Clifton Harcum

Clifton Harvey Harcum Sr. is an author, adjunct professor, motivational speaker, social entrepreneur and community organizer. Mr. Harcum has more than 10-years’ experience as a higher education administrator, including service as an academic affairs, student affairs, and retention officer. Throughout his tenure at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore he has served as a peer-reviewed presenter at over a dozen collegiate conferences nationally on student engagement and best practices in student retention. In 2013 he founded the male initiative, Men Achieving Dreams through Education (MADE) which has engaged thousands of male students in life skills and leadership development. In 2015 MADE was featured in the “Maryland-DC Campus Compact” as a national collegiate model program worthy of replication.

Mr. Harcum is also an experienced mentor, academic and life skills coach with an interest in engaging and assisting first generation college students. He has traveled the country providing his expertise to faculty, staff and administration on effective strategies to coordinate, administer, and supervise efficacious collegiate and youth student success programs, initiatives, and activities. Career highlights include serving as a panelist at the 44th Annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative conference, invited to attend the White House “My Brother’s Keeper Initiative” stakeholders meeting in 2016, and serving as a contributor for the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s (MHEC) Maryland State Plan for Postsecondary Education.

In 2013 Mr. Harcum was bestowed the honor of receiving the Jefferson Award and was nominated for the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award, prestigious national awards which honor the most outstanding achievements in public service. He is a member of the Rotary Club, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Groove Phi Groove S.F.I., Prince Hall Masons, and many other civic minded organizations. He has received training from the Dale Carnegie Course, Fred Pryor Seminars, Toastmasters International and is a graduate of the Rotary Leadership Institute.

Mr. Harcum received his B.A. degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, earned his M.S. in Nonprofit and Association Management from the University of Maryland University College and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Organizational leadership from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.