Clark alumna named prestigious 2025 MacArthur Fellow

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

I am very proud to share the exciting news that, just moments ago, a remarkable Clark alumna, Margaret Wickens Pearce, M.A. ’95 and Ph.D. ’98, was named a 2025 MacArthur Foundation Fellow, making her a winner of a “genius grant.” It is a highly prestigious award recognizing exceptional individuals who have shown outstanding originality and dedication in creative fields. 

Dr. Pearce is a cartographer who has focused her talent on creating maps that foreground Indigenous Peoples’ understanding of land and place — pushing the boundaries of cartography beyond two-dimensional depictions of static and defined spaces. Her work, which is on display in major cultural museums across the country, draws on a wide range of archival materials and long-term collaborations with Indigenous communities to resurface their history, knowledge, and presence throughout North America. Her contribution to society is important, impactful, and meaningful. 

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Pearce for her achievement, commitment to making our world a better place, and representing Clark so well.

Sincerely,

David Fithian ’87
President