Jim Warren Named Honorary Alumnus by Clemson Alumni Association

The Clemson Alumni Association recently honored founder and president of College Connections, LLC, Jim Warren, with the designation of Honorary Alumnus of Clemson University. The distinction of Honorary Alumnus is a special recognition intended for steadfast Tiger supporters whose “blood runs orange” but who never attended Clemson.

“The Clemson family is real.  It’s not just something that’s talked about as a branding effort for marketing purposes. I know this based on numerous personal experiences over the past 28 years with hundreds of local alumni, parents, and students, as well as folks on campus including the president, administration, faculty and staff. I’m blessed to count Clemson people as friends, advisors, mentors, helpers, and prayer warriors. And Clemson people are just plain fun. I am truly humbled, honored, and thrilled to now be formally adopted into this special family. Joe Sherman had it right, there is “something in [those] hills where the Blue Ridge yawns its greatness.”

Warren graduated magna cum laude from Duke University in 1979, with distinction in Economics. In 1982, Jim received a juris doctor degree with honors from the National Law Center at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He began his legal career in 1982 as an associate in the seven-office, 200 attorney international firm of Pettit & Martin (now DLA Piper), where he practiced in the area of government contract counseling and litigation. After just six years as an associate, he was elected to a full equity partnership. In 1992, Jim decided to leave the full-time practice of law to start College Connections, Inc. (CCI).

“I graduated from Duke at 2pm on May 6,1979.  I “graduated” from Clemson at 1pm on May 6, 2020 – 41 years to the day and almost exact hour after Duke!”

Warren, along with College Connections, Inc., manages the day-to-day operations of the Baltimore/DC Clemson Club helping to keep Clemson Alumni in the area engaged and connected to Clemson University.

The Honorary Alumnus designation was presented to Warren during a CU at Home Zoom meeting held by the Baltimore/DC Clemson Club. Clemson Alumni Association Executive Director, Wil Brasington, and various staff and club members joined the meeting to congratulate Warren on this honor.

Honorary alumni are selected by the Alumni Association Honors and Awards Committee on the basis of outstanding service, lifelong devotion and loyalty to Clemson University or the Clemson Alumni Association. Nominations for 2021 Honorary Alumni will open in October. To nominate a deserving person, to review past honorees or to view the award guidelines, visit the Clemson Alumni website at alumni.clemson.edu/awards-and-honors/honorary-alumni.