Clark College in Vancouver, WA

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News Release

Clark College Receives 2026 Higher Education Excellence And Distinction (HEED) Award (Photo) - 11/05/26

Vancouver, Wash. — Clark College recently received the 2026 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from Insight Into Academia magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.  

This is the second year in a row Clark College has been named a HEED Award recipient. 

As a recipient of the annual HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging, and community-building across all levels of campus life — Clark College is featured, along with 70 other recipients, in the October 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine.  

Clark is one of only nine schools in the country to receive the Community College HEED award, which honors two-year institutions that make student and employee success a campus-wide priority — from inclusive pedagogy to accessible student services and staff development programs. Clark has been named a HEED Award recipient for having demonstrated growth and continued progress in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across its programs, initiatives, and campus culture.  

“This honor represents more than an award; it reflects our commitment to our shared values, our responsibility to serve a diverse community, and our commitment to creating a college where every individual feels valued and supported,” said Vice President of the Office of People and Culture, Vanessa Neal. “It also serves as a reminder that building a culture of inclusion and belonging is a collective responsibility and an ongoing effort that requires all of us to lead with care, purpose, and intention.” 

The positive impact of this award will be felt across the school and community. It signals to prospective students, employees, alumni, donors, and the broader community that Clark is committed to the continued success of its DEI efforts. Additionally, this recognition provides the opportunity to learn from and educate other higher education institutions engaged in innovative DEI work and will serve as a starting point for future conversations, institutional strategic planning, and program development. 

“As the community’s college, we have the responsibility to lead with academic excellence, and in doing so, it means fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment that prepares current and future students to thrive,” said Neal. “I am proud to celebrate this recognition through the HEED Award, which reflects our shared commitment to creating a college community where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. This honor reminds us that building a culture of belonging is a collective effort and an ongoing commitment that requires all of us.

“We use a detailed scoring process as well as a holistic approach to reviewing each application to determine who will be named a HEED Award recipient”, said Lenore Pearlstein, Co-Publisher of Insight into Academia magazine. “Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where academic excellence and belonging are woven into the work being done every day across their campus."

About Insight Into Academia 

Insight Into Academia magazine is the leader in advancing best practices in higher education excellence. Through thought-provoking print and online articles, we share expert advice, valuable resources, in-depth profiles of top programs at colleges and universities, headline news, and much more to help keep our readers informed and empower them to advance initiatives at their institutions. Current, archived, and digital issues of Insight Into Academia magazine are available online at insightintoacademia.com. 

Click here for a list of the 2026 HEED Award recipients. 


About Clark College  

Founded in 1933, Clark College is Southwest Washington’s largest public institution of higher education and serves over 8,500 students per term. Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. Clark College offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor’s and associate degrees; professional certificates; high school diplomas and GED preparation; and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves a wide range of students, including high school students, displaced workers, veterans, parents, non-native English speakers, and mature learners. Approximately 47% of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend college.

Attached Media Files: Clark College President Dr. Karin Edwards and Vice President of the Office of People and Culture Vanessa Neal holding the 2026 HEED Award, Clark College's 2026 HEED Award,

Clark College Receives 2026 Higher Education Excellence And Distinction (HEED) Award (Photo) - 11/05/26

Vancouver, Wash. — Clark College recently received the 2026 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from Insight Into Academia magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.  

This is the second year in a row Clark College has been named a HEED Award recipient. 

As a recipient of the annual HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging, and community-building across all levels of campus life — Clark College is featured, along with 70 other recipients, in the October 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine.  

Clark is one of only nine schools in the country to receive the Community College HEED award, which honors two-year institutions that make student and employee success a campus-wide priority — from inclusive pedagogy to accessible student services and staff development programs. Clark has been named a HEED Award recipient for having demonstrated growth and continued progress in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across its programs, initiatives, and campus culture.  

“This honor represents more than an award; it reflects our commitment to our shared values, our responsibility to serve a diverse community, and our commitment to creating a college where every individual feels valued and supported,” said Vice President of the Office of People and Culture, Vanessa Neal. “It also serves as a reminder that building a culture of inclusion and belonging is a collective responsibility and an ongoing effort that requires all of us to lead with care, purpose, and intention.” 

The positive impact of this award will be felt across the school and community. It signals to prospective students, employees, alumni, donors, and the broader community that Clark is committed to the continued success of its DEI efforts. Additionally, this recognition provides the opportunity to learn from and educate other higher education institutions engaged in innovative DEI work and will serve as a starting point for future conversations, institutional strategic planning, and program development. 

“As the community’s college, we have the responsibility to lead with academic excellence, and in doing so, it means fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment that prepares current and future students to thrive,” said Neal. “I am proud to celebrate this recognition through the HEED Award, which reflects our shared commitment to creating a college community where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. This honor reminds us that building a culture of belonging is a collective effort and an ongoing commitment that requires all of us.

“We use a detailed scoring process as well as a holistic approach to reviewing each application to determine who will be named a HEED Award recipient”, said Lenore Pearlstein, Co-Publisher of Insight into Academia magazine. “Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where academic excellence and belonging are woven into the work being done every day across their campus."

About Insight Into Academia 

Insight Into Academia magazine is the leader in advancing best practices in higher education excellence. Through thought-provoking print and online articles, we share expert advice, valuable resources, in-depth profiles of top programs at colleges and universities, headline news, and much more to help keep our readers informed and empower them to advance initiatives at their institutions. Current, archived, and digital issues of Insight Into Academia magazine are available online at insightintoacademia.com. 

Click here for a list of the 2026 HEED Award recipients. 


About Clark College  

Founded in 1933, Clark College is Southwest Washington’s largest public institution of higher education and serves over 8,500 students per term. Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. Clark College offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor’s and associate degrees; professional certificates; high school diplomas and GED preparation; and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves a wide range of students, including high school students, displaced workers, veterans, parents, non-native English speakers, and mature learners. Approximately 47% of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend college.

Attached Media Files: Clark College President Dr. Karin Edwards and Vice President of the Office of People and Culture Vanessa Neal holding the 2026 HEED Award, Clark College's 2026 HEED Award,