Jo Alice Blondin, Ph.D., president of Clark State College in Springfield, Ohio, announced her plans to retire in June 2026 after 33 distinguished years of service to higher education. Blondin became the fifth President of Clark State College in July 2013 and will have served in this role for 13 years.
Clark State Board of Trustees’ Chair Sharon Evans reflected on Blondin’s time leading Clark State saying, “Dr. Blondin has been, and I am sure will continue to be, an absolute powerhouse in higher education. She has amazingly raised the bar of success for Clark State. Dr. Blondin has been totally focused on student success since her arrival at Clark State and she will always go the distance for our students. In addition, she has raised Clark State’s profile at both the state and national levels. She is extremely well-respected and is often sought-after for her skill and expertise. Clark State is all the better as a result of her leadership and she will definitely be missed.”
Blondin’s accomplishments are numerous, impactful and far-reaching. During her tenure, to date, Clark State has:
- Invested more than $40 million in technology and infrastructure to enhance the student experience and ensure operational excellence;
- Grown its federal and state grants portfolio by nearly $25 million and its Foundation from $13 million to more than $30 million;
- Added four baccalaureate degrees to its academic program offerings including manufacturing technology management, web development and design, addiction and integrated treatment studies and a bachelor of science in nursing;
- Expanded the Clark State campus footprint at Ohio Hi Point Career Center in Bellefontaine and the Xenia location;
- Added and enhanced many workforce responsive programs in high-tech, in-demand fields such as modeling and simulation, laser materials processing and photonics, cybersecurity, semiconductor technology, precision agriculture and diagnostic medical sonography;
- Developed, led and implemented four successive and successful strategic plans;
- Grown the State Share of Instruction state funding by 60 percent;
- Partnered with the Global Impact STEM Academy to build its new upper academy on Clark State’s Springfield Leffel Lane campus, with plans for further expansion;
- Raised the national profile of Clark State as a leader in student success and innovation;
- Founded and led the nationally-recognized SOAR (Serving Our Own Through Advancement and Retention Program) mentoring program to develop future leaders in student success;
- Welcomed military, veterans and their spouses to campus by offering a 50 percent tuition discount, as well as tailored support services for these students including the SALUTE Honor Society, Fallen Warrior Memorial, Veterans’ Lounge, Purple Heart Campus Designation, and countless ways to honor and support those who have served our country. As a result, Clark State has been recognized as the number one Military-Friendly and Military-Spouse Friendly Small to Medium Community College in the nation for the past two years.
But at the center of these accomplishments lie the students and employees.
“Dr. Blondin is truly motivational. Her passion for the success of Clark State and its employees is not only seen, but felt,” shared Charmaine Misick, Clark State’s senior academic advisor. “She encouraged me to never stop growing, which led to me earning a master of science in organizational leadership. She has even been an inspiration to my daughter who, at 10-years-old, stated she wanted to become the next president of Clark State.
“I have also witnessed how she fights for all community colleges to have a voice when it comes to legislation that affects higher education,” continued Misick. “We have faced difficult times and have gotten through them due to her courageous leadership.”
Mellanie Toles, who works closely with Blondin as the executive assistance to the president and coordinator of special projects, agreed.
“Dr. Blondin has taken the time to personally mentor dozens of employees, staff and students during her presidency,” Toles said. “One thing that will always stand out to me is how she led us through the pandemic. Under her leadership, we were able to continue classes for students online, keep all of our faculty and staff employed without pay reductions, make relief funding available for students faster than the majority of colleges, and at the same time, strategically leverage funding to enhance our facilities and reduce our debt. To come out of it in such a strong position speaks volumes about her leadership; intelligence; and care for faculty, staff and students. She repeatedly demonstrates, that even when things seem daunting and sometimes impossible, there is always a way through it.”
Blondin has also demonstrated a strong partnership with Clark State faculty. Kristen Bancroft, the incoming faculty senate president and program director for the medical laboratory technology program, reflected on her experience working with Blondin.
“Dr. Blondin is fierce about creating an atmosphere of clear and consistent commitment to developing leaders and promoting collaborative decision-making. Her annual mentoring program is a clear reflection of her strong commitment to developing and empowering the next generation of college leaders. Her dedication to shared governance has created a foundation where open communication and inclusive leadership thrive, leaving a lasting impact on our institution. What is most exciting is that even as she enters her final year, she remains deeply dedicated to the mission of serving our students and our community. She continues to fine-tune how we communicate internally and reimagine what shared governance can look like within our college, ensuring that her legacy is one of inclusive leadership and lasting impact.”
