Edmund Clark
Edmund Clark, who has held technology leadership positions in Minnesota higher education for more than two decades, will become vice president of Information Resources and Technologies and chief information officer at St. Thomas, effective July 7.
A search committee unanimously recommended the hiring of Clark, who has served as vice president for technology and chief information officer at Minnesota State University, Mankato, since 2011. He previously spent 17 years at the University of Minnesota.
“Ed’s knowledge of technology, his higher education experience and his collaborative style make him an excellent choice to lead IRT,” President Julie Sullivan said. “We had a strong pool with more than 100 candidates, and I congratulate the search committee on its recommendation.”
“Ed is a strong strategic thinker who knows how to use technology to position a university for the future,” said Dr. Richard Plumb, provost and executive vice president. “He will be a valuable asset as we move forward and carry out our own strategic plan over the next five years.”
Dr. Stefanie Lenway, Opus College of Business dean and search committee chair, found Clark to be a “visionary” who is creative and intuitively understands technology’s role in education. “We want to use technology to enhance the student experience, support faculty research and improve operations,” she said, “and Ed will bring all of those strengths to the job.”
Clark said he thoroughly enjoys his position in Mankato but finds the St. Thomas opportunity irresistible.
“It’s the next natural step in my career,” he said. “St. Thomas is one of the top universities in this region, and I want to be part of it. The dedication of faculty and staff to students and their success really stands out, and that’s very attractive to me.”
Clark is a native of Mobile, Alabama, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Florida State University in 1992. He joined the University of Minnesota in a technology support position in 1994 and three years later became director of information technology in the College of Liberal Arts. He was promoted to chief information officer in the college in 2001.
He became vice president at Minnesota State Mankato, in 2011, overseeing the Information and Technology Services Division. His responsibilities included providing strategic direction on technology for all academic and business units; introducing and integrating new technologies for greater learning and retention outcomes; and serving on technology leadership and governance committees in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
Clark has a Master of Science in management degree from the Carlson School of Management and the College of Science and Engineering at Minnesota. He expects to complete an Ed.D. degree in educational leadership from Minnesota State Mankato, this fall.
Plumb thanked the search committee for its work. In addition to Lenway, members were Dr. William (Andy) Barnes, Art History; Dr. Eric Fort, Chemistry; Dan Gjelten, UST Libraries; Jenn Haas, IRT; Dr. Debasish Mallick, Opus College of Business; Sabeena Mathayas, graduate student; Dan Meyer, Enrollment Services; Dr. Bradley Rubin, Software Engineering; Patrick Sanchez, Development; Katzie Truso, undergraduate student; Mike Thyken, School of Engineering Board of Governors; and Mark Vangsgard, Business Affairs.
