PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University has announced that Vice President for News and Civic Dialogue at WHYY Sandra Clark will deliver the keynote address at the college’s in-person graduation ceremony. The long-awaited ceremony, to be held on May 6, comes at the end of a year of mostly remote courses.
“I’m deeply honored to be invited to be the keynote speaker, especially after such a tumultuous year,” Clark said. “Will we emerge still asking ‘Why now?’ or ‘Why me?’ Or with clarity and a sense of purpose from ‘Now, I see.’ I look forward to exploring that with the Class of 2021.”
In her role at WHYY, the Philadelphia region’s leading public media outlet, Clark manages all news operations across radio, television, web and digital media. She also leads the award-winning newsroom’s audience growth and diversification strategies and community engagement initiatives, manages local news partnerships and partners with foundations and donor departments on local and national news grants.
Clark is a nationally known advocate for diversity, inclusion, equity and closing the power and trust gap between journalists and communities of color. She is a contributing instructor, coach and mentor of emerging leaders for the Poynter Institute, and serves as an executive advisor for the Lenfest Constellation News Leadership Initiative.
“Sandy is a superb journalist, and is one of the most powerful voices in the country in discussions about where journalism is headed and how it can better serve our diverse communities,” said Dean David Boardman. “Her leadership with both The Philadelphia Inquirer and WHYY has been exemplary, and I know she will have an inspiring message for our graduates.”
Clark was previously managing editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she served in executive leadership, led diversity efforts and created a revenue-driven innovation team. Under her leadership, the Inquirer was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 2014. She also started a reader-supported after-school healthy cooking program in Philadelphia schools.
Klein’s graduation ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on May 6 at Geasey Field. Tune into the celebration on Klein’s YouTube channel.
About Klein College of Media and Communication
The Klein College of Media and Communication shapes media and media-creators through a dynamic combination of academic rigor and practical training in the context of a diverse urban media market.
Klein fosters media solutions, innovation and discourse through its manifold research faculty and faculty-practitioners who represent a wealth of industry knowledge, theoretical and field research and groundbreaking technology. With this variety of thought coursing through the college, discussions are always held at the cutting edge of the ever-changing communication industry. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, faculty and students are able to directly apply this knowledge to one of the nation’s largest media communities.
Klein aims to educate students to be ethical, critical and inventive leaders, producers and citizens in a multimedia and multicultural society. When Klein students graduate, they have not only acquired a variety of skills and abilities, but have become discerners of truth and meaning prepared to bring precision and creativity into the workplace.