Clark ’78 Honored by Urban League of Rochester

Fisher Alumnus and Trustee William G. Clark ’78 was honored during the Urban League of Rochester’s 60th Anniversary Gala for his decades of service to the organization and for his significant contributions to advancing equity and opportunity in Rochester.

Clark was named president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Rochester, NY, Inc. and its subsidiary Corporation, The Urban League of Rochester Economic Development Corporation in 1994. His career with the League spanned over 37 years. During his tenure, he served in many roles, initially joining chief financial officer in 1981, where he was responsible for the oversight and management of the agency’s annual operating budget and managed the investments in its Black Scholars Endowment Fund. In 1983, he was promoted to vice president for finance and administration. At that time, he assumed the duties of chief program officer and personnel administrator as well. By 1994, he was promoted to interim president and chief executive officer, and was confirmed by the Board of Directors to the permanent role overseeing the Urban League of Rochester and its subsidiary corporations.

During his tenure, he saw the League’s annual operating budget increase to over $6 million per year as the organization expanded its program offerings to over 30 programs. He was instrumental and led the purchase of the Urban League headquarter building at 265 North Clinton Avenue, and oversaw the agency’s successful Capital Campaign drive, which raised over $750,000 to renovate the building.

Prior to joining the Urban League, he served as the general accounting manager of the Genesee Hospital, and as an auditor for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Rochester.

A management graduate from Fisher, Clark also holds a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in accounting from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

He currently serves as a member of University’s Board of Trustees and served as the keynote speaker at the 2019 Commencement.