A tragic turn of events unfolded for a Tennessee college community as Columbia State Community College's art professor, Clifford Gordon, was pronounced dead after being swept away by a large wave during a study-abroad trip in Brazil; he was accompanying a group of 12 students from various Tennessee colleges on the excursion. According to The Tennessean, Brazilian authorities confirmed the recovery of Gordon's body on Monday morning following a search initiated last Thursday when the incident occurred.
The group, consisting of students from Columbia State, Pellissippi State, Walters State, and Southwest Tennessee Community College, was in Paraty, Brazil, when the accident took place; three students were also hit by the wave but survived, one received treatment on the scene while two others were briefly hospitalized and released, experiencing a terrifying brush with nature's unpredictable force but they went on to continue their journey back home from Rio de Janeiro. "We were heartbroken to hear of this tragic accident,” Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State Community College president, expressed in a statement obtained by WBIR.
Gordon, who began his tenure at Columbia State in 2008 as an adjunct professor, was respected and admired for his talent and dedication to art and education; he held an Associate of Science degree, a Bachelor of Science degree, and a Master of Fine Art degree, with a career marked by numerous exhibitions and contributions to the college's Humanities and Social Sciences division. Additionally, Gordon's affinity for Brazil was not only professional but also personal, as he self-taught Portuguese and frequently visited the country, Fox17 highlighted in their coverage of this tragic event.
