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Campus Review
January 31, 2014
Former Clayton State President Dr. Thomas Harden to
Retire as UW-Green Bay Chancellor
By John Shiffert
Cheryl Thibodeau Joins Clayton State Development Team
As First Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Everyone at Clayton State who remem-
bers the tenure of Dr. Thomas K. Harden
as president of the University will be
wishing him well this summer, as Clayton
State’s third president will be retiring
from his present position as chancellor of
the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.
After five years of leading one of
Wisconsin’s top public universities, he’s
returning to, “what brought me to where I
am,” teaching.
And, while Harden left Clayton State in
the spring of 2009, he still has fond mem-
ories of his nine years by Swan Lake.
“I am excited about the change of pace
that will come with becoming Chancellor
Emeritus in August,” he says. “I will stay
with UWGB after that to continue to raise
sorely needed funds as the Foundation
and University enter a new capital cam-
paign. I will also take the fall and spring
of 2014/15 to prepare to teach again. I am
not sure what I will teach yet, but I am
looking forward to returning to what
brought me to where I am, teaching.
“It is always good to hear from you and
my beloved Clayton State University.
Cathy and I send our love and best wish-
es to all our friends at Clayton State.”
From 2000 to 2009, during Harden’s time
at Clayton State, the University tripled its
baccalaureate programs, started its first
graduate programs, and also increased its
enrollment by 50 percent. On a personal
note, Clayton State faculty and staff of
that era will also recall Harden as a devot-
ed family man, and in keeping with his
persona, he has sent along a family por-
trait, noting, “our family has grown since
our days in Georgia.”
Cheryl Martinez Thibodeau has joined the
Clayton State University Division of
External Relations as the University’s first
Director of Corporate and Foundation
Relations.
Thibodeau comes to Clayton State after
three years at Southern Polytechnic
University where she was a development
officer for Major, Corporate and
Foundation Giving. Her extensive devel-
opment background also includes serving
as membership gift coordinator for the
Atlanta Botanical Garden (2004-2007),
on-air fundraising coordinator for Georgia
Public Broadcasting (2007-2009), and
philanthropy operations coordinator for
The Nature Conservancy in Georgia
(2009-2011).
“I am thrilled to be a part of the team at
Clayton State University,” she says. “I
hope to benefit the University’s mission
by finding support in the community and
beyond, building a culture of support, and
developing long-lasting relationships with
donors. I’m especially excited to be in an
environment which encourages creativity
and the arts, combined with a robust com-
prehensive education.”
“We are very excited to have Cheryl join
our team,” says Vice President for
External Relations Kate Troelstra. “Her
experience and knowledge of the Atlanta
corporate and foundation philanthropic
landscape will have an immediate and
positive impact on the students and facul-
ty of Clayton State.”
A native of the United Kingdom,
Thibodeau is a graduate of the University
of Wales in Aberystwyth, where she
earned a B.A. in Art History. She and her
husband Greg reside in Lithia Springs,
Ga., with their two dogs, Murphy and
Champ.
As director of Corporate and Foundation
Relations Thibodeau is responsible for
raising unrestricted and restricted corpo-
rate and foundation support for all areas
of
the
University at
annual
and
major gift lev-
els. She will
also work close-
ly with alumni,
faculty, admin-
istration, and
volunteers to
identify, culti-
vate, and solicit
the University’s corporate and foundation
prospects.
During her time at Southern Polytechnic,
Thibodeau created several new initiatives
to broaden the University’s avenues of
support, including an internal Corporate
and Foundation Relations Council, and
the “Development 101” session for key
faculty and staff. She also led the highly
successful annual corporate recognition
event, “PolyDay.”
Past Clayton State President
Dr. Thomas K. Harden, wife Cathy, and family.
Thibodeau