Dr. Mary K. Clark set to retire as assistant dean for student affairs
On Friday, March 25, 2022, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Dean Brian Cummings formally announced the retirement of Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Mary K. Clark, PhD, from Wayne State University. Her last day in the office will be Thursday, May 19, 2022.
"For more than 15 years, Dr. Clark has served WSU Applebaum with compassion and expertise. Her focus on the whole student has been second-to-none," Cummings said.
In addition to managing the full scope of student services, including recruitment, admissions, advising, disciplinary oversight and graduation certification, Dr. Clark has been on the front lines of WSU Applebaum students' concerns and issues around the clock, helping find creative solutions with both urgency and confidentiality.
A licensed professional counselor, Dr. Clark has prioritized students' mental health and success beyond academics. While the majority of her work happens behind the scenes, during her tenure the college has benefited from the addition of an on-site CAPS counselor and financial aid counselor, as well as a dedicated prayer and meditation room and a private lactation room. She also spearheaded the creation and administration of an emergency fund for pharmacy and health sciences students at the onset of the pandemic to meet needs like rent and food security.
Clark brought metro Detroit middle schoolers into WSU Applebaum classrooms through the Community Apple Days program, which she conceived in 2013 and was instrumental in leading annually. She also partnered with the Wayne State C2 Pipeline program, which allowed the college to showcase its programs and health professions to young people, inspiring them to see a health care career in their future, perhaps for the first time.
An alumna of the Wayne State College of Education, Dr. Clark has served the university as a member of the Campus Climate Study Committee, Age-Friendly University Steering Committee, and Black Faculty and Staff Association.
"Over the years, Dr. Clark has selected, trained and empowered a highly competent and hardworking team of 10 student affairs professionals who will continue to represent the impact of her exceptional leadership long after her retirement," Cummings said. "I am confident that the strength and dedication of this student affairs team will provide continuity of service for our students, and that Dr. Clark will take every opportunity to prepare her team and our college for her departure."
An interim assistant dean for student affairs will be announced in the near future.
An anchor in urban health care
The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is built on more than 100 years of tradition and innovation in the heart of Detroit. We have grown deep roots in our city, harnessing its powerhouse hospital systems and community service organizations as vibrant, real-world training grounds for students, with an ongoing focus on social justice in health care. And our research at all levels - from undergraduates to veteran faculty members - translates into creative solutions for healthier communities.
Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 26,000 students.