David L. Clark Seminar
About David L. Clark National Graduate Student Research Seminar
Introduction & History
The David L. Clark National Graduate Student Research Seminar in Educational Administration & Policy, sponsored by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA), Divisions A and L of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and SAGE Publications, brings emerging educational administration and policy scholars and noted researchers together for two days of presentations, generative discussion, and professional growth. Clark Seminar participants are outstanding doctoral students in educational leadership, administration, and/or policy seeking careers in research. Many of the graduates of this seminar are now faculty members at major research institutions in the U.S. and Canada.
The David L. Clark National Graduate Student Research Seminar emerged from the regional series of graduate student seminars held by UCEA since 1966. At first held in member institutions, UCEA announced that it would support two graduate student seminars beginning in 1979. UCEA demonstrated its support by providing a grant to the host institution to cover some of the expenses of the students sent to the seminar; by publicizing the seminar in its news releases and newsletter, the UCEA Review; and by providing a forum of the proceedings in the UCEA Review. By 1984, the seminar had adopted a new title, National Graduate Students Research Seminar in Educational Administration, and had begun to hold the seminar prior to the AERA meeting. At this time, the event was cosponsored by AERA and the National Institute of Education. The seminar changed again as the National Institute of Education folded. UCEA stepped in and provided financial support beginning in 1986. By 1987, UCEA and AERA were joined by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Research in their sponsorship of the seminar. Another change occurred in 1998 when UCEA, AERA Divisions A and L, and Corwin Press joined together to sponsor the graduate student seminar.
In 1999, the graduate student seminar adopted its current title, David L. Clark National Graduate Student Research Seminar in Educational Administration & Policy, to memorialize the life and work of David L. Clark, whose contributions to education spanned almost half a century. UCEA formally recognized Clark’s contributions to the field in 1994 by presenting him with the Roald F. Campbell Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors senior professors in the field of educational administration whose professional lives have been characterized by extraordinary committement, excellence, leadership, productivity, generosity, and service. Clark was also honored by Phi Delta Kappa as one of its 33 Distinguished Scholars and by the Association of Teacher Educators as one of 70 Leaders in Education. Among his many professional contributions were service as Vice President of AERA Division A and Executive Secretary of the National Policy Board for Educational Administration.
Past David L. Clark Seminar
2024
2023
2022
2020
2019
2018
