Karis Clarke, EdD

Areas of Expertise

Accreditation (Higher Education); Educator Mentoring, Preparation, and Support (Higher Education & P-12); Faculty Affairs (Higher Education); Self-Care and Wellness (Higher Education & P-12); Women in Leadership (Higher Education & P-12);

Biography

Dr. Karis Clarke is a Professor, Director of the Graduate School of Education and Assistant Dean of Education and Health Sciences at Touro University California who works to prepare educators to meet the needs of all students locally, nationally, and internationally.

For 10+ years Karis has driven the development of teacher education and educational leadership programs with oversight of training programs, instructional strategies, curriculum planning, and accreditation. As a leader and mentor, she fosters dynamic and high performing instructional environments to enhance the student experience and sustain retention. She further encouraged growth by collaborating cross-functionally with internal and external constituencies to drive strategic direction while articulating the institutional mission.

Karis is a certified early childhood teacher, elementary supervisor, elementary principal and superintendent in South Carolina and elementary teacher (elementary education P-5) and administrator (educational leadership-tier II) in Georgia. She taught pre-kindergarten, second grade and third grade in the Beaufort County School District (Beaufort, South Carolina). She has served as an instructor and university supervisor at Winthrop University; Assistant Professor, Coordinator, Title III Activity Director, and Interim Director of Teacher Education at Morris College; Director of Teacher Education at Columbia College; Associate Professor, Department Head of Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education at Anderson University; Associate Professor and Department Chair of Educational Leadership at Clark Atlanta University, and Education Consultant.

Karis holds a B.A. in political science from Florida A&M University, M.A.T. in early childhood education from the College of Charleston, Ed.S. and Ed.D. in educational administration from South Carolina State University. Karis has also completed post bachelor’s work at Florida State University.

Education

• B.A., Political Science, Florida A&M University
• M.A.T., Early Childhood Education, College of Charleston
• Ed.S., Educational Administration, South Carolina State University
• Ed.D., Educational Administration, South Carolina State University

Honors and Awards

• Hidden Figure, Columbia College (2016)
• Doctoral Dissertation Award Nominee, State Farm Companies Foundation, South Carolina State University (2011)
• Irene McCollum under 35 Finer Womanhood Award, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (2008)
• Recognition of Excellence, Educational Testing Services (2007)

Recent Publications

Recent Books

Clarke, K. L., & Moffett, N. L. (2023 – expected August). Addressing the queen bee syndrome in academia. IGI Global.

Clarke, K. L., (Ed.) (2022). Self-care and stress management for academic well-being. IGI Global.

Recent Book Chapters

Clarke, K. (2023 – expected August). Searching for sisterhood in the professoriate. In K. L. Clarke & N. L. Moffett (Eds.). Addressing the Queen Bee Syndrome in Academia. IGI Global.

Clarke, K. L., Moffett, N. L., & Moffett, N-T N. (2022). Educare is loving care. In K. L. Clarke (Ed.), Self-Care and Stress Management for Academic Well-Being (pp. 238-251). IGI Global.

Clarke, K. L. (2021). I graduated. . . . Now what?: Mentors matter. In N. L. Moffett (Ed.), Navigating Post-Doctoral Career Placement, Research, and Professionalism (pp. 1-27). IGI Global.

Professional Service

• TAG Secretary, American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education (2021-present)
• Peer Reviewer, National Association for the Education of Young Children (2013-present)
• Secretary, South Carolina Association for Education of Young Children (2018-2021)
• Board Member, South Carolina Association for Education of Young Children (2013-2016)
• Reviewer, Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (2023)
• Accreditation Council Member, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (2018-
  2023)
• Site Visitor, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (2016-2019)
• Reviewer, International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education (2019-present)
• Annual Report Reviewer, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (2017-2018)
• Session Proposal Reviewer, Phi Delta Kappa (2012-2016)
• Essay Competition Judge, Phi Delta Kappa (2012-2016)
• Member, National Advisory Committee, Educational Testing Services (2016)
• External Review Team Member, South Carolina Department of Education (2014-2016)
• Job Coach, Phi Delta Kappa (2013)
• Proposal Reviewer, National Association for the Education of Young Children (2013)
• Peer Reviewer, National Association for the Education of Young Children (2012)

Community Service

• Member, Junior League (2022-present)
• Board Member, Rock Hill First Steps (2013)
• Member, Leadership York County, York County Regional Chamber (2012)
• Drifters, Incorporated (2014-present)
• Member, College of Charleston, Black Caucus (2007-present)
• Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (2006-present)

Memberships and Affiliations

• Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education (2022-present)
• Georgia Educational Leadership Faculty Association (2021-present)
• American Association of University Professors (2021-present)
• American Educational Research Association (2011-present)
• Phi Delta Kappa (2011-present)
• Association for the Supervision of Curriculum Development (2010-present)
• National Education Association (2006-present)
• National Association for Education of Young Children SPA Reviewer (2004-present)