Clifton “Chip” Egan is dean emeritus of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities at Clemson University. He received his BA in theatre from Hanover College and his MFA in scenography from Northwestern University. Chip began his academic theatre career at Clemson University in 1976 eventually serving as chair of the department of performing arts for nine years during which time the Robert Howell Brooks Center for the Performing Arts was planned and constructed. He is a past president of the South Carolina Theatre Association and the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) and currently serves on the SETC Nominations Committee.

Chip is now a freelance director/actor/designer who works regularly at the Warehouse Theatre and Centre Stage in Greenville, SC. For Lean he has directed Other Desert Cities and Ripcord. He recently served as the Interim Director of the Clemson University Emeritus College as well as Interim Artistic Director of The Warehouse Theatre. He and his wife, Diane, have two married children and five grandchildren.