Sandra Clark, Managing Editor for ‘The Philadelphia Inquirer,’ to Oversee ‘Because Arcadia’ Student Blog

By Christopher Sarachilli | September 10, 2015

Photo credit: Jessica Griffin

Because Arcadia, Arcadia’s award-winning student-written blog, is excited to welcome Sandra Clark ’14MBA as managing editor.  

As managing editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, one of the nation’s most prominent newspapers, Clark leads half of a newsroom of nearly 200, overseeing digital, arts & features, and newsroom operations. Clark also serves on a team of senior leaders responsible for developing audience-engaged print and digital products and strategies.

Clark led the 2013 launch of the newspaper website Inquirer.com, which is now folded into Philly.com, the leading media website in the region. In 2014, Clark spearheaded the launch of a new Arts & Entertainment section, LiveLifeLove, one of 10 sections her team produces each week. Her Features sections recently were named Top 3 in the country by the Society of Features Journalism.

“As a journalist and an Arcadia alum, I am looking forward to developing curious and engaged writers and thinkers who are eager to share their experiences as students,” said Clark, who graduated from Arcadia’s MBA with a Global Perspective program. “I’m committed to growing talent, and I believe strongly that writing and communication skills are important for success regardless of profession.”

This belief connected strongly to some of the core tenets of Because Arcadia: improving communication skills, learning to be engaged in one’s surroundings, and understanding what makes a story worth telling.

“It’s a perspective we wanted to bring to Because Arcadia when looking for someone to mentor our student contributors, who come from a wide range of majors and backgrounds,” said Purnell Cropper, digital marketing manager for University Relations and creator of Because Arcadia.

Clark will draw on years of international experience during the mentorship. She is a former Peace Corps volunteer, serving in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, and worked as acting country representative and administrator for the development organization, Africare, in Mozambique. Clark traveled to Prague and Panama with her cohort in Arcadia’s MBA program.

Because Arcadia relates student experiences both on campus and abroad, and Clark’s work overseas will allow the student contributors to work with “a newsroom leader and global citizen,” said Cropper.

“I think that she’ll bring a lot of experience and real-world applications to the blog and help us, as writers, to find the deeper meanings in the stories we tell,” said Marcella Haddad ’18, an English/creative writing student who has written on experiences ranging from struggling with the language barrier in Germany to Scottish burial grounds.

“I attended Arcadia for its global focus, and I have lived overseas, so elevating storytelling about unique experiences is one area where I can offer perspective,” said Clark. “Every student’s experience is different whether here or abroad, so drawing out diverse voices that illuminate this is another goal.”

The application period to become a writer for Because Arcadia is still open. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply by Monday, Sept. 14.