In 1995, Kelly Clark joined TCC as director of what would become the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education at Southeast Campus. Hired by then-President Dean VanTrease, her first major assignment was supervising the original construction of the PACE.
“Oh, the stories I could tell!” laughs Clark, who was promoted to Dean of the School of Visual & Performing Arts in 2002 and oversees the College’s art, digital media, music, and theatre programs. “On my very first day on the job, while reviewing the building plans, I realized there was no loading dock. That single observation resulted in a $54,000 change order.”
As the building took shape, Clark spent countless evenings and weekends ensuring every detail was just right. “While my friends were having kids, I joked that I birthed a building.”
Over the past three decades, Clark has witnessed hundreds of productions and community events that brought the arts to life for students and audiences across Tulsa.
“We’ve welcomed local, national, and international artists, nurtured countless students, and created meaningful experiences for our community. I have watched the children of children who first performed on this stage return to have their own first moments under these lights. I’ve watched the PACE grow into adulthood, and now it feels like it’s time to let her fly,” she adds.
Clark will retire from TCC at the end of June. Ensuring her legacy remains embedded in the building she helped bring to life, the College recently announced the PACE’s main hall will be named the Kelly Clark Theatre.
“Kelly has been the heart of the PACE,” says Greg Stone, Ph.D. Associate Vice President of Academic and Campus Operations. “Under her leadership, it has become one of the College’s most important community-facing assets, hosting nationally acclaimed performers and speakers like Sam Harris, Gloria Steinem, and The Manhattan Transfer, just to name a few. More importantly, our students have gained invaluable experience on a professional stage.”
Reflecting on 31 years at TCC, Clark says the relationships she’s formed has brought her the most joy.
“The people are the most rewarding part—the students who refine their talents, the faculty who take pride in their work, the patrons who show up in support. On stressful days, I’d sit at the back of the theater and think about all the remarkable individuals who took this stage. It reminded me why every bump along the way was worth it.”
Before joining TCC, she worked in film and video across several states and even spent time at The Today Show. Those early experiences shaped her philosophy.
“I learned that I’m not the creative artist; I’m the one who supports them. My work has always been about removing barriers so artists, students, and educators can focus on what they do best.
“Beyond technical skills, the arts cultivate empathy, critical thinking, collaboration, and accountability. These are invaluable skills in any profession. The arts keep many students engaged in their education.”
That spirit has also guided her involvement with Signature Symphony, which offered students masterclasses, mentorship, and unique performance opportunities. Clark has been engaged with the Symphony’s Advisory Board since its founding, and in May the organization will honor her at its annual fundraising event, Overture—an acknowledgement she describes as “deeply humbling.”
As retirement approaches, Clark is looking forward to new adventures, most of them involving her four beloved border collies. But her heart remains with the community she has served.
“I hope my legacy is simple: opportunities for connection,” she says. “Through performances, lectures, concerts, and graduations, people came here to celebrate, to feel, to reflect. These moments remind us that we are a community. That’s what matters most.”