Jean Illseley Clarke

Honorary Degree Recipient

Doctor of Laws
College of Education and Human Development, October 15, 2013

Jean Illsley Clarke received a bachelor of science degree from the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at the University of Minnesota in 1948. She has been a pioneer and advocate for children and families in the state of Minnesota, across the nation, and internationally for more than three decades. She is widely recognized for her book Self-Esteem: A Family Affair that became the seminal work on how parents could raise children with healthy self-esteem. Published in 1978 and republished in 1998, it is still considered to be the classic text and scholarship about this topic. Clarke’s work continues to be part of the foundation of the field and is replicated by practitioners throughout the discipline. Described as a premier example of a citizen of CEHD, Clarke has taught courses, served as a resource for faculty within the Department of Curriculum and Instruction’s Parent and Family Education program, and established two endowment funds to support faculty and graduate students in the Parent and Family Education Program to further research, teaching, and outreach. She has received outstanding alumni awards from both CEHD and the former College of Human Ecology. CEHD considers her to be among its 100 most distinguished alumni of the college. Clarke’s work is considered so important that it was included on the Wall of Discovery on the Scholars Walk.

Biographies are as-of time of award presentation.