The Clark Scholars Program brings together exceptional engineers, scholars, and leaders from leading engineering institutions. With its permanent home at Maryland Engineering, the network fosters connection and collaboration among its members, ensuring a strong and enduring community.
a group of Clark Scholars pose for a group photo on a set of large steps outside
About the Clark Scholars Program Network
Ensuring Student Success Continues
Launched in 2023, Clark Scholars Program Network will maintain the Foundation’s successful Clark Scholars Program and evolve to meet future students’ emerging needs and success by enabling the continuation of the program community in perpetuity; establishing the infrastructure to lead and guide the program across its 11 partner universities; and having network team members collect, analyze, document, and disseminate data from across the network to bring about more effective student recruiting and success.
By facilitating opportunities to convene and discuss best practices and new ideas, the network will also foster more community between scholars, alums, leadership, staff, and partner institutions. The network will additionally establish a strong alum network as well as host an annual Clark Scholars Summit at partner institutions. Partner institutions include Duke University, The George Washington University, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, Penn State, Stevens Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, and Virginia Tech.
"Jim Clark would often say, ‘This is our home; we should build it.’ And build it he did. He believed that if you gave a person a chance, they would create greatness. The Clark Scholars Program has given hundreds of students a chance, and the greatness they are creating will shape the world for decades to come. We are excited and honored to carry forward Mr. Clark’s legacy of impact," said UMD President Darryll J. Pines.
UMD’s Clark Scholars Program was established as part of Building Together, the Foundation’s 219ドル.5 million investment in the University of Maryland announced in October 2017. As a longtime partner to the Clark Foundation, the Clark School is poised to continue the Clark Scholars Program legacy, honoring its mission and values.
"[As] a Clark Scholar, I am given the opportunity to pursue a career in the engineering field and work with mentors and like-minded students who are passionate about changing the world."
–Matthew Cimifranca, Penn State Clark Scholar
Addressing Society’s Grand Challenges
The Clark Scholars Program is the Clark Foundation’s signature academic program, combining engineering, business, leadership, and community service. The goal of the Clark Scholars Program is to graduate participants with little to no college debt and for these graduates to join the network of alums who are advancing technology through innovation.
The Clark Scholars Program is designed to recruit, retain, and graduate exceptionally talented engineering students with financial need who are poised to take on society’s grand challenges. Clark Scholars confront these challenges with a multidisciplinary, socially aware, and entrepreneurial background. Program participants take engineering and business classes, participate in community service, and attend seminars and events with leaders in the field.
"By translating innovative science into technology solutions, engineering is poised to address critical societal challenges facing humanity. We are proud to educate the next generation of engineers; the Clark Scholars Program is indispensable in this endeavor," said Samuel Graham, Jr., dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering.
"‘Grateful’ is an understatement. The Clark Scholars [Program] helped me and so many others finance college, and it was amazing meeting Clarks from other schools. Every day, I’m thankful for the opportunities this program has given us, including the chance to study abroad and go to incredible Broadway shows, sports games, and cooking classes, and for introducing me to lifelong friends."
To date, the program has provided support to 591 Clark Scholars at 11 universities. Year after year, the program outperforms the national averages of students from demographics underrepresented in STEM, women, and Pell Grant-eligible students enrolled in undergraduate engineering degree programs:
50 percent of Clark Scholars are women, compared to 25 percent of engineering students nationally; and
46 percent of Clark Scholars are from demographics underrepresented in STEM, compared to 26 percent nationally.
In addition, 71 percent of Clark Scholars did not have to take on private student loan debt due to the Clark Program scholarship during the 2022–23 academic year.
"Mr. Clark was a visionary who built a successful business but never lost his connection to his local community. We are honored to carry forward Mr. Clark’s legacy, opening the doors of opportunity for aspiring engineers and continuing his commitment to community service," said Dean Graham.
"The investment into [Clark Scholars] at Georgia Tech by [the] Clark Foundation has enabled us as an educational institution to be attentive to the direction our students are moving. What do they value? What do they need for what lies ahead?"
–David Torello, Georgia Tech Clark Scholars Program Leader
Bio
"I really find joy in working with students," she says. "My vision for the network as a whole is to ensure that there’s a community of scholars that can support each other personally and professionally."
