President Fithian: Clark’s building momentum makes it an ‘unstoppable force’

President David Fithian ’87 today invited faculty and staff to join him in ensuring that Clark University achieves its rightful place on the higher education landscape with ambitious goals, clear priorities, and shrewd and intentional strategies that strengthen Clark’s impact and amplify its distinction.

“In pursuing this bold path forward, we affirm an indisputable fact — that our institution matters, that we are all a part of something worthwhile and important, and that the world needs Clark,” President Fithian told faculty and staff in his second annual State of the University address, which was livestreamed from Tilton Hall.

President Fithian unveiled the strategic framework that will guide growth and change at Clark in a way that “harnesses all of our current strengths and distinctive character.” He walked the audience through the framework’s five elements, describing how strategies and initiatives will coalesce around institutional goals and priorities in the coming years.

While the framework provides both the foundation and fuel for Clark’s aspirational endeavors, “This effort is not about transforming Clark into something new,” he noted. “Quite the opposite. It is about preserving and promoting all that makes Clark so special and channeling it in new and even more impactful ways.”

In his address, President Fithian also reflected on the accomplishments of students, staff, and faculty during the past year, when COVID continued to alter the normal routines of the academic experience. Clarkies at every level displayed admirable resilience and a willingness to adapt to challenging circumstances, he said.

Fithian noted that Clark’s proactive efforts to shape its future are “building momentum that makes us not just an engine that could, but an unstoppable force that is destined to change our world for the better.”

Read the full text of the State of the University address »