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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DR. HENRY N. TISDALE, PRESIDENT OF CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY, AND MRS. ALICE CARSON TISDALE, DIRECTOR OF THE HONORS COLLEGE OF CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY, AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM UPON BEING NAMED PEOPLE OF THE YEAR BY THE TIMES AND DEMOCRAT NEWSPAPER.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly were pleased to learn that Dr. and Mrs. Henry N. Tisdale were honored as People of the Year for 2013 by the Times and Democrat newspaper in Orangeburg; and
Whereas, a native of Kingstree and a magna cum laude graduate of Claflin University in 1965, Dr. Tisdale returned to take the helm as the eighth president of his alma mater in 1994; and
Whereas, after completing a bachelor's in mathematics, Henry Tisdale earned a master's degree in education from Temple University in 1967, during which time he taught mathematics in the Philadelphia school system until 1969; and
Whereas, he served Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware, as a professor of mathematics from 1969 to 1985, assistant director of institutional research and planning and instructor of the Summer Engineering Institute from 1978 to 1985, assistant academic dean for administration, planning and information management from 1986 to 1987, and senior vice president and chief academic officer from 1987 to 1994; and
Whereas, he was awarded a master of arts degree in mathematics in 1975, followed by a doctor of philosophy degree in mathematics in 1978, both from Dartmouth College. In 1985, he was selected by the American Council on Education (ACE), Center for Leadership Development in Washington, D. C., to serve as an ACE Fellow in Academic Administration; and
Whereas, in the tradition of Claflin's presidents, Dr. Tisdale has been a servant leader, overseeing tremendous growth in all areas of the University's campus and academic endeavors, such as an eighty-five percent increase in enrollment, the addition of critical new academic majors on the undergraduate and graduate levels, numerous new buildings and facilities, and extensive renovation or restoration to historic buildings throughout the campus; and
Whereas, under his leadership, Forbes.com listed Claflin as the top Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the country in August 2008, and ranked the institution in the top four percent nationally the first time the University was ranked by "America's Best Colleges." U.S. News and World Report's "Guidebook to America's Best Colleges" has included Claflin in the publication's "Top Tier" rankings among baccalaureate-granting institutions in the South for fourteen consecutive years, and in 2012, Claflin was ranked among the top national liberal arts colleges and universities; and
Whereas, Dr. Tisdale has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including honorary doctorates from Hofstra University in 2009, and from South Carolina State University in 2004. In 2008, his hometown of Kingstree erected six highway markers proclaiming it the "Home of Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, The Eighth President of Claflin University." He was named the 2007 BellSouth Honoree and received the 2007 Milliken Medal of Quality Award, the CASE (Council for Advancement for Support of Education) District III Chief Executive Leadership Award, the I. DeQuincey Newman Humanitarian Award, the NAFEO (National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education) Distinguished Alumni Award, and the NAACP Educator of the Year Award, and he served as a member of Governor Nikki Haley's Transition Team; and
Whereas, he is a member of the American Council on Education Commission on Effective Leadership; the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Council of Presidents; the HBCU-ETS Steering Committee; Williamsburg County Public School Foundation; the National Advisory Board of the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina; and the Claflin University National Alumni Association; and
Whereas, Dr. Tisdale serves as a member of the board of the United Negro College Fund and the American Council on Education Commission on Effective Leadership. He is a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Orangeburg Rotary, and Trinity United Methodist Church; and
Whereas, his beloved wife, First Lady Alice Carson Tisdale, is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, and earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina and a master of education in reading diagnosis from Salisbury State University in Maryland; and
Whereas, a twenty-one-year middle-level educator in the Smyrna School District in Delaware, Mrs. Tisdale received that district's Teacher of the Year award in 1986; the 1991 Superstars! In Education award from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce; and the National Association of African American Programs (NAAAP) Educator of the Year award from the Dover, Delaware, Central Branch of the NAACP; the 2004 Outstanding Director of the Year award given by the National Association of African-American Honors Programs; the 2011 Community Service Award from the Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated; the 2011 IMARA Magazine Community Service Award; and the 2012 Education Award from the Orangeburg, South Carolina, branch of the NAACP; and
Whereas, she now serves as the director of the Claflin University Honors College, where she has worked to elevate the program to a premier academic status, and in 1996, the Claflin board of trustees officially named the Honors College after Mrs. Tisdale in recognition of her considerable contributions to the University; and
Whereas, in 2011, Mrs. Tisdale was appointed to serve on the Governor's Mansion and Lace House Commission by Governor Nikki Haley, she currently serves as the board chairman of the Orangeburg County Community of Character initiative; a member and the co-founder/director of the Kids Praise children's Christian theater for Trinity United Methodist Church in Orangeburg; a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Beta Zeta Omega Chapter; and a member of The Links, Incorporated, Orangeburg Chapter; and
Whereas, together Dr. and Mrs. Tisdale have reared two fine children, Danica Camille Tisdale Fisher and Brandon Keith Tisdale; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly appreciate the recognition that Dr. and Mrs. Henry Tisdale have brought to Claflin University and to their community and are grateful for the standard of excellence they have set in education for the Palmetto State. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, president of Claflin University, and Mrs. Alice Carson Tisdale, director of the Honors College of Claflin University, and congratulate them upon being named the People of the Year by the Times and Democrat newspaper.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tisdale.
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