State Colleges name Frederick Clark to head Council of Presidents office
BOSTON, Mass. - The Council of Presidents of the Massachusetts State Colleges announced that it has selected Frederick W. Clark to become its new Executive Officer. Clark succeeds Kenneth Lemanski who left the Executive Officer position in August.Clark had previously served as the Executive Officer of the Council from 2002-2006, before taking a position as vice president of Mirrione Realty Corp., a major south shore real estate development firm.
“We are very excited to have Fred Clark back with the state colleges,” said Robert Antonucci, President of Fitchburg State College and current chair of the Council of Presidents. “No one brings more experience in public higher education and passion for the state colleges than Fred. We also want to recognize the outstanding work of Ken Lemanski. We are deeply indebted to him for his service to the state colleges.”
Clark served as volunteer Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education from August 2007 to November 2008. While Chairman, Clark helped to successfully pass an historic $2.2 billion capital bond bill for public higher education and nominated Dr. Richard Freeland as the new Commissioner for the Department of Higher Education. He also led numerous policy initiatives for public higher education including campus safety, transfer of college credit, innovative workforce development advances, and adoption of strong accountability measures.
Clark also served as Chair (1998 – 2002) and Vice Chair (1995 – 1997) of the Governing Board of Trustees at Bridgewater State College, as well as Vice Chair of the Bridgewater State College Foundation (2002 – 2007). From 1983 to 2001, Clark worked for Congressman John Joseph Moakley in various capacities, including as District Chief of Staff, Legal Counsel and Washington Liaison Officer. He currently serves as President and Co-Founder of the John Joseph Moakley Charitable Foundation, which has awarded more than $1.3 million in college scholarships to worthy high school students. Clark earned his B.A. in Political Science from Bridgewater State College and his J.D. from Suffolk Law School.
In the position of Executive Officer, Clark will be responsible for representing the nine State Colleges on governmental, legislative and public policy issues. He will direct segmental public policy initiatives, legislative affairs, public affairs, regulatory monitoring and response, and collective bargaining on behalf of these institutions.
During his tenure as Executive Officer from 2002-2006, Clark was instrumental in building strong support by the state legislature and business community for the vital role of the colleges in creating a highly educated labor force and sustaining Massachusetts’ economic competitiveness.
The nine Massachusetts State Colleges are 4-year, baccalaureate and masters degree-granting institutions. They include six comprehensive colleges that combine a liberal arts education with professional development training, which are located in Bridgewater, Fitchburg, Framingham, Salem, Westfield, Worcester, and three specialized colleges, including the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay. Combined the nine state colleges educate 45,000 students each year, boast more than 220,000 alumni and manage operating budgets of more than $400 million.
