When Dr. William Downs begins his tenure as Campbell University’s sixth president on July 1, he will be joined by a familiar face on his cabinet. Dean Clark, who served as vice president for enrollment at Gardner-Webb University during Downs’ recent tenure there as president, has been named the new vice president for enrollment management at Campbell University.
Clark will succeed David Mee and will be charged with leading efforts to increase student enrollment and improve retention at Campbell. Freshman and transfer enrollment have seen gains over the last two years at Campbell, reversing a trend felt by schools across the country brought on by the pandemic and a dwindling overall student population.
“Dean Clark brings decades of experience along with an infusion of fresh energy to the hugely important enterprise of new student recruitment at Campbell,” Downs said. “I’ve seen his work firsthand … he will be innovative, he will be relentless, and he will lead a staff that understands how to set — and then exceed — ambitious goals.
“I’m delighted that Dean Clark is one of the very first additions to Campbell’s leadership team as we begin this new chapter, and I’m eager to see the impact he will make on our institution and on our community.”
Clark brings over 20 years of progressive enrollment management experience at three private faith-based schools to his new role at Campbell. Under his leadership, Gardner-Webb saw a 6.6-percent increase in enrollment of first-time freshman and transfer students last fall.
Prior to joining Downs in Boiling Springs in 2022, Clark was executive vice president at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, for six years after serving a year as vice president for enrollment. He served in a similar capacity at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, from 2008-2015.
Clark called coming to Campbell “a true privilege” and said he has admired the University’s “commitment to academic excellence, faith and service.”
“I’m excited to work alongside such dedicated faculty, staff and students. I look forward to building on the University’s strong enrollment foundation and helping even more students discover the life-changing opportunities Campbell has to offer,” Clark said. “It’s also an honor to continue working with President Dr. William Downs, whose leadership and vision for Christian higher education has continued to shape and inspire my work in this field.”
Clark has a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from Carthage College and a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University in Chicago. His interests are spending time with family, watching the White Sox and Bears and hiking.