Joakina Stone is the Director of the Clark Scholars Program Network (CSPN), which she joined in January 2024 Her responsibilities include enabling the continuation of the program community and establishing infrastructure to lead and guide the CSPN across all the partner universities.
Joakina comes to CSPN from the United Negro College Fund, where she served in several senior positions, most recently as the Director of Program Administration and Operations, helming their national STEM initiatives.
As Director, Joakina collaborates with program leaders, deans, and scholars across 11 member institutions, and makes data-driven decisions to identify best practices to support scholars’ engineering education. Previously she was the relationship manager for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, part of the team that managed a large scholarship framework and leadership training for students across over 15 participating campuses. She has also worked in various areas of student affairs including residential life, student life and academic advising.
Joakina received her Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication from Oregon State University and then became a Terp, earning a Master of Education in College Student Personnel. In 2024, she earned her doctorate in Student Affairs from University of Maryland, making her a double Terp.
She says joining CSPN has been an exciting way to do something she’s passionate about – helping exceptional students who may need more support in becoming an engineer.
"I know how important scholarships are for young people," he says, "especially young people that have all the potential in the world, but there may be some financial or other barriers in their way."
Brandon D. Brown is the Assistant Director at the Clark Scholars Program Network (CSPN), where he is focused on building and developing the alumni network across 11 member institutions. He researches and reaches out to alumni to hear about their experiences and what resources can help support them most.
Brandon travels to the member schools, celebrating their graduates and educating them about CSPN, and he makes sure alumni can network among each other, including at the annual Scholar Summit.
Brandon brings nearly a decade of scholarship experience to CSPN, having worked at the United Negro College Fund as a College Persistence Counselor. He’s also served as a senior outreach specialist for services communications at the Association of American Medical Colleges.
A Virginia native, Brandon received his Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies with a focus on Public Relations from James Madison University and a Master of Science in Education with a focus on Higher Education Administration from Old Dominion University.
In May 2024, Brandon graduated from Howard University with a PhD in Higher Education Leadership & Policy Studies.
Brandon is energized by work like forging partnerships with various companies to ensure the academic and personal successes of the Clark Scholars and alum.
As a scholarship recipient himself, he knows the power that such support carries. "It made it that much easier for me to focus on pursuing my education," he said. "I think this program is really a transformative one. It’s such important work."
"I enjoy supporting students," she says. "It really is something that feeds my soul, watching students be able to excel and reach their own personal goals, and go on to do great things."
Sybil Bowick is the Coordinator of the Clark Scholars Program Network (CSPN), where she supports the implementation of innovative programming across 11 member institutions. Sybil provides operational and logistical support for CSPN events, including the annual Clark Scholars Summit, where scholars meet up to network and collaborate.
Sybil also helps innovate digital spaces for scholar engagement, using social media and other outlets to ensure CSPN can reach its students and alums.
Prior to joining CSPN, she served as a senior program manager at the United Negro College Fund, managing both the Ernest E. Just Biomedical Postgraduate Fellowship and the Ernest E. Just Biomedical Summer Internship Program.
Sybil is originally from North Carolina, graduating from North Carolina Central University with a degree in Political Science. She initially began her professional career in public affairs as a Public Information Officer for a government agency before transitioning into working in student affairs, where she has found her passion. At the North Carolina Community Foundation, Sybil served as a scholarship specialist, where she managed the selection and award processes from a portfolio of scholarship funds.
She says she loves being able to see students work toward goals and achieve them, all with the help of the programming and support of the CSPN.
Minli Wang is a Senior Data Analyst at the University of Maryland, where she supports data-informed decision-making by analyzing student success metrics.
Wang says she is passionate about using data to improve educational outcomes. At Maryland, she collaborates with different engineering departments on their data needs and collects, cleans and analyzes large datasets, seeking out insights and trends.
Wang brings years of experience in analyzing and reporting on higher education data. She also is proficient in using tools like SQL, SAS, and Tableau. Prior to joining the University of Maryland, Wang also worked in the application and admissions areas.
Wang holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree from George Washington University.
She began her career in institutional research at American University, where she served as an Institutional Research Analyst. There, she produced key institutional reports and helped support the university’s accreditation efforts. She also conducted analyses of data to inform university planning and assessment.
Outside of work, Minli enjoys rock climbing and spending time with her two cats.
