By Kendall Murry
Clark Atlanta University is paying tribute to an alumnus and former faculty member who was shot and killed on a California technical college campus earlier this month.
The HBCU announced on Wednesday the death of Dr. Cameisha Clark, 35, a former Office of Retention worker and seminar professor for the university. In a press release on Wednesday, CAU officials described her as “a leader, advocate, and beacon of excellence, resilience, and service.”
Clark first arrived at CAU in 2007, where she would later earn degrees in 2011, 2013 and 2020. She is the granddaughter of faculty emerita and former interim provost and vice president for academic affairs Dr. Bettye Clark.
“Dr. Cameisha Clark exemplified the Panther spirit,” said Dr. George T. French, Jr., President of CAU, in the press release. “She lived with purpose, led with heart, and leaves behind a legacy that will continue to uplift and inspire the CAU Nation for generations to come.”
According to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, 40-year-old security guard Jesse Figueroa approached Clark and another employee on the campus of Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood on May 2. Clark was a dean at the school.
Figueroa allegedly shot both faculty members, killing Clark and leaving the other employee injured. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office on Tuesday charged him with one felony count of murder; one felony count of attempted murder; one felony count of possession of a firearm with prior violent convictions and one felony count of possession of firearm by a felon with prior convictions. A motive for the shooting is unclear.
If convicted, Figueroa can face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
CAU officials said they will honor Clark during the school’s May 17 Baccalaureate service. CAU will also dedicate $10,000 to establish a scholarship fund in Clark’s name, which will be designated for students “aspiring to emulate the contributions made by Dr. Clark within the discipline of Education.”
In a statement to NBC4 Los Angeles, Clark’s family said that they were “beyond devastated” by her loss. They called Clark a “radiant, joyful, driven, and compassionate woman.”
“Her legacy is defined not by the manner of her death, but by the extraordinary way she lived,” the statement read. “She was a trailblazer and an inspiration … Cameisha uplifted everyone fortunate enough to cross her path. Her leadership, integrity, and deep sense of purpose helped shape futures of countless students from the campus of Clark Atlanta University to Spartan College. She believed in the potential of others even when they could not yet see it in themselves.”