Small College America - Marco Clark President Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, Indiana

In this episode, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Marco J. Clark, President of Holy Cross College, a private, co-educational, liberal arts college located on a 70-acre wooded campus in South Bend, Indiana. With over three decades in Catholic education, Dr. Clark has become a visionary leader committed to academic innovation and mission-centered growth. Since becoming president in 2022, he has guided Holy Cross through transformative change—most notably with the launch of its strategic plan With Eyes of Faith, a roadmap shaped by the campus community that emphasizes mission, academic excellence, and student transformation. Under his leadership, Holy Cross has achieved record enrollment, expanded academic offerings, and deepened its partnerships with Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s. We’re excited to talk with him about leading in uncertain times, his “partner or perish” philosophy, and the future of faith-based small colleges.

QUESTIONS

1. Marco, let’s start with some background on Holy Cross College. Can you give us an overview of the institution and its evolution over the years?" Follow–up: For over twenty years, you served as a High School Principal in Maryland. What led you to Holy Cross?
2. Let’s discuss your strategic plan with Eyes of Faith. Can you walk us through how Holy Cross conducted its strategic planning process and how that shaped your path forward?
3. Holy Cross is experiencing notable growth in enrollment, facilities, and academic offerings. What key elements are driving this momentum, and how do you plan to sustain it? 
4. You’ve made faith formation a central theme of your leadership. How do you see the role of faith-based colleges evolving in today’s higher education landscape? 
5. You’ve said small colleges must “partner or perish.” Can you elaborate on what that means for you and how it has influenced Holy Cross’s strategy and collaborations?
6. What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing small colleges today—and how can institutions like Holy Cross position themselves to meet those head-on?

If you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our LinkedIn site, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover." Small College America receives underwriting support from Perspective Data Science, which develops cutting-edge AI tools and data solutions, including the Financial Compass 

"For Small College America, I’m Dean Hoke, with Edu Alliance and a Senior Fellow with the Sagamore Institute, and on behalf of Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President of Augustana University, Marco Clark, and Dean Hoke. Thanks for joining us!"