Richard D. Clark is Professor of Meteorology Emeritus at Millersville University having spent 35 years as an educator and research scientist, and the last 20 years as department chair. His airborne and balloon borne research in atmospheric boundary layer jet streams, and air chemistry led to participation in major field campaigns involving over 250 undergraduate students, among them, NARSTO-NEOPS (EPA), DISCOVER-AQ (NASA), OWLeS, PECAN, and SEAR-MAR (NSF). He has contributed to many educational opportunities, including the development of a concentration in Heliophysics and Space Weather, an M.S. in Integrated Scientific Applications to prepare business-ready scientists, and a Certification in Space Weather and Environment: Science, Policy, and Communication to advance understanding and communicate risks associated with extreme solar events.
Clark was the 2022 American Meteorological Society (AMS) President and currently serves as 2nd Past-President and a member of the AMS Council and Executive Committee. He is a Fellow of the AMS and was elected to Council (2008-11). As an AMS member for 36 years, his service includes the International Affairs Committee, Global Partners, Board of Higher Education, Nominating Committee, STAC and APT Committees, and as co-organizer of several AMS conferences, workshops, and symposia, including the First Student Conference. He served as Chair of the Awards Oversight Committee and now chairs the Fellows Awards Committee. Student participation at AMS, AGU, NWA, WRMA, and agencies’ functions are central to Clark’s commitment to student success and the viability of these organizations.
Clark was elected to the Board of Trustees (2009-2015) for the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and has served on all UCAR governance committees, strategic planning workshops, and search committees. His contribution to science advocacy, building relationships, and access to data and tools on behalf of the university community is manifest through leadership on the UCAR Advocacy for Science Committee, Presidents Advisory Committee on University Relations, and Unidata Governance Committees. His recent collaboration with the National Center for Atmospheric Research Earth Observing Lab and the COMET program on an NSF grant “SEGUE” has led to the development of 10 learning modules on instrumentation and measurement that are freely available to the students and instructors in the community. Clark also served on other NSF initiatives (e.g. EarthCube) and panels, notably as chair of the NSF/NCAR/EOL Observing Facilities Advisory Panel (OFAP).
Closer to home, Clark serves as Vice-President of the North Museum of Nature and Science and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Lancaster County Partnership on Public Health.
Clark has a Ph.D. in atmospheric science from the University of Wyoming (’87) and is the recipient of the 2006 Russell L. DeSouza Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Unidata Community and the 2008 AMS Teaching Excellence Award.