Blondin, as a national advocate for mental health, addiction and trauma-informed practices in higher education, also led the implementation of the innovative bachelor of applied science in addiction and integrated treatment studies, blending social work with mental health and addiction training. Most recently, her efforts and dedication to students, workforce and community can be seen in the opening of the City of Springfield Fire Station. As an investor in the new station, Clark State contributed approximately $1.3 million toward the facility, making the college one of the only community colleges in the nation to house student labs in a working fire station.
“One of the things I appreciate most about Jo is that she always told me ‘yes’ when we asked for help,” said James McGregor, Jr., CEO of McGregor Metal, who partners with Clark State to provide manufacturing internships and skills growth to students. “No project or problem was ever too big. Jo answered our calls with a gusto and vigor that yielded immediate and permanent results for our associates at McGregor Metal. Jo always acted with urgency whenever we asked for help, regardless of whether the solution was in place at Clark State or needed to be created from scratch. Certainly, the business community and the employers of Springfield, and beyond, have benefited from Jo's passionate advocacy and her legacy will endure for many years to come.”
Prior to becoming president of Clark State, Blondin served as chancellor of Arkansas Tech University - Ozark Campus where she increased enrollment from 250 students in 2004 to 2,200 in 2013. Her other academic roles include chief academic officer and chief student officer at Arkansas Tech University- Ozark Campus. Blondin was a professor of English at Arkansas Tech University, associate professor of English at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and faculty associate at Arizona State University. She earned her bachelor of arts in English with a minor in Spanish from Purdue University and her master’s and doctorate in 18th Century British Literature from Arizona State University.
Her honors and awards include being named the National and Regional Community College CEO/President of 2023 by the Association of Community College Trustees, the 2018 CEO/Board Relations Award Winner by the American Association of Community Colleges, a 2024 “Woman Who Means Business” by the Dayton Business Journal, the 2023 Dayton Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics in Business, the 2023 Healthcare Hero Award for her work in addiction studies, the 2022 Women’s Partnership Fund of Clark County Extraordinary Women Award and the 2021 Dayton Business Journal Outstanding Diversity Champion Award.
Named one of Dayton’s Most Influential Women nine times, she has served as the Board Chair for numerous national organizations, including the Higher Learning Commission, the National Council for Workforce Education and the Community College Alliance for Agricultural Advancement. She is the current chair of the Ohio Association of Community College Presidents and the vice chair for the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education. She currently serves on the boards of the Dayton Development Coalition, the Springfield Partnership and the Rocking Horse Community Health Center.
“Upon her arrival Dr. Blondin took our communities by storm, working meticulously to make Clark State one of the best colleges in the state,” said Nettie Carter-Smith, director of community relations for Rocking Horse Community Health Center and Clark State Foundation Board member. “Her drive, passion, forward-thinking, professionalism and ability to get the job done catapulted Clark State on the national stage. Over the years, Dr. Blondin has exemplified visionary leadership, driving excellence in education, fostering growth and uplifting countless students, faculty and staff. Her unwavering, transparent mission of student success and exemplary higher education have left an indelible mark on Clark State and the wider community.”
David Ball, immediate past chair of the Clark State Board of Trustees, applauded Blondin’s dedication to the students and communities that Clark State serves.
“There are not enough words to express the Board’s gratitude and appreciation for all Dr. Blondin has done for Clark State,” he said. “She is a dynamic leader who has repeatedly demonstrated her commitment to students, higher education, community colleges and our community as a whole. She moved Clark State to the next level and leaves an impressive legacy.”
As Blondin prepares to retire, she shared her thoughts.
“My accomplishments at Clark State would not be possible without the insights, expertise and guidance of our outstanding Board of Trustees, our responsive and dedicated staff, our talented faculty and the students who choose to learn and succeed at, and because of, Clark State,” said Blondin. “I am beyond grateful for the opportunities I have had to lead these last 12 years and it is not easy to retire.
“I learned from my parents the value of higher education and giving back to my community. It has been my great wish that I have exceeded the goals I set by demonstrating excellence in teaching and providing vision and leadership as president of two different colleges. My chief focus of helping learners realize their goals and dreams, and the lives I have impacted at Clark State, have been the crowning achievement of my 33-year career,” Blondin continued. “I look forward to contributing to higher education in a consultative capacity in the future and I plan to stay in Springfield, a community that has embraced my family and where I have made some of the best friends a person could have. My husband, daughter and I love Ohio and this community.”
Clark State will partner with the Association of Governing Boards in the search process for a new president, to commence during early summer 2025.