Presenter Bio - Dr. Erica Clark

Dr. Erica Clark is the Director of Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Najim Center for Innovation and Career Advancement at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Affectionately known as “Boss Lady” and “Dr. Mom,” she is recognized for her authentic leadership, strong dedication to student success, and ability to energize audiences through honest talk, reflection, and action.

As a woman of color and first-generation college graduate, Dr. Clark’s leadership and Scholarship is shaped by lived experience. Her path, from navigating systems not built for her to earning a doctorate in Educational Leadership, has strengthened her dedication to challenging the status quo in higher education. She has more than a decade of experience questioning traditional norms about who belongs, who leads, and how innovation is fostered.

What makes Dr. Clark unique is her rare ability to connect scholarship, lived experience, and practice. She doesn't just speak to audiences; she creates spaces where participants feel seen, challenged, and inspired again. Her work focuses on first-generation students and educators doing transformative work, showing what is possible when mindset, access, and opportunity come together. 

Her leadership philosophy is based on one simple truth:
“You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” — Wayne Gretzky