Evette Castillo Clark on Community and Relationships

by By Paige Gilliard '15 | November 20, 2014

Evette Castillo Clark has always loved working with people. Raised in Pittsburg, Calif., Clark grew up in a town where everyone knew each other. “When you say you’re from Pittsburg, you know each other’s family,” said Clark, who just finished her first year as Saint Mary's dean of students. “The first question is, ‘Who’s your family?’ and then ‘What street did you grow up on?’”

The town was so small at the time that there was only one high school, which Clark’s mother and all of Clark’s relatives attended. When it came time to apply to college, Clark was looking for something different, so she left for UC Irvine at 18. In college, Clark got as involved as she could with her new community. “From a sorority, orientation leader, president of my residence hall, and intern at the cross cultural center, I was so involved,” Clark said.

Clark’s combined love of working with people and getting involved with her community makes her an ideal dean of students.

After graduating from UC Irvine, Clark attended New York University where she received her master’s in college student personnel administration. Later, she earned a doctorate from the University of San Francisco in international and multicultural education.

With 21 years of experience in higher education, Clark is excited to be back in the Bay Area and to be dean of students at Saint Mary’s.

Coming up on her one-year anniversary as dean, Clark has tried to connect as much as possible with the student body, faculty, staff and Christian Brothers community. When asked about her first-year successes, Clark talked about adding the Good Samaritan policy to the student handbook, working on the Saint Mary’s Cares campaign, in addition to making connections with people in the Saint Mary’s community. “I think relationships are everything,” Clark said.

When it comes to her future goals, Clark discussed further developing the concept of bystander education––the spirit of the Good Samaritan policy that seeks to educate students on the importance of not being passive bystanders when they see something wrong. “We want to increase reporting, responsibility, and we want to increase support and help,” she said. Finally, Clark discussed the importance of student input and student involvement. “Students have the best knowledge as to what they might need, so get them involved in the process” Clark said.

In addition to her role as dean, Clark is also the resident director of Ageno East. While she admits that living and working on campus essentially means that she is never off the job, she finds that the two roles go well together. “My values are consistent with the Lasallian core values, and I love what I do, and I’ve been doing this for a long time,” she said. “I don’t feel like it’s taxing, I feel like it’s complementary.”

Clark enjoys the interaction with her residents, and “would not have wanted it any other way. I would have wanted to stay immersed with the students, with campus life, to really understand Saint Mary’s culture and know it intimately.”

Clark’s Ageno East residents get to see her “in a whole different light” with her husband and 6-year-old son. “They feel comfortable coming in my kitchen,” Clark said. “They feel connected to me when we break bread together, and I make them dinner. I think there’s a special care and focus on my residents.”

Clark, whose enthusiasm for the future is infectious, loves what she does. “Every day is different as dean of students at SMC. I’m really energized by that,” Clark said. “To be a dean at a small liberal arts college means that you have to greet every new day and every new experience with hope, optimism and zeal.”