Retiree Recognition For: Kit Clark
Title / Dept:
FT Professional Lead Tutor in the Learning Commons / PT Associate Professor for Tech Careers
Subject: Farewell and Thank You
Hello,
My name is Kit John Clark. Everyone always asks me if Kit is my real name—and it is! It stems from my grandfather, whose name was Clinton, but everyone called him “Kit” for short. I was given his nickname as my real name, and I've carried it proudly ever since.
I am retiring from Lansing Community College after 32 years of service as a dual-role employee. Most of my time has been as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Computer Information Technology department within Technical Careers. For the past nine years, I’ve also worked in the Learning Commons—first as a part-time Professional Tutor, and for the last three years as a full-time Professional Lead Tutor.
LCC has truly been like a second home to me. It was my first professional job after graduating from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. I was excited to move to the "big city" of Lansing and to join this vibrant college—complete with its cool Stars mascot name!
LCC is also where I met my wife, Mindy. We first crossed paths on the sidewalk between Dart Auditorium and the Mackinaw Building. She worked in another department, and I was just starting out. Now, 35 years later, we’re about to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and LCC will always hold a special place in our hearts because of that.
I began teaching for Tech Careers by going out to businesses to provide training in Lotus 1-2-3 and the then-new Symphony spreadsheet software. I later moved on to DOS (Disk Operating System) and eventually the Microsoft Office suite, which remained a staple for many years. I also taught other areas of the program, helping students become IT support professionals. My motto has always been to teach these programs using real-life examples, clear documentation of where to find commands, and—most importantly—explaining the why behind the solution. That strategy has served me well in the Learning Commons, where one-on-one tutoring has been both fulfilling and impactful.
LCC was my steady anchor even as I worked full-time elsewhere in the computer industry. I spent 17 years with EDS supporting General Motors in Lansing, and after some GM buildings closed, I moved through various roles in IT—from insurance companies to a six-year position at a law firm as their IT support specialist. Hard work was instilled in me early on, and it’s something I’ve always carried with pride.
As I look back and now venture into retirement, I’m grateful to see my two adult daughters following in those footsteps—both hard-working, successful, and adventurous young women. I'm incredibly proud of them. To my wife, thank you for walking beside me as we now focus on caring for our parents, having fun, traveling the world, and enjoying the time we have together.
I thank LCC for being such a meaningful part of my journey. To the staff in Technical Careers' Computer Information Technology department and the Learning Commons—thank you. I’ve learned so much from all of you, and I’ve tried to apply that learning to become a better version of myself every day.
Thank you for the memories, the lessons, and the laughter. It’s been a great ride.
Happy trails to you—until we meet again.
Best regards,
Kit Clark
