Tricia Uber, Class of 1994

As a Clark alumna and former coordinator of the University's Alumni Admissions Program, Tricia Uber has the unique perspective of seeing Clark through the eyes of a student, an alumna and an employee. Here she discusses the important role alumni play in giving potential "Clarkies" the inside scoop on their alma mater.

Talking to alumni can make Clark come to life. We can provide a different perspective from guide books, the Internet, current students, and faculty. Choosing a college is an important decision and the more information you have the better choice you can make.

As both an alumna and a staff person, I can tell you that our alumni enjoy sharing their unique stories. When students are gathering and soaking up information on everything about a college or university, it can really help to talk to an alumnus. It gives students the chance to learn first-hand about that individual's experiences as a student, to hear about what Clark programs did to change their lives, and to talk about the student’s concerns. This personal perspective will help them decide if Clark is the right fit for their needs. The University comes to life when prospective students get to know the individuals who make up Clark.

I also believe that alumni feel like they are giving back to the University when they talk about Clark with prospective students. Clark played a critical role in my life and the lives of thousands of alumni, which is why we want to do something in return.

Before I worked at Clark, I was an alumni interviewer.  I felt strongly that if I could share my story with prospective students, one of them might find Clark is the right place to go to college. Maybe I could help a student understand that this is a place where s/he would feel comfortable and challenged for four years; four years later they too could leave empowered and ready to contribute to society.