Greetings,

I usually begin these updates with an overview of the progress we are making on Clarke’s strategic plan, but before I do so, I want to recognize the accomplishments of our students that have been celebrated since the last Campus Update.

On May 5, we hosted the annual Honors Banquet, at which students were recognized for academic excellence, their dedication to our core values, and other accomplishments.

Among these were many seniors, who we honored again on Saturday, May 13, as part of our Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies. Each of the 226 candidates for graduation has a unique story to tell, and here are five of them. Just click on the names to reveal those stories.

• Daija Bates, who majored in Business Administration, will be joining us for another year as a student in the MBA program.
• Anthony King, who majored in Psychology, will be pursuing a career in sport psychology.
• Meghan Smith, who earned a degree in Social Work while balancing work and family life, will stay at Clarke to pursue a master’s degree in Social Work.
• Danny Zanger, who earned a degree in Liberal Arts, will serve as a music composition instructor at Centrally Rooted, a local non-profit organization founded by Clarke alumna Callie (Mescher) Fitzgerald ’07.
• Giana Michels, who majored in Biology and Pre-Medicine and was a member of the Women’s Basketball National Championship Team, will continue to act upon the values she demonstrated as the recipient of the prestigious Francis J. O’Conner Award.

Congratulations to all our graduates, as well as to the faculty, staff, family and friends who supported them along the way!

Strategic Plan Progress

As we extend best wishes to our graduating seniors who are looking to their futures, Clarke University also looks toward the future by fine-tuning and implementing elements of our strategic plan. Here is an overview of recent progress: 

• Preparation for November’s Higher Learning Commission reaffirmation of accreditation continues, and employees have until June 9 to share their comments on the Assurance Argument. A final version will be ready for the Board’s review in September. 
• We held our final Academic Affairs forum for the academic year on May 8, allowing faculty and staff to share feedback and ideas before departing for the summer. 
• Steve Kapelke has been named the Vice President of Academic Affairs and continues to build out his team with the addition of a Lead Academic Advisor whose first day on the job was May 15.
• Discussions and assessments of physical spaces on campus continue as we prepare for a capital campaign that includes goals to renovate student housing, create a Student Success Center, and remodel the library, in order to positively impact student recruitment and retention.

During June, July, and August, I will share updates monthly rather than bi-weekly, in order to give us all a little vacation from our inboxes.



May these upcoming months of summer bring you joy.

Go Pride!

Fletch 

Interim President

Clarke University

www.clarke.edu