Jimmy Clarke, Ph.D.
SENIOR ADVISOR
Jimmy Clarke, Ph.D. has nearly 50 years of experiences which have shaped his passion for postsecondary education policy and improving the lives of others. He serves as a senior adviser to HCM’s policy team and firm leadership after leading our work with Lumina Foundation’s Strategy Labs for more than a decade.
Jimmy believes that education policies crafted to benefit the student ultimately benefit the community and the nation; therefore, he strives to ensure that decision-makers sift through the complexity of public policy and consider all consequences to students and their families. A people person at heart, Jimmy views his role as a builder of trust and relationships in an effort to foster collaboration among state policymakers with mutual student success goals.
Jimmy spent 20 years at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he served in a variety of capacities including dean of student personnel and dean of enrollment management. He also served on the staff of the Louisiana Board of Regents for eight years, a portion of which he served in a dual capacity as acting chancellor of the statewide, 42-campus Louisiana Technical College. He also perviously served as Chair of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. In these roles, Jimmy has developed a deep understanding for policy issues affecting every stakeholder in higher education – an invaluable perspective that he brings to his work at HCM.
Known for his problem-solving abilities and can-do spirit, Jimmy was tapped to be chief of staff to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco directly following Hurricane Katrina. He remained in this post throughout the rest of the Governor’s term, answering the call to duty during a time of crisis and rebuilding.
Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and influenced by the cultural revolution of the 1960s, Jimmy received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California at Santa Barbara and later earned his master’s degree and a Ph.D. in education administration from Louisiana State University’s College of Education.
A sports enthusiast, Jimmy has a long history of involvement with intramural and recreational sports. During football season, he enjoys cheering for the New Orleans Saints and remains loyal to the San Francisco Giants during baseball season. Jimmy lives with his wife in Lafayette, Louisiana, and has two children and five grandchildren.