Erica Walters, ClemsonLIFE Program Coordinator
Erica Walters, the program coordinator for the ClemsonLIFE program, is a woman working hard to make sure her students and staff members are well taken care of at all times. Walters has a charismatic personality that she brings with her to her job every day, and loves what she does for a living. But before Walters was ClemsonLIFE’s program coordinator, she studied at La Grange College for her undergraduate years, where she majored in early childhood education. Walters spent her summers up in Clemson working at the outdoor lab, where she was, “…exposed to this incredible world of, um, the special needs population.” Soon after graduating La Grange College, Walters came to Clemson and worked on her master’s degree in special education. Walters found out about the ClemsonLIFE program when she was a behavior interventionist and autism specialist for the entire Pickens County district, she had worked with a teacher who left her elementary school (that Walters had worked with) and went to work in the ClemsonLIFE program, telling Walters that she needed to come to the ClemsonLIFE program. It was about three years later, until the position was open, for Walters to apply for the program coordinator at the ClemsonLIFE program. Walters loves her job, and says that every day is different, and that there is no ‘typical day,’ saying, “…you just keep rolling, you keep the wheels going.” Walters says a large priority is making sure that her staff is working great, and making sure that they are taken care of at all times, saying, “If my staff is okay, then I know my students are going to be okay. So, you’ve got a tier system here to make sure that everybody is good to go.” Walters reminisced on when she first came into the ClemsonLIFE program saying they had two teachers, seventeen students, an administrator, and Dr. Ryan (who helped bring the ClemsonLIFE program to Clemson University). Now there are four teachers, two job coaches, four administrators, a program assistant, and as the program grows, the support and services continue to grow. Walters also explained that the ClemsonLIFE program is based off of donations and tuition, and she makes sure that those are secure so that the program may continue to grow and flourish as it should. Walters lit up immediately when asked what her favorite part about her job is, saying, “Oh my goodness. I love my job. Like, I love coming to work, I love seeing our students, … I literally love seeing the students, that’s the inspiration part. Like if there’s a day, like if I’m just having a challenging day, I’ll just go, I’m like- I’ve got to see some students, and they remind me why I do what I do. Um, they’re awesome. My staff is amazing, I could not have a better team, I mean I’m truly lucky. And we all love our job.” At the end of the day, Walters does it all for the students and her team, who she absolutely loves. As for the future of the program, Walters says the progress will be slow and steady, like how they have been over the past 11 years, saying, “Students will grow as our staff is able to handle it.” When asked about how the program promotes inclusivity on Clemson’s campus, Walters says there really is “…something in these hills,” and that the students and faculty on campus are genuine with every interaction they have with the students in the program. Walters also talks about how the program is helping integrate the students into campus by letting them take one traditional course on Clemson’s campus, and that they are currently trying to expand that. Another way that the program promotes inclusivity on campus is through social aspects, meaning any ClemsonLIFE student may join or participate in any activity or event that any regular Clemson student does. The inclusiveness on Clemson’s campus is a natural and authentic relationship that forms between the students in the ClemsonLIFE program with other students and professors on campus.[1]
[1]Swift, Taylor, and Erica Walters. “Interview with Erica Walters.” 18 Nov. 2019.