Freddy Clements is a Drama professor originally from Colonial Heights, Virginia. Though he wears many hats, most of the time, he introduces himself as the faculty Costume Designer. His hobbies include gardening, camping with his husband, and learning more about new costume technology/construction techniques. He also was the first in the U.S. to teach an Advanced Make-Up class at the University level.

When he began college, Clements’ original ambitions were not to be a teacher, but, rather, an actor; he wanted to be an acting/voice performance major. His plan was to use his costuming skills (many of which he learned from his grandmother) to work in assistant costume design positions so that he could make it financially as an actor. However, he found that he was passionate about costuming as well.

“As I began to realize that I had a true bent for costume design and technology, I followed the curve in the road and took that direction in Graduate School,” Clements explained. The desire to teach came naturally to him in this line of work. He said a producer that once wrote a reference for him mentioned how he could often be found teaching his stitchers new techniques and ideas in the costume shop.

One of Clements’ own teachers inspired him to pursue education. “I had an awesome teacher that taught me how to learn and how exciting learning is,” he recalled. “That is something that I hope that I have been able to pass on to my students over the years.”

Though he enjoys all of his classes and claims he cannot choose a favorite, Clements has a special place in his heart for Advanced Make-Up—a course that he helped pioneer.

“I enjoy the Advanced Make-Up class because I enjoy seeing students learn about the new and advanced technology that is used in the field,” he said. “It’s a subject taught everywhere now, but it’s kind of fun knowing that I developed and taught the first one.”

Clements’ career has brought him many exciting experiences over the years, such as putting thousand-dollar costumes on stage in front of crowds of people, or recognizing all of the professionals speaking at a Dragon-Con panel as former students. He says that he is a lucky man to have had these opportunities.

For many years, Clements has been working on a construction manual for tailoring an authentic Scottish kilt. “I recently discovered a technique

that varies from the norm but works much better for men like myself with a less youthful physique,” he shared. He has also recently been working with rigid foam casting and looks forward to exploring the various applications for which it may be used in props and costume construction.

What Mr. Clements enjoys about working at JSU is its unofficial title of “Friendliest Campus in the South.” “I think that when our faculty are the friendliest faculty in the South, that friendliness passes on through the students and embodies the university,” he stated.

Clements implores students to follow their passions. “Work hard to find the balance between excellence in your career path and your family and friends,” he advised. “Smile at your coworkers every day; that smile just may be the one thing they need at that moment. The rest of the day will follow. And on your worst days, remind yourself that a plane has not flown into your office window.”