Academic Advisor Spotlight: Dr. Tara Clarke

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology has an amazing Advising Team of ten Faculty Academic Advisors and a Director of Academic Advising and we would like to share with you more information about them so you can get to know them better!  In today’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology Newsletter get to know Dr. Tara Clarke, Anthropology Faculty and Academic Advisor of Anthropology and Criminology!  

Dr. Tara Clarke is a primatologist and conservationist. She has been engaged in lemur research and conservation for over 20 years. She earned her BA in Anthropology from Stony Brook University on Long Island, where she grew up! Dr. Clarke earned her MA and Ph.D. in Evolutionary Anthropology at New Mexico State University and the University of Victoria, respectively. When she’s not teaching and mentoring students, Dr. Clarke can be found spending time with her three rescue dogs, Miss Pearl, Jean-Luc Picard, and Jedi Master Murray, as well as her rescue kitty Mildred. Moreover,  Dr. Clarke enjoys giving back to her community in Durham where she volunteers with the non-profit organization Triangle Canine Club (TCC) and APS (Animal Protection Society of Durham).

As one of our academic advisors, Dr. Clarke offers valuable advice for students looking for guidance. She emphasizes the importance of utilizing your academic advisor as a resource. Whether you are facing an academic or personal issue, your advisor can always point you in the right direction. Dr. Clarke encourages students to utilize tools like the Academic Success Center, tutoring services, and student organizations in order to be a successful student. She also advocates for the use of digital calendars like Google Calendar to stay on top of homework and other deadlines. Dr. Clarke even uses this herself to set reminders for meetings with students and advisees, stressing to students how helpful it is! As described by one of her advisees, “she has such a passion for her field and advising, consistently providing resources that are tailored to us.” Dr. Clarke reminds students that their advisors are “always in our corner;” they are always ready to provide guidance or connect them to any NC State resource they may need!

Article By Heidi Bekkelund, Anthropology Major and Department of Sociology and Anthropology Student Ambassador