Dear colleagues,

It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Jill D. Friedman as Clark’s next Vice President of Marketing and Communications. As a key member of the leadership team, Jill will oversee Clark’s marketing and branding efforts and shape communications strategies that will expand and amplify the University’s standing as a premiere academic and research institution. Our news release, which will be distributed this afternoon, contains more information. Jill will start at Clark on September 15.

Jill’s deep experience and impressive accomplishments across her career, including most recently eight years as Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs at Washington University in St. Louis, speak to her abilities as an innovative and impactful leader. She appreciates all that Clark already has achieved, and I am excited by the leadership she will bring to building on Clark’s story in ways that connect and inspire a wide range of audiences and advance our educational mission.

Jill’s appointment follows a national search supported by Heyman Associates, an executive search firm specializing in marketing, communications, and public affairs leadership. I am grateful to the Heyman team and to the colleagues who were so diligent and thoughtful in assisting me in this search as members of the Search Advisory Group: Professor Karen Frey; Jeff Gillooly, Vice President of Advancement; Betsy Huang, Dean of the College; John LaBrie, Dean of Graduate Studies; Sheree Ohen, Chief Officer of Diversity and Inclusion; Professor Don Spratt; and Meredith Twombly, Vice President of Admissions and Financial Aid. The committee was chaired by Pete Mackey, our interim VP since March 2019. My thanks as well to the many staff, faculty, and trustees who participated in interviews and vetting our finalists.

Please join me in welcoming Jill to Clark.

Sincerely,

David Fithian

President