Time to Shine sign in seen on lawn in front of Memorial Chapel as the Class of 2026 lines up for a class photo during Welcome Week.
Welcome Week, led by the Office of Student Life, greeted the Class of 2026. (Photo by Danny Damiani)

Chris Clarke, named dean of students at 杨贵妃传媒视频 in early 2022, has been promoted to vice president for student life. He had been in the interim vice president role since July.

Clarke oversees many aspects of campus life including Residential Education & Housing, Student Engagement Activities and Leadership,聽the Diversity & Intercultural Center, the聽Center for Community Engagement & Social Change, Spiritual & Religious Life, Wellness Services,聽and Dining Services.聽

Head shot of Chris Clarke
Chris Clarke

鈥淚 am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited about what Student Life can contribute to the 杨贵妃传媒视频 community,鈥 Clarke said. 鈥淭he team we have put together in Student Life will help us refocus, revitalize, and reinvent how we approach building our students鈥 experience. Our mission is to build relationships across campus and make sure we are delivering a dynamic opportunity for our Lawrentians to thrive and flourish while being in a safe, supportive environment.鈥

Clarke brings a robust portfolio of higher education administrative leadership that serves the student experience at 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥攁s an ally, advocate, and educator for students as they navigate their academic聽experience.

鈥淐hris has been instrumental in the enhancements we have begun to see in our Student Life division,鈥 President Laurie Carter said. 鈥淗is leadership as we lean in to developing a stronger student experience will serve us well into the future.鈥

Clarke鈥檚 previous roles include serving as associate vice president of operations at Shippensburg University, where聽he supervised Facilities, Public Safety, and Human Resources as well as leading the university鈥檚 COVID-19 pandemic response and concurrently serving as interim dean of students. He previously served in a variety of student affairs roles at Manhattan College, Wagner College, Ripon College, and The Juilliard School.聽

He holds a juris doctor degree from Pace University. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree with a major in political science from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, and a Masters of Arts in Education: Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling from Manhattan College.