Chippewa Valley Times

Megan Clark, a staff member at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, has achieved recognition as an author following her entry in a language competition. Her children's book was selected for the final round of judging in the 2024 National Chinese Expo of Student Works. Dr. Kaishan Kong, an associate professor of Chinese, encouraged Clark to submit her work, which was initially created as part of a class project.

"Megan is one of my two students whose works made it to the final," Kong stated. "Megan has been an excellent student, demonstrating her dedication and accomplishments in learning the Chinese language and culture."

Clark's passion for languages extends beyond Chinese; she has also studied Spanish, Japanese, and Korean. She attributes part of her success to the UW-Eau Claire reimbursement program that supports her multilingual pursuits.

"I chose to complete the full certificate in Chinese language as something to hold up when I was done and be able to say, 'I took these steps to better myself, and I did it,'" Clark said.

Her interest in language learning began with a degree in interior design from UW-Stout and later led her to a role within the College of Arts and Sciences at UW-Eau Claire. Her responsibilities include assisting Associate Dean Margaret Cassidy with curricular changes and serving as a contact point for students and faculty.

Clark also contributes significantly to campus life through various groups such as University Staff Council and Administrative Professionals Collaboration Group (APCG). She expressed pride in developing resources for administrative staff across campus.

"I have enjoyed being part of various groups on campus including University Staff Council," she noted about her involvement.

In addition to her professional commitments, Clark enjoys quiet walks along Eau Claire trails during her leisure time. She recently read "But You Don’t Look Sick," which resonates with her experience living with fibromyalgia.

"It's been a while since I last sat down with a physical book...This book was refreshing and provided an important perspective," she shared regarding her reading habits.