Malcolm Clark, beloved professor of history, passed away on August 16, 2025. Clark taught at the College of Charleston for more than 50 years, and his dedication in the classroom and willingness to mentor made him a favorite among students. One other way Clark gave back to his students was through scholarships.
“Malcolm Clark was a loved and respected member of the Department of History’s faculty for many years,” says Phyllis Jestice, Ph.D., chair, Department of History. “Generous with his time and always ready to encourage both students and colleagues, his generosity extended to the establishment of scholarships. For decades, his scholarships have helped students finance their college careers.”
Clark came to the College in 1966 as an assistant professor of history and was promoted to professor of history in 1975. Before retiring in 1995, he received the honorary title of distinguished professor. That said, Clark never truly retired; he continued to teach senior seminars at the College.
A long-time philanthropist of the College, Clark had a strong desire to create a legacy to honor his professor as well as to remember his family. Paired with his wish to provide students with the opportunity to succeed, Clark established numerous endowed scholarships.
In 2002, Clark created the Richard Walsh Memorial Fund to honor his former Georgetown professor and mentor, Richard Walsh ’49. The alumnus recommended the then doctoral candidate look at the College. He thought Clark would like the school’s atmosphere, and he did — he was captivated by the city’s rich history and the intimacy of the classes. When he started at CofC in 1966, the student population was only 373. As the population grew, he admired how the class sizes remained small, one of the many things that kept him at the College for his entire career. The Walsh fund supports the purchase of history materials at the Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library.
To create a legacy and honor his parents, in 2001, Clark set up the Douglas and Elizabeth Clark Memorial Scholarship. In 2007, he created a planned gift to honor his wife’s parents — the Edwin and Pearl Meredith Memorial Scholarship. When his cherished wife, Janice, passed away in 2014, Clark established the Janice Meredith Clark Memorial Scholarship in Performance to honor her passion for music and the Janice Meredith Clark Endowed Memorial Scholarship.
Clark enjoyed seeing the impact of his scholarships on students.
“I rejoice that I have had some excellent students, and that they have gone on to very successful careers and good lives as good citizens,” said Clark in a 2016 interview. “I count that as a blessing. That’s the great reward that comes to teachers — the fruit is in what happens to the students.”
Clark leaves behind a legacy of numerous grateful students and graduates over his many years of teaching and mentoring at the College. Now, thanks to Clark’s final bequest, he will continue to make a major difference in students’ lives for many years to come.