Camilla Pitman Named 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner
Posted on: November 1, 2023
Tigerville, SC (Nov. 1, 2023) Camilla Pitman (’83) was named North Greenville University’s 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award winner last week during NGU’s homecoming celebration.
With nearly three decades of experience in local government, Pitman has been serving the City of Greenville since 1995. Beginning as the Legal Office Coordinator for the City Attorney’s Office, Pitman took over as City Clerk in 2007. Pitman served as President of the NGU Alumni Association from 2013-2015. She also serves on the university’s Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund (CMSF) Board of Directors.
“Camilla is a shining example of what it means to be a transformational leader in the community,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “Her years of dedicated service in the Upstate have made an impact here in Tigerville and beyond.”
During her career, Pitman has served the International Institute of Municipal Clerks in various roles, including representing Region III on its Board of Directors. She received the IIMC Program Excellence in Governance Award for innovative customer service in 2014 and was named as an Athenian Fellow and Dialogue Facilitator for the Athenian Leadership Society in 2017. Pitman currently serves as a mentor for IIMC members interested in becoming Dialogue Facilitators.
“It’s nice to receive recognition,” Pitman said. “Awards like this mean a lot to me, but I am grateful for the journey and the people I’ve served with along the way. I just look for the doors that God opens. I try to live my life doing what he wants me to do and not what I want to do.”
Pitman attended North Greenville when it was a two-year college, focusing on music and ministry. She was involved in Baptist Student Union, Concert Band, and the Etude Music Society. She also participated in deputation teams that traveled throughout the Carolinas and Georgia, serving as a pianist and soloist.
Her interest in city government began while working for temp agencies as a college student. She filled in as a receptionist for one day for a local law firm, and they offered her the job before she left that day.
“There have been so many times where God put me in a certain place at a certain time to do something meaningful,” Pitman said. “It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve tried to take the pen out of his hands and write my own story. God has had a plan.”
Her career has opened many doors, and Pitman has tried to view it all through the lens of a ministry.
“I’ve been able to pray over mayors and governors. I’ve been able to use my musical gifts to serve others. I don’t know why God has used me in so many ways, but it has been such a blessing,” she said. “Your mission field doesn’t always have to be within the boundaries of a church. My mission field is my profession.”
Pitman said she wants to continue to use her knowledge to mentor others.
“The major areas of focus in my professional life have been networking, engaging with others, mentoring, and serving,” she said. “I don’t think we do enough to train and develop future leaders. We don’t teach them to get to know one another and get involved with the things that are going on around them. Those are the things that have been valuable to me and I want to help others in any way I can.”
