The search for the Binghamton University LGBTQ Center’s founding director kicked off Tuesday afternoon with a presentation by the first of four candidates.

Kelly Clark recently finished her doctorate in executive leadership at St. John Fisher College and, prior to that, received an M.A. in human development and a B.A. in psychology at the University of Rochester. She gave her presentation, “Hold the Vision, Trust the Process,” in the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development before students and administrators from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Human Resources and the Fleishman Center.

This was the first of four candidate presentations, and the remaining three are scheduled for the next week and a half. Candidates are asked to explain their vision for the Center, what they think they could contribute and why they are the most qualified for the position, followed by a question and answer session. The hire will be made this semester, and the position will be implemented in fall 2016.

Recently, Clark worked at the Gay Alliance as a programs director and the University of Rochester as the associate director of alumni programs. She previously worked as the director of multicultural affairs at SUNY Geneseo and the special assistant to the president for multicultural programs and affirmative action at SUNY New Paltz.

Clark discussed her mission statement that reflected her vision of how the Center would function as a resource to LGBTQ students on campus, as well in the community and those looking to apply to the University.

“The missions statement would be: to create a campus environment that enhances the learning, engagement and success of LGBTQ students,” she said.

In the next five years, Clark said she would like to see the Center become a place for advocacy, resource, support and training at the University. Clark said that she is accustomed to taking initiatives in founding positions and believes she has the ability to develop existing programs at BU, as well as create new proposals to further LGBTQ student success.

“What I’m proposing is not a strategic plan process for the Center,” she said. “What I’m proposing is a process of continuous improvement that really allows us to take the most wildly important goals, start with number one, and wiggle our way down the process.”

Clark focused especially on creating a Campus Pride Index profile for BU by 2020. Campus Pride is a website that ranks universities across the country based on policies, programs and practices for LGBTQ students. In doing this, she said, BU can attract more LGBTQ student leaders.

“When we miss an opportunity to engage and enroll students, we’re missing out on some of the ingredients to move the mission of the University forward as it relates to LGBTQ people,” she said.

She also proposed revamping Blackboard to show professors students’ preferred names, create LGBTQ scholarships and research opportunities, connect with alumni, bring in speakers and develop training programs at orientation and in various departments.

Ultimately, Clark said, she would like to see the LGBTQ Center’s mission and resources not be independent from other departments at the University, but integrated in the community.

“The success of the Center should not rest on the charisma of the person,” she said. “The way that you enroll programs is to have them embedded in the fabric of the institution from the mission, the vision and the values of the University.”