2023 State of the College Address

Clark College President, Dr. Karin Edwards, delivered the annual State of the College address Thursday, January 19, 2023. This annual address is an opportunity for college students, faculty, and staff, as well as members of the community and local leaders, to learn about the organization’s ongoing evolution.

This year’s address built upon last year’s theme of becoming, and focused on the change occurring at Clark. 

President Edwards shared that last year the college “…embarked on a journey of rethinking and redesigning.” She continued, “Though this process is still evolving, there are some things we are sure of, that equity, excellence, and student success are foundational.”

She went on to share some of the successes the college has experienced during the last 12 months. The college exceeded Full Time Equivalent (FTE) enrollment targets for the Fall 2022 and Winter 2023 terms by 159 and 134, respectively. These numbers signal a stabilization in enrollment after several years of decline accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Attendees to the address also had the opportunity to hear from two student speakers. ASCC President Casey Figone spoke about the endurance of Clark College students. He highlighted the ability of the student body to continue their many paths through a period of much change. 

“When you hear the word endurance, I would like to ask you to think of the students at Clark College and their unparalleled drive. But beyond that, I would like you to think of yourselves. Without the amazing faculty and staff at Clark College, there would be no beacon for the students; you are the soul of the beacon that makes Clark College consistent through every obstacle,” shared Figone.

Fellow student Imani O’Neill is in her first year of the McClaskey Culinary Institute’s Cuisine Management program. She stated that the reasonable cost of Clark classes and the resources available to students were part of the reason “Clark has been an ideal choice for my college education.”  With students like Figone and O’Neill, the college looks to the future as it embraces change.

This year will bring the completion of the 2023–2028 equity-centered strategic plan. With a commitment to implementing this plan and focusing on closing equity gaps, Dr. Edwards reminded the audience that the plan will “…provide support for equity and access…” at Clark College and also serve as a “…needed roadmap for our future.”

To view photos from the event visit our Flickr page.

To view the entire speech visit our YouTube page.

Photography: Jenny Shadley/Clark College
Videography: Joey Hicklin/Clark College