Elaine Clark named professor emerita of history

"Professor Clark's reputation as a teacher on the Dearborn campus is legendary … An extraordinarily caring individual and gifted teacher, she has mentored hundreds of students during her lengthy career," the Regents noted in their memo on Clark's emerita appointment.

Clark's area of scholarship focused on the social-legal aspects of local life in Medieval England. More recently, she developed an interest in the field of 19th century English religious history, specifically on the role of Catholics in the campaign for women's suffrage in Victorian England. She also has done considerable archival research on the parish missions of modern English Jesuits and on Jesuits as military chaplains during World War I and II.

Unlike some historians who have difficulty attracting students to a field they consider too esoteric, Clark was a popular professor on campus, with most of her classes filled to capacity before the start of each semester. She received UM-Dearborn's Distinguished Teaching Award twice-in 1985 and 1999-and also was honored with a teaching award from the Michigan Association of Governing Boards in 1987. In addition, Clark chaired the Distinguished Research Award Committee, co-chaired the 2002 Higher Learning Report, served on dean and chancellor search committees and on the University scholarship committee.

Clark earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit in 1966, a master's degree from Loyola University of Chicago in 1968, and a Ph.D. from U-M Ann Arbor in 1977. She joined the UM-Dearborn faculty as an assistant professor in 1980 and was promoted to associate professor in 1985, and professor in 1993.