Jeremy Clark Receives Inver Hills 2020 Staff of the Year Award

Academic advisor recognized with annual honor

Jeremy Clark has received the Inver Hills Community College 2020 Staff of the Year Award. Jeremy serves as an academic advisor at the college. He is one of seven advisors in the college’s Counseling & Advising department. Jeremy began working at Inver Hills in November 2017.

The Inver Hills Staff of the Year Award recognizes a staff member or work group that goes the extra mile, who listens and collaborates beyond their own department, seeks input from members of the campus community, and has contributed selflessly to the college mission while showing boundless support for student success.

“I would like to thank Inver Hills Community College students, staff and faculty for making me feel welcome and appreciated,” Jeremy said.

“At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”

— Maya Angelou

More about Jeremy…

Before coming to Inver Hills, Jeremy served for more than three years as a GEAR UP student advisor at Hennepin Technical College. He serves as a board member and treasurer for Leaders of Tomorrow in Mankato, joining the board in 2011.

Jeremy received a Master of Science (M.S.) in Sports Management from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in 2013. He also earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Physical Education with a Sport Management Emphasis at the university.

While attending Minnesota State Mankato, Jeremy excelled as a scholarship athlete, playing offensive lineman for the Mavericks football team from 2006 to 2010. During that period, he was chosen to represent the Mavericks on the university’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Jeremy was also recognized for his leadership and athletic skills, receiving the following honors:

Named and elected Mavericks football team captain (2007–2010)
Elected to the Northern Sun All-Conference Team (2008–2010)
Selected as a Daktronics All-Region Team Member (2009–2010)
Selected to the Don Hanson All-American Team (2010)

Jeremy completes a wide range of duties as an academic advisor at Inver Hills. He provides proactive academic and career advising, working to help students adapt to college life and achieve their higher education and workforce goals. He employs multiple formats, including meeting one on one with students, leading small-group sessions and delivering classroom presentations.

Jeremy also develops educational plans for students focused on a variety of academic pursuits, including general education, Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC), career programs and transferring to a four-year institution. He collaborates with faculty and other staff members to plan events, promote college and community resources, increase multicultural awareness and much more, all aimed at enhancing student success.

Jeremy is very active at Inver Hills beyond his role as an academic advisor. His commitment to campus community engagement includes:

Inver Hills Community College Employee Affinity Group chair
Minnesota State Indigenous and Male of Color Work Group co-chair
Black Student Union (BSU) co-advisor
Diversity Council and Orientation Committee member

Jeremy Clark Inver Hills gallery

Nominator perspectives…

“Jeremy Clark is a valuable asset to the Inver Hills Community College team. Jeremy is incredibly passionate about student advocacy and has wonderful ideas on how to improve student support services and student retention. Have you ever seen an advisor out of their offices doing mobile advising? You can thank Jeremy for pushing for this. Ever wonder what strong customer service looks like? Just watch how Jeremy interacts with every single person who enters onto campus.”

“When both campuses [Inver Hills and DCTC] decided to start an Employee Resource Group for Indigenous Employees and Employees of Color, Jeremy immediately noticed the importance of this group to support both colleges’ efforts to recruit and to retain employees of color. The group meets monthly on a Friday morning and for each meeting he typically brings a home-cooked breakfast dish to share. He was asked to help lead the group because of the great respect he has among his fellow employees. I feel that Jeremy’s social values reflect universal humanitarian ideas,and he has made a commitment to make our world a better place for humankind.”

Jeremy Clark • Q & A

What is the most rewarding aspect of your role as an academic advisor?

I am able to guide, inspire and uplift students to achieve their career goals through higher education. I love helping people solve problems, and get one step closer to their ultimate career or educational goal.

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What is the most challenging aspect of your role as an academic advisor?

Every day brings a new set of challenges as student needs are complex and evolving with time. As an advisor, you need to be in tune with every aspect of Inver Hills, and all the other transfer colleges our students go to. Learning all the ins and outs of the Minnesota State college system is challenging and an ongoing process.

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Why should students take advantage of the services provided by academic advising?

The reason I became an academic advisor is my passion for helping others. My main objective of advising meetings is to listen to the students’ needs and goals then help them facilitate a plan of action. Students should use advising services to stay on track, create academic plans, get connected to campus resources and make sure they are taking the correct courses for graduation and transfer.

Inver Hills also recognizes and sends congratulations to all 2020 Staff of the Year nominees for their exemplary work and dedication to serving students:

John Bayerl, D2L Administrator
Ellen Cunningham, Customer Service Specialist
Randi Goettl, Director of Accessibility Resources
Signe Ilstrup, College Lab Assistant, Writing Center
Emily Johnson, Director of Career Development
Chong Moua, Academic Advisor
Heidi Thury, Academic Advisor, Adult Student Navigator
Shannon Williams, Coordinator of Community-Based Learning
Jenni Yamada, Student Life Coordinator

Learn more about the Inver Hills 2020 Staff of the Year Award and the Inver Hills Foundation by contacting:

Elsbeth Howe
Inver Hills Development Director
651-450-3407