Dr. Mark Wahlers and Dr. Darcy Rourk Join Clark as Interim Vice Presidents

Winter Welcome Week kicked off on Monday, January 6 with a misty, then sunny first day of winter term. Thanks to the helpful volunteers who staffed the information tables inside buildings all around campus and answered students’ questions. Assisting students at the beginning of each term would not be possible without so many staff and faculty volunteering their time to help Clark students.

Just as in fall term, parking lots were crowded as thousands of students returned to classrooms and labs across the main campus, the Clark College Building at Washington State University Vancouver, and Clark’s Columbia Tech Center after winter break.

January 6 also marked the first day for two new interim vice presidents at Clark:

• Dr. Mark Wahlers, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs
• Dr. Darcy Rourk, Interim Vice President of Human Resources

Both Dr. Wahlers and Dr. Rourk are expected to serve through the academic year. Searches for the permanent vice presidents will begin in late January or early February.

Dr. Mark Wahlers, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs

In an email to faculty and staff, Dr. Karin Edwards introduced the new interim vice president of Student Affairs: “We were fortunate to work with The Registry in identifying strong candidates for the interim Vice President of Student Affairs. After careful consideration, we selected Dr. Mark Wahlers. Dr. Wahlers brings extensive experience in higher education and a deep understanding of student and academic affairs. Additionally, as a resident of our area, he is familiar with Clark College and the Clark County community.”

Dr. Mark Wahlers has worked for more than 40 years in higher education leadership. During his 25 years at Concordia University in Portland, he served as provost for 16 years as well as provost at Concordia’s Japan campus in Tokyo, and vice president of student affairs and enrollment management.

Previously, he spent 12 years in leadership roles at Concordia University in Austin, Texas, including dean of students, dean of institutional services and almost 3 years as chief administrative officer at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York. Before pursuing administrative roles, he was professor of English Rhetoric and Literature at Concordia University in Austin for 7 years. He also served as principal at the Lutheran Language Institute in Tokyo.

Dr. Wahlers holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Concordia University Nebraska, a master’s degree in education from Portland State University, and a doctoral degree in education/curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Darcy Rourk, Interim Vice President of Human Resources

Dr. Edwards wrote: “Darcy Rourk, former Vice President of Human Resources at Clark College, has graciously agreed to serve in the role. Her expertise and familiarity with the college and our community make her an excellent choice for this role.”

Dr. Rourk worked intermittently at Clark College between 2009 and 2021.

Her career in education spans five decades. Her roles in K-12 education range from teacher, principal, curriculum director, district assistant superintendent, and district superintendent. Next, Dr. Rourk worked at Northwest Regional Education Service District, Oregon’s largest ESD, first as chief personnel officer and then as assistant superintendent.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in curriculum instruction, and a doctoral degree in educational administration, all from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.

Dr. Edwards added, “Please join me in welcoming Dr. Wahlers and Dr. Rourk to their interim roles. I am confident that their leadership and expertise will be valuable as we continue our efforts to support our students, staff, and faculty.”