English major and women’s and gender studies minor with the Honors College, with a concentration in politics, philosophy and law
Swanson Family Endowed Scholarship, Jill Conway Annual Scholarship, Alison Piepmeier Endowed/Annual Scholarship
Enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, with plans of becoming a public defender and criminal justice policymaker focusing on equitable criminal justice reform.
Elizabeth Clark of Philadelphia is a Charleston Fellow and first-generation college student. She received numerous scholarships, including the Swanson Family Annual Scholarship, which made CofC a clear choice. Clark was also awarded the Alison Piepmeier Scholarship for her feminist activism and leadership, the Jill Conway Annual Scholarship for her intellectual engagement and curiosity and the John Creed Award for her extracurricular experiences in political science.
With internships in local government and Congress, Clark strengthened her interest in public service. She is a member of five prestigious honor societies and was a recipient of several research conference awards, all of which helped her develop into a scholar dedicated to meaningful community justice work.
Her bachelor’s essay, “Criminal Record Sealing in South Carolina: What Does it Take to Make a Clean Slate State?” examined the political, administrative and social barriers to expanding record sealing policies. In it, Clark proposed a three-pronged, state-specific solution for dismantling systemic inequalities. This work was especially meaningful to her because it connected her academic interests with her strong commitment to criminal justice reform and advocating for individuals navigating the long-term consequences of incarceration.
During her time at the College, Clark launched and led three student organizations centered on advocacy, service and civic engagement: Students Demand Action, a gun-safety advocacy organization; Delight Ministries, an all-women organization for spiritual development; and the Political Science Club, a nonpartisan space for productive political conversation.
Her policy research was recognized locally and nationally, earning the Best Paper Award at the William V. Moore Conference and the Best Presentation and Policymaking Innovation Award at Carnegie Mellon University’s Public Service Conference.
The College of Charleston taught Clark how to think critically across disciplines, communicate with clarity and approach complex problems from multiple perspectives, which will help her navigate the demands of law school and ultimately serve others with rigor and empathy as a public defender.
One of her favorite spots on campus is the Cistern Yard, where she found the best people-watching on campus and also gave her the chance to breathe and reconnect with nature and the campus community after focusing on intellectual pursuits. Clark will miss the close-knit, collaborative community that supported and sustained her academic and personal growth. She will always remember CofC as the place where she felt genuinely known, challenged and encouraged.