Leading Students to Career Success
Carolina Cluster is a collaborative effort between Benedict College, Claflin University and Voorhees College to implement innovative strategies that nurture today’s students for tomorrow’s competitive workforce.
Leading Students to Career Success
Carolina Cluster is a collaborative effort between Benedict College, Claflin University and Voorhees College to implement innovative strategies that nurture today’s students for tomorrow’s competitive workforce.
Leading Students to Career Success
Carolina Cluster is a collaborative effort between Benedict College, Claflin University and Voorhees College to implement innovative strategies that nurture today’s students for tomorrow’s competitive workforce.
Increased Workforce Diversity & Inclusion
“This Carolina Cluster Career Pathway Initiative is our collaborative response to America’s need for talent and our graduates’ desire to be competitive in obtaining high-paying 21st century jobs. Through the work of the program, we will leverage the capacity of our partner institutions and implement innovation strategies to nurture the talent of the students on our campuses and help make the story of the workforce of the 21st century one of increased diversity and inclusion.”
— Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, President Emeritus of Claflin University 1994 – 2019
Students Register Now
3rd Annual
Carolina HBCU Career Talent Showcase
September 21, 2021
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
– A Virtual Event –
The Carolina HBCU Career Talent Showcase is a premier diversity recruiting and interviewing event, featuring students from regional Historically Black Colleges & Universities as well as other area institutions of higher learning. Here students will have the opportunity to engage with numerous employers, graduate schools, and professional schools.
Register Today For This Mega Career Fair!
We salute this year’s sponsors of the Carolina HBCU Career Talent Showcase
Congratulations To Our Summer Research and Creative Project Award Recipients:
The Undergraduate Research and Creative Project Award enhances opportunities for undergraduate students in the Carolina Cluster to participate in research and creative activities under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Research projects must focus on developing and testing a hypothesis or theory using methods relevant to an academic discipline. Creative projects must develop or test new materials, methods, or techniques (i.e., artistic, literacy, educational, or physical) by methods other than those traditionally considered “research.” Congratulations to this year’s scholars from Benedict, Claflin, and Voorhees.
Adam Johnson
(Junior, Marketing Major)
Project Topic: Creation of 2.5D Video for Online Marketing – An exploration of PowerPoint for efficient and effective video production
Research Advisor: Professor Michele Dugar, School of Business and Entrepreneurship
Rajae Ouzir
(Junior, Computer Engineering Major)
Research Advisor: Dr. Gurcan Comert, Associate Professor – Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics and Engineering Department
Olivia Simms
(Sophomore, Biology Major)
Project Topic: Virtual Profile of COVID-19 Targeted Cellular Protein using Gene Expressions Analysis of Flight Muscle Histolysis as a Model System
Research Advisor: Dr. Rush Oliver, Professor – Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Health Science Department
Detravious Brinkley
(Senior, Computer Science Major)
Project Topic: The Effectiveness of the Social Fitness Application AccountaFit
Research Advisors: Co-Advisor – Dr. Shannon, Associate Professor of Nursing and Chair of Nursing | Co-Advisor – Dr. Deidra J. Morrison, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Joshua Kiprono
(Freshman, Computer Science Major)
Project Topic: An Application Tracker and Network Site for Students
Research Advisor: Dr. Deidra J. Morrison, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Vithun Muthukumaran
(Junior, Computer Science Major)
Project Topic: Application of Blockchain Technology in Communication
Research Advisor, Dr. Abdelrahman Desoky, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Math
Denise C. Freeman
(Senior, Biology Major)
Project Topic: Role of CRISPR-Cas System in Pathogenesis of Multi-Drug Resistance E. Coli Species
Research Advisor: Dr. Zhabiz Golkar, Associate Professor of Biology
Kimeyata Willis
(Junior, Public Health Major)
Project Topic: Genetic Variation and Demographic Characteristics of Novel Coronavirus Disease during COVID-19 Outbreak in the United States and Globally
Research Advisors: Co-Advisor – Dr. Kendall Junior, Assistant Professor of Public Health and Co-Executive Director of Voorhees’ Liberal Arts Innovation Center (LAIC) for Healthcare Access and Equity, Co-Advisor -Dr. Zhabiz Golkar, and other faculty members working with the LAIC (cross-discipline team approach)
Carolina Cluster In The News
Carolina Cluster Awarded A Study Abroad Grant
The Carolina Cluster Career Pathways Initiative has received a grant to create, expand, and diversify study abroad on their campuses. The grant was awarded this June from the Capacity Building Program for U.S. Study Abroad, a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by World Learning.
The program is designed to expand and diversify American student mobility in support of U.S. foreign policy goals. It is imperative that the next generation of leaders – American students of all backgrounds – engage internationally to foster mutual understanding and develop critical skills in support of U.S. national security and economic competitiveness.
Learn more about the award and the Cluster’s goal to increase the student population’s cultural intelligence and marketability in the international economy HERE.
Carolina Cluster Partner Schools
Founded in 1870, Benedict College is a private, co-educational arts institution in Columbia SC and home to over 2,280 students in the institution’s 33 baccalaureate degree programs.
Benedict Overview
Benedict College is located on 220 acres nestled in the heart of Columbia, SC.
Over the last six years, Benedict College has been ranked as one of the top baccalaureate colleges in the nation by Washington Monthly.
Benedict has high-quality programs of teaching, research, and public service. Benedict recently received the National Civic Engagement Award from The Washington Center for encouraging students to give back to the community.
Benedict has over 17,000 proud alumni throughout the nation. The College has been “a power for good” in the community for over 146.
To learn more visit: BENEDICT COLLEGE
Founded in 1869 as the first HBCU in South Carolina, Claflin University is recognized by publications such as U.S. News and World Report as one of America’s best liberal arts colleges.
Claflin Overview
Claflin’s beautiful historic campus in Orangeburg SC is home for approximately 2,000 students from every region of the United States and more than 20 international countries.
Claflin University has a strong record of educating minority students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines. Students are mentored in cutting edge research by world-class faculty in labs located in Claflin’s Molecular Science Research Center, which is a core research facility for the state of South Carolina as designated by the South Carolina Research Authority.
To learn more visit online: Claflin University
Founded in 1897 by Elizabeth Evelyn Wright and located in Orangeburg SC, Voorhees College is the first HBCU established by an African-American woman.
Voorhees Overview
An affiliate of the Episcopal Church, Voorhees focuses on providing a comprehensive education that prepares students for a global society.
Currently, Voorhees College is the only Historically Black College or University in the state of South Carolina that offers emergency management as a major.
Fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Voorhees College was recently named in the top 100 schools for an affordable education.
Voorhees College, home to 420 students who participate in cutting edge research in cybersecurity and biology, has been changing minds and changing lives for 120 years.
To learn more visit online: Vorhees College
Have questions? Want to learn more?
Check out our contact page to reach support staff with the Carolina Cluster State Office as well as related staff at each of the three partner schools– Benedict, Claflin and Voorhees.
The Carolina Clusters Career Pathway Initiative is supported by the following:
