by WILL FOLKS
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Days after our media outlet excoriated his administration for its lack of transparency on a controversial land deal, Clemson University president James P. Clements has abruptly resigned his office.
“Serving Clemson University has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Clements wrote in an email to school faculty, staff and students. “I am deeply grateful for the trust and friendship you have shown me and my family over the years.”
Clements’ resignation will take effect on December 31, 2025, per his missive. Prior to sending the email, Clements reportedly informed the school’s thirteen-member board of trustees – which includes seven unconstitutional lifetime appointees (including former S.C. governor Nikki Haley).
Clements, 61, of Arlington, Virginia, said he had been “reflecting over the past several months about our accomplishments and my time here as president.”
“After much consideration and prayer, I have come to the conclusion that it is time for me to step aside and allow the University to begin its next chapter,” he wrote.
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“We are incredibly grateful for Jim’s extraordinary leadership and tireless dedication,” board of trustees chair Kim Wilkerson noted in a statement. “President Clements has been more than a leader — he has been a mentor, a friend and an advocate for every member of the Clemson Family. While we will certainly miss his guidance and enthusiasm, we also deeply respect and understand his decision to focus on his priorities.”
Wilkerson said Clemson’s board will hold a special called teleconference this Wednesday (December 10, 2025) at 2:00 p.m. EDT to “honor Clements’ enduring legacy” and to “begin shaping Clemson’s next chapter,” which will include the naming of “interim leadership” and the selection of search committee to begin the process of identifying Clements’ replacement.
Clements has been under fire after his administration was caught lying about the school’s starring role in a controversial development deal in Oconee County. FITSNews has led media coverage of that deal – amplifying the investigative work of Oconee County Council chairman Matthew Durham.
Clemson initially (and inaccurately, it now appears) accused Durham of spreading “false information” about the school’s role in the proposed 5,200-home Newry Mill development. Specifically, school leaders accused Durham of “targeting” Clements and Haley with misinformation.
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When the initial story broke, both Clements and Haley were board members of United Homes Group (UHG) – a Columbia, S.C.-based conglomerate with ties to the Newry Mill development. Clements and Haley both resigned from UHG’s board on October 19, 2025 – part of a wave of resignations that tanked the company’s stock.
While Clements has now resigned his post at Clemson, Haley remains a member of the school’s board of trustees.
As we noted just this past week, Clements was already on thin ice with state lawmakers upset over Clemson’s worsening budgetary issues – and the school’s escalating wokeness.
This is a developing story… please check back for updates.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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