Dr. Jessica "Jess" Clark is an accomplished leader in higher education, celebrated for her innovative approaches and commitment to fostering inclusive learning environments. With a distinguished career spanning more than two decades, Dr. Clark has held progressive leadership positions across four states, where her academic pursuits in history, higher education administration, ethnic and gender studies, oral histories, memory studies, and higher education leadership have profoundly impacted the communities she has served.
Dr. Clark's recent transition to a self-employed Executive Educational Strategist marks a significant milestone in her career. In this role, she continues to leverage her extensive experience to offer strategic guidance and project planning for community colleges. Her focus remains on enhancing educational strategies and curriculum development, ensuring that educational programs align with local industry needs to foster community engagement and program effectiveness.
Previously, as Vice President of Instruction at Walla Walla Community College (WWCC), Dr. Clark oversaw a substantial budget exceeding $16 million. Her leadership was instrumental in managing instructional offerings, support services, faculty negotiations, and supervising the leadership of statewide programming, including the Agriculture and Natural Resource Center of Excellence. Additionally, as the Accreditation Liaison Officer, she played a pivotal role in overseeing institutional accreditation. Her tenure at WWCC also saw her supervising Technology Services and the Clarkston Campus during critical transitional periods.
Before her impactful role at WWCC, Dr. Clark served as Vice President for Learning and Student Services at Northland Pioneer College (NPC). In this capacity, she managed a $17 million budget and led a diverse team of academic deans, student services directors, and marketing professionals, overseeing student learning, distance education, library services, financial aid, advising, and more.
Her leadership extended beyond the confines of her institutions, contributing significantly to state-level organizations and committees focused on technology advisory, corrections education, women in leadership, and law enforcement training facilities. Dr. Clark's willingness to serve in leadership capacities on these committees, including chairing the Corrections Education Committee in Washington and the Northern Arizona Training Center Committee in Arizona, showcases her dedication to educational advancement.
Dr. Clark's academic credentials include a Post-Doctoral Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Wyoming, a Doctor of Philosophy in History from North Dakota State University, and a Master of Arts in History from the same institution. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education: History from Central Washington University.
As a first-generation college student, Dr. Clark's passion for removing barriers to educational access and supporting individuals on their paths to success resonates deeply with her personal and professional ethos. She is not only a role model to her two daughters but also cherishes the support and encouragement of her husband, Dr. Will Clark, an evolutionary ecologist specializing in fisheries biology.
Dr. Clark's journey reflects a life dedicated to educational leadership, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her #ilovemylife hashtag not only captures her enthusiasm for her work but also her commitment to leadership development, women in leadership, leading by example, and being a change agent in the dynamic field of higher education.