After 11 years as the Vice President of University Relations and Marketing position, Steve Clark has announced his plan to retire on July 1, 2023. 

Oregon State University President, Jayathi Y. Murthy, sent out a notice from her office announcing Clark’s retirement. 

As Vice President, Clark’s job was to elevate Oregon State University’s brand and promote brand awareness, as told by the university website. He was the overseer of divisions such as the university’s news and research communications, marketing, and public affairs.

According to Murthy, for Clark, as someone who graduated from OSU with a degree in Journalism, and a career reporting, editing, and publishing for various newspaper corporations, his knowledge and expertise about Oregon has been invaluable.  

Clark played an instrumental role as the university undertook strategic planning, campus and location-based expansions, student success and retention efforts, a comprehensive review of building and place names, the pandemic response and leadership transitions.

He has been a key spokesperson for sharing OSU’s story and message.

Murthy insists that he has consistently modeled the values of Oregon State University. He has approached marketing and communication through an equity lens, consistently prioritizing OSU’s inclusive excellence mission, including launching an equity review of all university relations and marketing (URM) communications and marketing underway now.