The Greater Shreveport Chamber honored Thursday, Jan. 19 long standing business and higher education leader Louisiana State University Shreveport Chancellor Larry Clark as the Chamber’s 2022 Business Leader of the Year at its 113th Annual Banquet, presented by Willis-Knighton Health System.
Each year since 1978, the Chamber has recognized a local business leader who brings together superior business acumen with significant contributions to the development of the greater Shreveport community. This year the Chamber’s Senior Council selected Larry Clark in recognition of his principal role in transforming LSUS and his decades of leadership and service to our community.
“Chancellor Clark has not only been a transformational leader at LSUS, but he has served as a community champion through his extensive service on numerous boards, including the Chamber,” stated Chamber President Dr. Tim Magner. “We are delighted to recognize Chancellor Clark as our 2022 Business Leader of the Year for his lasting impact on our community”.
Larry Clark became Chancellor of LSU Shreveport on July 1, 2014. Prior to LSUS, Chancellor Clark was Dean of the business schools at UNC Wilmington, 2000-14, Sonoma State University, 1994-2000, and LSU Shreveport, 1985-94. Clark originally joined LSUS as a faculty member in August 1981. Prior to academia, Clark was an Army Captain/Judge Advocate (lawyer). Clark’s professional publications include being the lead author of Law and Business, a textbook over four editions with McGraw-Hill.
Clark rejoined LSUS at a critical time in its history, with a mission of building partnerships, increasing enrollment through new programs, focusing more on the student experience, and expanding the University’s level of community engagement and critical public support. During his tenure, LSUS has seen record-breaking enrollment (moving from 3,810 students in Spring, 2014 to over 8,700 students in Fall, 2022), national acclaim for its academic programs, and a revitalization of the campus, including new facilities such as the Student Success Center, Veterans Resource Center, Cyber Collaboratory, and Human Performance Lab.
Clark is a current board member of Step Forward, the Strategic Action Council, the Noel Foundation, and the LSUS Foundation Board. He is an Advisory Board member of the Norwela Council of the Boy Scouts of America and recent past board member of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and United Way. He is a member of the Committee of 100, Military Affairs Council, and the Downtown Rotary Club.
Clark was born in Freeport, Illinois. He has a B.A. in Economics from Knox College, a Juris Doctorate from the John Marshall Law School, and an L.LM. in Taxation from DePaul University. Clark is married to Georgia A. Clark. He has two stepdaughters and four step grandchildren.
