Meet the President

Jo Alice Blondin, Ph.D., became the fifth president of Clark State College on July 1, 2013. Prior to Clark State, Dr. Blondin served as chancellor of Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus and professor of English for seven years, as well as chief academic officer, chief student officer, department chair of English, communication and social sciences, as well as the instructor of English. She holds a Ph.D. in English from Arizona State University, Master of Arts in English from Arizona State University and Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University majoring in English with a minor in Spanish.

Dr. Blondin focuses all of her efforts on realizing the mission of the institutions she has served, and is known for both her student-centered approach and her emphasis on workforce development. Since joining Clark State, Dr. Blondin has led the development and implementation of four strategic plans, launched multiple marketing and branding campaigns, and introduced employee wellness, safety and mentoring programs. She has established four bachelor’s degree programs and numerous workforce initiatives, reorganized the campus to improve student success and completion — resulting in a more than 70% increase in state funding — and secured more than $25 million in state funds for capital and community improvement projects. Additionally, she has obtained more than $26 million in grant funding for programs in manufacturing, precision agriculture, cybersecurity, addiction studies, mental health, scholarships and youth services. Since Dr. Blondin began in 2013, the Clark State Foundation endowment has grown from $13 million to more than $31 million.

Dr. Blondin’s national, regional and local service strengthens Clark State’s responsiveness to workforce and community needs. Dr. Blondin is past chair of the Higher Learning Commission Board of Trustees, the president of the National Council for Workforce Education and chair of the Presidents for the Ohio Association of Community Colleges. Additionally, she serves on the boards of the Greater Springfield Partnership, Dayton Development Coalition, Rocking Horse Community Health Center and the Community College Alliance for Agricultural Advancement. A native of Carmel, Indiana, Dr. Blondin lives in Springfield with her husband, Andy Fox, who is a systems analyst for ABF Freight Systems. Their daughter, Dr. Helena Fox, is a veterinarian in Springfield.