Harter retiring as Panther adviser, Claflin journalism instructor

Lee Harter poses with Claflin President Dwaun Warmack after a news conference the president held with Panther reporters on April 16, 2026.

Panther student newspaper adviser and Journalist-in-Residence Lee Harter is retiring after 26 years at Claflin University.

He issued the following statement:

“In fall 2000, I began teaching a reporting course in the fledgling mass communications program at Claflin.

“The experience began a career paralleling and complementing my position as editor of The Times and Democrat, a post I held for 43 years from 1981-2014.

“My Claflin role expanded to teaching a second reporting course, media law, feature writing and today’s multimedia reporting. Along the way, I was named journalist-in-residence at the university.

“Claflin is and has been a key part of my journalism career spanning 50 years. I will always be grateful for the university extending my teaching opportunities beyond the newsroom and into the classroom.

“I hope to forever be a part of Claflin as the university will always be a part of me. I am very proud of what has been accomplished.

“Some highlights:

• “Students moving into notable and high-profile careers in journalism and other fields after having experienced in-the-field journalism as part of their Claflin education. I continue to communicate with many of them.
• “A Claflin student being named South Carolina Collegiate Journalist of the Year for eight of 12 years from 2014-25, with 2026 Panther Editor Alexis Wilson winning the award for 2025. The unprecedented run is testament to the quality of students having completed the mass communications program.
• “The Panther winning dozens of awards from the South Carolina Press Association and other organizations for reporting, photojournalism and general excellence. The Panther earned the top two honors in the SCPA contest for 2025: general excellence and journalist of the year.
• “The SCPA’s major collegiate award in 2024 being renamed in my honor: the Lee Harter Collegiate Journalist of the Year.

“I plan to remain connected with the mass communications program and Claflin via contact with students and colleagues. I may not be a Claflin graduate, but I forever will be a Claflinite.”