SCDNR Director Mullikin delivers commencement address at Coastal Carolina
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
Dr. Tom Mullikin, director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), delivered the commencement address to the gathered graduating students, friends, family, alumni, and faculty of Coastal Carolina University’s (CCU) College of Science and Honors College, Saturday, May 10.
Mullikin, a former CCU professor and renowned global expedition leader, encouraged graduates to heed their responsibilities to the world, the very “land beneath their feet,” and in service to their fellow man, shunning the “fear of failure,” and eschewing the chasing of titles. Instead becoming a “person of value” and purpose.
“Dr. Mullikin’s commencement speech was both inspiring and encouraging, easily one of the best commencement addresses we have ever had,” said Dr. Chad L. Leverette, dean of CCU’s Gupta College of Science. “Dr. Mullikin’s passion, knowledge, and experience really resonated with our graduates, faculty, and staff. We are so thankful he was able to join us.”
Dr. Mullikin’s commencement address follows:
“Graduates, today is more than a celebration of your accomplishments – it is a launchpad for the extraordinary impact you are destined to make. As you stand on the threshold of your future, I invite you to embrace your purpose, pursue excellence, and lead with courage.
“Dr. Maya Angelou once said, ‘My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.’ You have not only survived the rigors of your education—you have thrived. And now, as you turn the page to this next chapter, carry with you that same passion in your work, compassion for others, and the courage to shape a better, more just world.
“Albert Einstein reminded us, ‘Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.’ And what does it mean to be of value? It means committing to a life of learning, of service, and of contribution to the greater good.
“The world doesn’t need more people chasing titles—it needs those who will uplift, who will inspire, and who will dare to challenge what is for what could be. It’s no longer enough to be aspirational—we must now be operational.
“And yes, challenges will come. But when they do, remember Nelson Mandela’s words: ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done.’ Look at what you’ve already accomplished. You have overcome adversity, adapted, and endured—and that same resilience will carry you forward through any obstacle.
“You stand here today armed not just with knowledge, but with passion and power—the power to make a difference. And as we look to that future, I ask you to consider a deeper truth: the land beneath your feet is more than just soil and stone. It is life itself.
“It sustains our communities, feeds our families, and shelters the biodiversity that keeps our planet alive. And yet, that land is under threat—from deforestation, from pollution, from neglect. The question is not whether we can afford to protect it—but whether we can afford not to.
“Science must guide us now. As Einstein said, ‘Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.’ We must use our understanding to restore what has been damaged, protect what remains, and preserve what matters—for ourselves and for those who come after us.
“Conservation is not a luxury – it is a responsibility. The decisions we make today will define the landscapes of tomorrow. Will we allow unchecked development and environmental degradation to write our legacy? Or will we rise to the challenge, and use science, innovation, and heart to chart a more sustainable path?
“Jane Goodall reminds us, ‘What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.’ And graduates, you are difference-makers. Whether you become scientists, policymakers, educators, or advocates – you are all stewards of the land, and of our shared future.
“The solutions are already within reach—sustainable agriculture, responsible development, reforestation, and policies rooted in science rather than short-term gain. We must listen to the land, honor its limits, and work with nature—not against it.
“When doubt creeps in—and it will—remember Wangari Maathai’s wisdom: ‘It’s the little things citizens do.’ That’s what will make the difference. My ‘little thing’ is planting trees. Your ‘little thing’ might be research. Or writing. Or organizing. Or teaching. Whatever it is, your part matters. And when joined together, those little things become a movement.
“I want to leave you with the words of one of my personal heroes, conservationist and former president Theodore Roosevelt. He said: ‘Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.’
“Graduates, dare mighty things. Do not fear failure—it is not your setbacks that define you, but your willingness to rise again. The world needs doers, dreamers, and difference-makers. It needs you.
“And when the road is uncertain, when the steps feel heavy, remember Roosevelt’s charge: ‘Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” You don’t have to wait for the perfect moment, the perfect job, or the perfect plan. Start now. Start here. Start with what you know, what you care about, and what you can change.
“Today, you leave this university not just with a degree, but with a responsibility. A responsibility to lead with integrity, to innovate with purpose, to challenge injustice, to build a future where people and planet thrive together.
“So go forward boldly. Let your purpose be your compass. Let science be your guide. And let compassion fuel your path.
“Congratulations, Class of 2025. The world is waiting for you—and the Earth is counting on you.”
– Dr. Mullikin, director of SCDNR, served as a U.S. Army JAG officer and is a retired commanding general of the S.C. State Guard. Aside from professorships at CCU, the University of South Carolina, the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in the Galapagos, and other institutions of higher learning; his most recent post has been that of chair of the gubernatorially established S.C. Floodwater Commission. Among his many awards, honors, and decorations, Mullikin is a recipient of the ORDER OF THE PALMETTO, South Carolina’s highest award presented by the governor.