Pamela Richardson Wilks, President, Clinton College

In an interview with Invest:, Pamela Richardson Wilks, president of Clinton College, discussed the institution’s growth as a four-year college, its expanding academic programs, and its role in workforce development across South Carolina and North Carolina. “We are a little small powerhouse when it comes to the economic viability and contribution that we make to the local economy,” Richardson Wilks said.

How has Clinton College’s transition into a four-year institution shaped its strategy and priorities?

Clinton College has been in existence since 1894. Like many HBCUs, we started as an institute before moving into the two-year space. In 2013, we made the decision to become a four-year institution, and that was strategic in terms of what we were able to offer the local community in Rock Hill.

We are part of a higher education ecosystem that includes York Technical College and Winthrop University. We see ourselves as a both-and institution. We still offer associate degrees, but we are also able to offer bachelor’s degrees at an affordable price so students can have a better return on investment.

That shift allows us to contribute to the local community and economy in ways we would not have been able to if we had remained a two-year institution. According to UNCF’s most recent impact study, Clinton College contributes about $10 million a year to the local economy. We are a little small powerhouse when it comes to the economic viability and contribution that we make to the local economy.

That impact extends beyond Rock Hill and York County. Many of our faculty, staff, and students come across the state line, so we are also contributing to the Charlotte metro area and North Carolina.

What major trends in higher education are having the greatest impact on Clinton College’s strategy?

We are looking closely at demographic trends and what is happening nationally, globally, regionally, and locally. Higher education is talking about the enrollment cliff, changes at the national level, Department of Education shifts, new rules, regulations, compliance, affordability, return on investment, and whether college is worthwhile.

At Clinton College, we are taking those questions and pain points and turning them into opportunities. While many institutions are concerned about enrollment, we did not experience a drop this year. From fall to fall, our enrollment increased by about 27%. From fall to spring, when institutions often experience attrition, we also had growth.

That comes from understanding what students, families, and the workforce want from an education. It is not just about getting a job. It is also about what students can contribute to society and how we can help them transform into that person.

A Clinton College education is more than a degree. It is about helping young people, as well as individuals seeking a second or third chance, become the people they have always wanted to see themselves as and contributing members of society.

How is Clinton College positioning itself amid continued growth in Rock Hill and the greater Charlotte region?

As the region expands, we are looking to expand as well. That includes expanding academic programs, updating curriculum, and developing programming for students, faculty, and staff that prepares the next generation.

I tell our faculty, staff, and students not to think only about where they will be four years from now. Think 10 to 20 years out. That helps us consider what Rock Hill, York County, South Carolina, and North Carolina will need in the future.

We are a border school, so we impact both South Carolina and North Carolina. Not many institutions can say they are influencing the viability of two states and a workforce in two states. We look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics to understand what is happening nationally so we can be competitive.

The move from a two-year to a four-year institution also allows us to focus on research. We are not trying to compete with a Research 1 institution, but we are asking what innovations will be necessary to make workforce opportunities easier and better for our students and for individuals who want to enter those spaces.

Research aligns with workforce development, which aligns with investment opportunities and return on investment. We want students to leave with little to no debt, a degree in one hand, and a job in the other, ready to contribute to society.

How are Clinton College’s academic programs aligning with employer needs and student demand?

We are growing our academic and economic ecosystem because those areas are connected. Nursing and cybersecurity are two of our newest majors. This year, we graduated our first nursing students. Four years ago, we had 12 students in nursing. This year, we had 80, and we do not have a waitlist. We work with students to get them across the finish line.

Cybersecurity is growing as well, and we will graduate our first cybersecurity students next year. Students are interested in healthcare, cybersecurity, business, artificial intelligence, data science, and technology.

We are also looking at how data is communicated. It is not just about disaggregating data. It is about communicating data and using it to tell a story. We are looking to establish our first Center of Excellence, the Center for the Study of Data Communication. It will integrate English, data science, liberal arts, and STEM so students have a strong foundation as they enter the workforce.

We still have traditional programs such as history and biology, but we are finding that more students want applied research. We are beginning to integrate that into our majors and curriculum.

We are also introducing sports management this fall because of student interest and the professional sports teams in Charlotte. Students are also interested in health, social work, criminal justice, law enforcement, community engagement, and health sciences. We also do not want to abandon areas that have made Rock Hill strong, such as manufacturing sciences.

In fall 2026, we are launching our online MBA program, which means we are becoming a graduate degree-granting institution. We are looking to grow our graduate programs and support adult learners. Many of our students are coming back to college after getting their children through college or after other life responsibilities. We want to provide opportunities through online programming, adult accelerated degree programming, and flexible options that enhance who they are and where they are trying to go.

How will technology, including online and hybrid learning, shape Clinton College’s future?

We have to be in that space, and we have already begun that trajectory. We are investing in our ERP systems and campus technologies to ensure that online programming is seamless for students. We want students to be able to learn where they are.

Not everyone wants to come to campus, but we also understand that some students, especially adult learners, are not comfortable with technology. Some communities still face gaps in access to technology, internet, and other resources.

That is why hybrid models are helpful. A student may come to campus two days a week and work from home the other three days, or come to campus one day a week. A course may be eight weeks instead of the traditional 16 weeks. We can take small bites and chunks to help students reach their goals.

For students who are not technologically comfortable, we still have traditional classes where they can meet with professors every day. Our faculty meet students where they are, even if that means meeting them at the car to help them get into the classroom.

What should people understand about Clinton College’s role in the region?

We are no longer Rock Hill’s best-kept secret. As a small, private, religiously affiliated HBCU in South Rock Hill, part of my presidential engagement has been bringing attention to Clinton College.

People call us a hidden gem, but we do not need to be hidden anymore. We want the public to know who we are, what we are doing, and why it is a great investment not only in students, but also in the institution and this part of the community.

Institutions like Clinton College are important to South Carolina. Many college graduates stay where they graduate. Even if students come from Chicago, California, or across the state line, they often remain in the same area or community where their school was located. That means investing in Clinton College is also investing in Rock Hill, York County, South Carolina, and the Charlotte area.