Photo I Courtesy of Clark University
David Fithian, president of Clark University
10 hours ago
David Jordan resigns as Clark School of Business dean, following university’s new restructuring plan
Photo | Courtesy of Clark University
David Jordan is resigning from his roles at Clark University after the school announced it would combine its School of Business with its School of Professional Studies.
David Jordan has resigned from his role as dean of the School of Business at Clark University in Worcester, after the university made the decision to combine the school with its School of Professional Studies under a single division.
Jordan formerly led the Worcester-based nonprofit Seven Hills Foundation & Affiliates for 28 years. He was brought out of retirement by Clark President David Fithian to lead the School of Business as it was rebranding from its School of Management, a change which was made official in June 2024. Jordan announced his resignation, effective July 5, in a Wednesday email to students and faculty.
Clark said the move to reorganize the School of Business is part of its larger efforts to restructure its offerings amid financial challenges and declining enrollment. The university announced Tuesday it would lay off up to 30% of its faculty amid a larger restructuring of its educational offerings.
“With our plan to reorganize Clark’s academic offerings, our School of Business will be included with the School of Professional Studies as part of a new division that allows the University to operate both schools in better coordination with one another, reducing expenses and enhancing our support for students,” David Fithian, president of Clark University, wrote in a statement to WBJ on Friday. “However, the business school’s identity will remain distinct, as we continue to offer a competitive slate of programs that are reflective of the university’s commitment to high-quality business education and align our students’ skills with the market to maximize their success.”
An anonymous Clark student created a Change.org petition on Wednesday urging the university to reverse the decision to combine the two schools, arguing it could jeopardize the business school’s national reputation and accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The petition has about 480 signatures as of Friday morning.
In a letter to Clark students on Thursday, Fithian defended the decision and said it will not impact accreditation.
Jordan said he holds no ill will towards the university, acknowledging higher educational institutions across the country are facing economic challenges, but he said he didn’t feel comfortable supporting the decision to combine the two schools.
“I affirm their commitment and earnest desire to do the very best for Clark, and I applaud that. I have no concerns or issues with that whatsoever,” Jordan said. “I just happen to feel that I personally was asked to come to Clark after my retirement from Seven Hills to build the School of Business. This latest iteration, as a result of broader economic forces, no longer aligned with that desire of mine. And so I felt the best interest of Clark that I step away. I felt that my skill set was no longer in alignment with what Clark is moving toward.”
After 20 years of teaching at the university, Jordan said he is walking away from that role as well.
“It really has been a labor of love for me to work with so many really brilliant and talented young people,” he said, “but because of the dynamics, I think it best that I completely walk away from Clark at this time.”
Jordan said his main focus will now be his work with Seven Hills Global Outreach, an affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation, which works to support humanitarian efforts around the world. He is planning a humanitarian trip with the organization to Sierra Leone and Kenya.
“We are very appreciative of Dr. David Jordan’s work on behalf of our students and colleagues, not only as dean of Clark University’s School of Business but as an adjunct faculty member for the past 20 years,” Fithian wrote to WBJ. “David’s deep experience as a nonprofit leader, meshed with his global perspective, were key to evolving our curricula in the area of socially focused business practices and provided our students important opportunities for real-world engagement.”
CORRECTION: This article was updated to clarify Clark's statements came from its president, David Fithian.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
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