Ken Clark, President and CEO of Christ Central Institute arrived at the Institute through a rather long, circuitous route. A native of New York City, Mr. Clark joined the United States Navy on his 17th birthday and served 32 years as sailor, midshipman and officer. He was Commanding Officer of a destroyer and retired at the rank of Captain. After serving as Vice President, Information Systems for Cincinnati Bell and DYNCORP in the Washington, DC area, he and his wife Joanne returned to her roots in Swansea, South Carolina. He managed Computer and Printing Operations for all state tax systems at the SC Department of Revenue. He also got involved in South Carolina politics and served as a School Board Member, Member of the Board of Directors for the South Carolina School Boards Association and as a State Legislator in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

I had an opportunity to sit down with President Clark to ask him several questions concerning Christ Central Institute. When asked how God initially led him into his present ministry, he revealed that, having given his life to Christ and having been saved at a very young age, he has been heavily involved in church throughout his lifetime. Coming from a background of desperate poverty, Mr. Clark found refuge and hope in the Christ whom he'd given his life over to. What greatly attracted Mr. Clark to Christ Central Institute was the fact that the Bible Institute offers opportunity for scholar shipped university education to the needy among us. Given Mr. Clark's childhood experiences, this struck a chord with him, moving him to become involved in the Institute and its ministry.

When I asked what the elements were that are essential to Mr. Clark's ministerial functions, he revealed several experiences from his career that were key in bringing excellence to Christ Central Institute.  The first of these elements is the 32 years of his military experience--ranging from seaman recruit to Commanding Officer of the Navy destroyer USS Hawkins. He earned his commission at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1960. The second element Mr. Clark pointed to was his educational and academic experience. He served as the Director of the Department of Defense Computer Institute in Washington, DC, was the Director of Information Resource Management at the National Defense University in Washington, DC, and served as the Chairman of the Computer Sciences Department at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Mr. Clark also has extensive experience in local academic affairs. For example, Mr. Clark was a member of the Board of Trustees, in Lexington School District 4, Swansea SC, a member of the Board of Trustees, SC School Boards Association, Columbia SC, as well as being a Member on the Board of Directors, SC School Improvement Councils Association, SC. As a Legislator, Mr. Clark was a State Representative, SC House District 96, Lexington and Aiken Counties serving as a Member of the Education and Public Works Committee, and a Member of the K-12 Education Sub-Committeee.

When I asked Mr. Clark how he manages to balance such a multitude of major responsibilities, he simply stated that he had received a wonderful work ethic from his father--additionally, Mr. Clark had, from his youth, constantly sought to break out from the grips of the poverty that he had known in childhood.

Mr. Clark's stated goals are to grow Christ Central Institute--increasing both the student body and the number of classes that are offered. Several other pertinent goals Mr. Clark has stated are to increase the size of the faculty and to gain National Accreditation for the Institute.

Among his many awards, Mr. Clark received several prominent awards in 2006--The Carolina Careers "Governor's Special Recognition Award for Education", as well as South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's, "Order of the Palmetto."

Mr. Clark is married to the former Joanne Martin of Swansea, SC and has two children and nine grandchildren.

Article by Benjamin Kenny

Christ Central Institute is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of both the new Library and "Expressions Coffee Company," located at 112 Park Street in Wagener, on Saturday, March 20, 2010.  Located next to the new "Expressions Coffee Company,"  the CCI Library is the  home of approximately 40,000 books, periodicals and other materials focusing on Christian education, theology and church history.  Both facilities will be open to the public.  Questions about the Expressions Coffee Company may be directed to manager Tyler Jones (803.518.6645).  Questions about the CCI Library may be directed to Library Director Tim Skinner   (803.522.3488).