Patricia Dandonoli ’75
Home: New York, N.Y.
Work: President and CEO, WaterAid America
Education: B.A., Clark University
Alumni Activities: Chair, Jonas Clark Fellows; Class Gift Committee, Reunion 1995
Statement
Perhaps I did not choose Clark for the right reasons. In the early 1970s when I was applying to college, Clark had no required courses; no parietal rules. Clark had as much freedom and choice—personal and academic—as any college campus in those years. As a teenager more aware of what I wanted to get away from than what I was looking for, Clark seemed a perfect fit.
But once I arrived on campus, and began to experience the wide-ranging ideas, perspectives and opportunities that Clark University offered, I began to appreciate what its culture of academic freedom and individual responsibility reflected. Not simply the rebellious mood of the times nor the absence of something, but rather the presence of deep respect for students, a community of shared inquiry where undergraduates could research and publish alongside graduate students and faculty, and an opportunity to make choices and form bonds that shape a life.
Clark is a special place—those of us who have been a part of the University cherish its culture of service, its commitment to global challenges as well as local issues, its remarkable faculty, and its respect for each student. And while people outside the Clark family may have heard of Freud’s visit or Goddard’s rocket, most are not equally aware of Clark’s contemporary resources and distinctions.
Clark is not faddish or trendy, but its unique comparative advantages do have special relevance today. As a nation and a global community, we face many daunting challenges—extreme poverty, infringements on civil liberties and human rights, climate change, political and ethnic conflicts, environmental sustainability and balanced growth, among many others. Clark University has contributions to make to each of these issues—but to maintain its ability to do so, Clark must continue to recruit and retain the most talented faculty, the most promising students and the most generous supporters. As a university, Clark is challenged to remain relevant and competitive both as an educational institution and as a resource for addressing pressing social issues.
It would be my privilege to serve Clark University as an Alumni Trustee. I would seek to help Clark retain its distinctive culture and to encourage others to know and support it. I would also hope to give back to the place that awakened me to a world of ideas and possibilities, and where I formed lasting friendships that have enriched my life immeasurably.
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