Cuyamaca College student Claudette Clark has won a prestigious award from the California Community Colleges Board of Governors – the second year in a row that a Cuyamaca College student has been named a recipient. The award honors community college students statewide who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to student leadership at their respective campus.
Cuyamaca graduate Seinna Shaba was honored by the Board of Governor’s last year. Clark received the Board of Governors Leadership Award at a ceremony on April 5 in Santa Clara.
Clark, who plans to work in music therapy for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, autism, PTSD, and other mental health challenges, has been recognized for her efforts to engage and support students who are underrepresented on college campuses. Clark has worked as a peer mentor at Grossmont College to help first-year students succeed, and more recently at Cuyamaca College as a member of its outreach department to help underrepresented students, particularly African American students, feel fully a part of college life.
“Cuyamaca College is a great place to go to college for people who want to feel welcome,” Clark said.
“I didn’t see a lot of people who looked like me, but I felt seen,” continued Clark, who is African American, of her return to college in 2015. While Cuyamaca is smaller than many other community colleges, Clark said its intimacy makes it easier to meet people. And she said she’s never felt as if the campus was lacking anything that she wanted out of her college experience. “I felt as if it meant something to the school to have me there,” she said.
Cuyamaca College President Jessica Robinson praised Clark for her “unwavering commitment” to social justice.
“Serving her community is thematic in her work at the college,” Robinson said. “Ms. Clark has organized and participated in many college and community-based initiatives with a social justice focus, and she takes steps to remove barriers for students.” Clark has worked hard to increase access for all students, while inspiring others “to pursue a college education by sharing her journey and encouraging students to focus on their own personal ‘why’ as they pursue their educational goals,” Robinson added.
Clark’s decision to return to college at Cuyamaca came after a long work life as a paralegal in Los Angeles, a short period as a law student, a stint working in clinical research, and several years at the San Diego Association of Governments working in document control and archival projects. It was after caring for her ailing mother about 10 years ago that she decided to pursue her passion for music.
“I’ve found joy in doing things well, but it hasn’t always been a passion,” said Clark, who lives in Hillcrest. “So, what do I really want to do? And in thinking of that, I really have enjoyed music.” Clark’s mother was a classical ballet dancer, so she has shared her passion for the arts. Today, Clark says she’s eager to channel her love of music – she plays the piano and guitar, and she sings – into helping people for whom music may support their healing.
Clark plans to transfer to a four-year university and earn a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies before pursuing a career in music therapy. Her focus, she said, will be to help people who often do not receive the mental health care they need, including African American individuals who may be reluctant to seek care, or do not have it readily available to them.
At Cuyamaca, Clark says she will continue her work to help make students feel welcome on campus, and fully realize their college experience. She said her message is a simple and powerful one.
“Come and find your space and take advantage of the accessibility and the tools our college is offering you,” Clark said. “Move forward doing the best you can. Give back and move forward.”
