Kenneth E. Clark, dean emeritus of the College and professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Rochester, died of cancer June 21 at the age of 85 at his home in Naples, Fla. At the time of his death, he was the Smith Richardson Senior Scientist at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, N.C., having been its president from 1981-1985 and its board chairman from 1974-1981.
After earning his doctorate in psychology at Ohio State University, Kenneth Clark joined the faculty in psychology at the University of Minnesota in 1940. He served as chairman of that department from 1957-1960. He was Dean of the College of Arts and Science at the University of Colorado from 1961-1963, and at the University of Rochester from 1963-1980.
A nationally known psychologist and educator, Dean Clark held posts as president of the American Board in Professional Psychology and the American Psychological Foundation. He also was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to the National Medal of Science Committee, and was chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Psychology and the American Conference of Academic Deans.
Dean Clark spent much of his professional life researching and bringing others together to study the qualities of leadership, the place of heroes in our lives, and the preparation of future leaders. He was the author of America's Psychologists, The Vocational Interests of Nonprofessional Men, and co-authored The Graduate Student as Teacher, Psychology, Measures of Leadership, Impact of Leadership, and Choosing to Lead. For 10 years, he edited the Journal of Applied Psychology.
After he retired from the University of Rochester on Jan. 1, 1981, Dean Clark was elected president of the Center for Creative Leadership, an educational institution devoted to improving the practice of management. For a time, he filled the position on a part-time basis while he remained at the University and worked on a program funded by the Lilly Foundation to help younger faculty members become better teachers.
During his career, he was a consultant to the White House, the Office of Science and Technology, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Veterans Administration, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Navy. He was awarded Ohio State University's Centennial Achievement Award, the American Personnel and Guidance Association's award for research excellence, and the
E. K. Strong, Jr. Gold Medal for contributions to interest measurement. He received the Gold Medal Award of the American Psychological Foundation in 1986 for a lifetime of exceptional contributions to professional psychology.
Born in New Madison, Ohio, in 1914, Dean Clark also earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Ohio State. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II. During his years in Rochester, he was a member of the PUNDIT Club, the Fortnightly Club, and was involved in the Rotary.
He was a founding fellow of the American Psychological Society, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Psychological Association, and an honorary life fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association.
Dean Clark is survived by his wife, Miriam B. Clark; three daughters, Patricia Hill (and son-in-law Richard Hill) of Anoka, Minn.; Virginia Clark of Rochester, N.Y.; and Joyce Marie Luke (and son-in-law Bernard Luke), also of Rochester. His wife's family also survives him, including stepdaughters Martha R. Birnbaum of Rochester, and Judith R. Allen of Greensboro, N.C., their husbands, children, and grandchildren.
Donations in his memory may be made to Seacrest Country Day School, 7100 Davis Blvd., Naples, Fla. 34104, or Hospice of Naples, Inc., 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, Fla. 34104.