Our students were quickly drawn to the courses he is teaching on Hip Hop and Black American music, and his dynamism in the classroom is sure to be a magnet for both programs alike.
Villaver has provided an infusion of good energy and joy to the Global Black Studies program. Kaifa Roland said Villaver’s impact has been evident in his first semester. Now, as a new faculty member, Villaver is actively establishing a fully equipped Hip Hop studio within the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, providing students with a dedicated space for training in music production. He is the son of Filipino immigrants who departed their homeland in pursuit of a better life in the United States, aiming to provide their children with an education in American academic institutions. The achievement made him the first in his family to obtain a Ph.D. Villaver arrived at Clemson University a week later. dissertation at Purdue University based on the independent production of a mixtape in August.
The last year has been a whirlwind for the new assistant professor of Global Black Studies and Audio Technology. Melvin Villaver is far from his roots in sunny Southern California, but he’s come to feel at home in Clemson.
