Stevara Haley Clark, Ed.D., M.S.W., is the Director of Online Programs and Distance Education and Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Social Work. Holding both a Master of Social Work and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. Clark brings a unique blend of clinical insight, academic expertise, and administrative leadership to her roles. She leads strategic initiatives to expand access to high-quality, equity-centered online education and to strengthen academic programs through inclusive, student-centered practices.
With over a decade of experience in higher education, Dr. Clark brings a strong foundation in academic administration, online program development, and organizational culture change. Her leadership is grounded in principles of trust, transparency, and compassionate communication, fostering collaborative and empowering learning environments for students and faculty alike.
Prior to joining Pitt, Dr. Clark held several leadership roles at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Social Work, where she directed online education and served as Interim Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. There, she oversaw curricular development, supported accreditation compliance, advanced strategic enrollment management, and implemented innovations in digital learning and inclusive teaching practices.
Research Interests
- Student success for first-generation and nontraditional students
- Women’s leadership in higher education
- Technology and relationship-building in digital learning environments
- Organizational culture and academic leadership
- Inclusive and anti-oppressive pedagogy in social work education
- Implicit curriculum design for at-risk student engagement
Areas of Expertise
- Social Work Education Research
- Online Learning and Teaching Pedagogy
- Student Success Initiatives
- Women’s Leadership and Empowerment
- Technology Integration in Social Work Education
- Organizational Culture and Change Management
Selected Publications
- Baskind, F., Clark, S. and Hartwell, C. (2023), Creating an Online Curriculum from Class-Based Courses. The National Teaching & Learning Forum, 32: 8-10. https://doi.org/10.1002/ntlf.30364
- Clark, S. H. & Remmers, C. E. (2019). Comprehensive training for field liaisons: A necessity for evaluating student performance. Field Educator, 9(1). http://fieldeducator.simmons.edu/article/comprehensive-training-for-field-liaisons-a-necessity-for-evaluating-student-performance/
- Clark, S. H., Gupta, L.A., Secret, M. & Baskind, F.R. (2019). Achieving field education competence through an integrative syllabus: Bringing the field to class. Field Educator, 9(1). http://fieldeducator.simmons.edu/article/achieving-field-education-competence-through-an-integrative-syllabus-bringing-the-field-to-class/
Selected Presentations
- Clark, S. H. (2025, April). Beyond the brand: Ethical marketing in social work’s online expansion. Workshop presented to Distance Educators at the Social Work Distance Education 2025 Virtual Conference: Tuscaloosa, AL.
- Clark, S. H., Baskind, F. R. & Hartwell, C. A. (2021, April). Lessons learned: Engaging in curriculum redesign with an instructional design firm. Workshop presented to Distance Educators at the 7th Annual Social Work Distance Education Conference: San Antonio, TX. Virtual Conference
- Clark, S.H. & Samuels, K. M. (2021, April). State licensure and regulatory considerations in online social work programs. Workshop presented to Distance Educators at the 6th Annual Social Work Distance Education Conference: San Antonio, TX. *Virtual Conference due to COVID-19
