach that is
needed in colleges today A college can affect
a student’s life in so many ways.
RB: You 're going to make this interview very
easy for me, I can see.
SC: Why?
RB: I think that's a great answer, particularly
in light of what's happening on campus right
now with curriculum transformation and with
professors asking questions about how they
redefine their roles.
People are asking questions about the job
market? What is the demand out there right
now, and how can professors prepare students
for life, as well as a particular subject. So
you 're speaking the language.
SC: My business is in the middle of it, and we
see so many young people. We employ over
500 people. In the next 3 to 5 years, we’re
going to employ 5000 to 7000 people. Look at
how many lives we’re going to affect.
When they come to us, we’ve got to have
them ready to understand what it is that’s
going to be happening to them in their life.
We can’t just start when they get here. We’ve
got to have some kind of foundation.
RB: That's a big responsibility on both ends
of the situation. Now, tell me about your
family.
SC: Well. I’m married. My husband owns a
company himself, so therefore, we don’t get
much time to talk to one another unless we
happen to be in a car that we’re driving three
hours like we did on the trip to Chowan.
RB: You probably have a good relationship.
SC: We do. I have two sons. And then Larry
has three children, two sons and a daughter;
so we really have five children. We have three
daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.
And grandchildren are just wonderful. You
can love them and give them back and watch
the parents go through what they need to go
through.
My family is very special to me and very
important. I am just trying to get my life in a
position where I can enjoy them more.
RB: And you 're originally from Roanoke
Rapids.
SC: Oh yes.
RB: Do you have family there now?
SC: No, I do not. No family whatsoever there.
My last relative, who was my aunt—and
almost my second mother—died two years
ago this coming November.
RB: Let's get into business a little bit. Found
ing a temporary staffing agency in 1984 was a
very timely decision. What prompted you to do
so at that point in your life?
SC: As you know, I graduated from Chowan in
1964. By 1984,1 should have been gearing dowa
but I wasn’t. I was gearing up. I taught school
when my children were growing up—in interim
positions because at that time I also had the
luxury of being at home with them.
I chose interim positions because I am the
kind of person who has to be doing something.
I can’t just be washing clothes or playing golf
Continued on page 3
Page 2 — CHOWAN TODAY, September 1996