Dr. Cynthia Mitchell Clarke's involvement in the civil rights struggle of the 1960's in St Augustine, Florida, served to shape her values and her future. During this era, she was privileged to walk side-by-side and engage in conversations with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev Andrew Young, Rev. Hosea Williams, Rev. C.T. Vivian, and Dr. Dorothy Cotton. Her numerous experiences, including marches, sit-ins and wade-ins sometimes left her physically injured and emotionally scarred, but she chose not to let these events negatively impact her life. Unknowing to her at the time, these experiences prepared her to achieve later as a leader and develop her character of servant leadership. These life altering experiences went on to shape the values and futures of thousands of individuals from her numerous roles in her chosen profession as an educator, active member of numerous organizations, and as a Christian.

Dr. Clarke amassed 36 years of professional experience in K-12 education, including Language Arts teacher, middle school Assistant Principal, elementary school Principal, Regional Director and Assistant Superintendent for Leadership Development, all within the Miami-Dade County Public School System. Additionally, she has served in the capacity of adjunct professor at Barry University and Florida Memorial University having organized two successful Student Leadership Development Summer Institutes at the latter. During her years as a principal, she was twice named by her peers as Regional Principal of the Year and subsequent District Runner-up. This recognition was given because of her leadership coupled with an exemplary staff to turn around a low achieving inner-city school to one of high performance. Dr. Clarke was a frequent presenter at numerous conferences sharing the process by which her school made such a dramatic change in the lives of the students and their families. As a result of her successes at the school site for over 14 years, she was promoted to the position of Regional Administrative Director. During her final three years in the Miami-Dade County School system, she served in the capacity of Assistant Superintendent for Leadership Development. During her tenure in this position, she forged a relationship with the Harvard Principals' Center where under her leadership through the Miami-Dade School System provided for 300 school and district administrators from Miami-Dade schools receiving training in numerous areas of school leadership at the University. This relationship led to the first ever Harvard Leadership Institute outside of the Harvard Campus, which was held here in Miami. Florida. Subsequent to this involvement, Dr. Clarke was invited on occasions to serve as a facilitator during the Summer Principals' Leadership Institute at the University. Never one to sit back and watch as others work, Dr. Clarke has involved herself in numerous organizations often serving in leadership roles. She is a member of the Church of the Open Door (Congregational) United Church of Christ where she is a member of the Diaconate Board, Church Choir and immediate past president of the Women's Fellowship. She is the immediate past president of the Dade County (Fl) Chapter The Links, Incorporated, and an active member of Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. In addition, she served as past president of the local chapter of Jack and Jill of America and the Just us Social Club and member of the Bethune-Cookman University National Alumni Association. She sits on the Board of Directors of Citrus Health Network, a leading mental health agency where she has provided her expertise as a member for over twenty years. Presently, Dr. Clarke is principal consultant with Clarke Consulting Group, LLC, an independent consulting firm where she continues to provide comprehensive professional development to educational institutions and private entities in assisting them in achieving optimal productivity.

Dr. Clarke holds the Bachelor of Arts in English from Bethune-Cookman (College) University, Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado, and the Ed.D in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Clarke is married to William E. Clarke, III, is the mother of Brian E. Clarke (wife Tarah), and is the grandmother of Christian Jayden and Bryson Chandler. Her mother, Mrs. Queen Mitchell McCall and stepfather, George McCall, both 92 years young, reside in St. Augustine, Florida.