Thomas P. Clement, Inventor and Entrepreneur

Thomas Clement, a Korean-born adoptee who came to the United States and built a career as a distinguished inventor, author, and philanthropist, is part of a Howard Community College adoptee community that finds joy in their shared experiences and close-knit relationships.  

Alongside his wife and acclaimed artist, Wonsook Kim, Clement became a historic donor to the college in August 2024, donating $2.5 million to HCC’s Engineering program and student scholarships. It is the single largest donation in the college’s history and will support equipment upgrades and resources to build public and private partnerships in HCC’s interdisciplinary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming. 

Clement credited his relationship with several Korean adoptees who work on campus and their support of the college as the catalysts for his giving., “I was pleased to know they all work at Howard, and that created an initial level of security and understanding,” he said. 

Clement is personally invested in adoptees' connections and identities. He has helped facilitate DNA testing to help adoptee immigrants across the United States access their family histories and add information to Korean registries. “The Korean adoptee community is worldwide, and we share a certain bond through similar early experiences like orphanage and abandonment,” Clement stated. 

Clement says that community colleges' culture of inclusivity bodes well for diverse stakeholders and credits his experience at a community college with his entrepreneurial success, “I would’ve never gotten where I am if it were not for community college, and that’s why we have the honor of supporting HCC,” said Clement. “It means a lot to me. Thank you for that honor.”

In November 2024, the college named its science, engineering and technology building in Clement’s honor. The newly-named Thomas P. Clement Hall houses programs in life and physical sciences, engineering, technology, and cybersecurity.