Clemson Alumni Skip and Mitzi Gardiner Support Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development with $1 Million Unrestricted Gift

Skip and Mitzi Gardiner have a clear vision for education — one rooted in humility, hard work and hands-on learning. Longtime Clemson supporters and proud alumni, the Gardiners recently committed a $1 million gift to the Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development (NCRED) at Clemson University. Their generous contribution, known as the Francis and Mitzi Gardiner Fund for Construction and Real Estate Development, reflects a steadfast devotion to the growth of construction education at Clemson and ensures that future students will benefit from enhanced resources and educational experiences.

A 1989 graduate of Clemson’s Construction Science and Management (CSM) program, Skip Gardiner is the president of Patuxent Companies, based in Annapolis, Maryland, where he and Mitzi are prominent supporters of Clemson and members of the Baltimore Washington Clemson Club. Skip grew up in Annapolis but made the journey down to Clemson to pursue civil engineering before discovering his passion for being in a more hands-on environment. Once making the transition into CSM, he knew he had found his academic home. Skip, whose father and grandfather were both contractors, returned to Annapolis after graduation and put his education and experience to use, launching a construction materials supply company.

Mitzi’s connection to our beloved University runs deep, rooted in childhood memories of attending Clemson Football games with her father. Originally from Lancaster, South Carolina, she knew Tigertown was the place she wanted to receive her education. This love for Clemson grew stronger during her college career, where she earned an accounting degree in 1991 and met Skip through mutual friends. After graduation, Mitzi became a CPA working for NationsBank in Baltimore before transitioning into tutoring math and accounting — a passion for education and mentorship that has lasted over two decades. She and Skip have two children, Sam and Sarah, who have pursued their own successful paths. Sam, an Ole Miss graduate, now works with his father in Patuxent Companies, carrying on the Gardiner tradition of family-run businesses. Sarah, an accomplished University of Georgia alumna, has an established career in public relations at Jackson Spalding in Atlanta.

Despite the distance from Annapolis to Clemson, the family’s bond with the University remains strong. The Gardiners regularly return for home games, enjoying opportunities to reconnect with college friends and admire the progress of campus development projects. Skip and Mitzi are dedicated members of Clemson University’s 1889 Vision Society, demonstrating a lasting loyalty through their philanthropic contributions to both the Clemson University Foundation and IPTAY. The Gardiners’ gift is an investment in the future of Clemson’s construction education and a tribute to Skip’s enduring connection to the program that launched his successful career.

Housed within the newly established College of Architecture, Art and Construction (CAAC), Clemson’s Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development (NCRED) is a distinguished leader in the field, offering a comprehensive educational experience that has resulted in a 100 percent job placement rate for CSM graduates. The Gardiners are dedicated to supporting the department’s mission and providing meaningful student opportunities.

On a visit to his Alma Mater’s NCRED department, Skip realized a need that the Gardiners were happy to meet. “Their [the University] next goal was to have a facility to work in if it rains, where you can still learn. Mitzi’s very passionate about helping kids — high school and college kids, from being a math and accounting tutor — so we wanted to find a way we could aid students to learn something worthwhile in a hands-on setting instead of out of a book.” Skip advises prospective and current students of the program to “take as much advantage as you can of any internships where you get the opportunity to get real work experience and interaction with people in the field in the construction world — so much success relies on being able to communicate well across teams and subs — and you need to get out of the office and classroom to learn how to do that well.”

With the Gardiners’ unrestricted donation, the hope is to expand the XL Yard facilities and create more experiential learning opportunities for students at the XL Yard. By working on real projects in a controlled setting, students not only enhance their technical proficiency but also cultivate teamwork, problem-solving and leadership abilities. This expansion will be transformative for students exploring a dynamic career in construction sciences.

“We are so thankful to Mitzi and Skip for this gift and promise to be good stewards as these new resources help to secure Clemson’s construction and real estate development department among the best in the country,” noted N. Mike Jackson, Ph.D., P.E., Professor and immediate past Nieri Department Chair.

The department’s Experiential Learning Yard (or “XL Yard”), a three-acre outdoor laboratory at the Clemson University Ravenel Research Center, enables students to engage in hands-on construction projects, giving them valuable experience in building full-scale structures. The XL Yard bridges the gap between classroom instruction and real-world application, enabling students to develop critical skills that are directly transferable to their future careers.

Skip and Mitzi’s recent gift follows a period of growth for the Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development. Since 2022, the department has added a Ph.D. program in CSM, offering a path for students from undergraduate studies through to a terminal degree. Additionally, the Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) program, now part of the Nieri Department, provides advanced training in construction, finance, law and hands-on learning. The MRED program, based at Clemson’s Greenville ONE facility, equips students with practical skills and real-world experience, including internships and field studies. Students benefit from close connections to industry professionals, networking opportunities and an emphasis on hands-on learning. In October 2024, the department also held its ninth Annual Construction Symposium, bringing together students and professionals to discuss innovative risk management approaches in the construction industry. This event will further propel students toward success as they experience firsthand knowledge from industry experts.

Reflecting on the Gardiners’ impact, interim Nieri Department Chair Dhaval Gajjar, Ph.D., expressed his gratitude, “I would like to wholeheartedly thank Skip and Mitzi for their generous support of our department. Their $1 million gift will help us continue to fulfill the department’s mission of producing the brightest leaders for the construction industry. Their gift will create a lasting impact as it paves the way for the department to expand the facilities at the XL Yard and provide additional hands-on experiential learning opportunities for our exceptional students.”

With this gift, Skip and Mitzi Gardiner have made a significant contribution to the future of Clemson’s CSM program, reinforcing its reputation as a premier institution for construction education. The Gardiners hope their investment inspires others to support Clemson’s mission, demonstrating that every contribution of time, talent, and resources strengthens the University and enhances opportunities for its students.