Kathleen “Kathy” Mulhern Clark ’70 was a beloved colleague, mentor and friend.
It is for her wit and genuine concern for the growth and well-being of her students that Clark will be missed.
After graduating from Immaculata in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in French, Clark went to Villanova, where she earned a Master of Arts in French. She began her teaching career at Great Valley and Conestoga high schools, teaching French.
She returned to her alma mater in 1973, where she taught adult students in Immaculata’s Evening Division as a lecturer and then instructor. In 1992, she joined the full-time faculty as an assistant professor of foreign languages. During her lengthy career at Immaculata, she served as the chair for the Foreign Languages and Literature Department for 11 years and held the title of acting chair again in 2017. Clark retired in 2017 as the learning/language laboratory director and an associate professor of foreign languages, transitioning to faculty emerita status.
In addition to her academic roles, Clark served on various campus committees including undergraduate academic policy, university council, budget, student life and development, library, cross-cultural studies, academic technology, campus review and was the chair of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Task Force for two core areas. With her language expertise, she also was an evaluator for oral proficiency in French for Immaculata’s international studies program and other organizations who requested her services.
Throughout her career, Clark participated and often held leadership positions in professional organizations such as the American Association of Teachers of French, the Pennsylvania State Modern Foreign Language Association, the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages, the Modern Foreign Language Association of Philadelphia and Vicinity and Alliance Française de Philadelphie.
Clark enjoyed learning about French composers and their music, from the early days of chant to the synthetic and digital music of the twenty-first century. In addition, she was interested in Francophone studies, the geography, history, art, music, film, language and cultures of the French-speaking world.
Former president of Immaculata, Sister Roseanne Bonfini, IHM, taught Clark French. “She was my student and my successor in the Language Department and a very dear friend,” Sister Roseanne stated. “Her life was completely other-oriented … her family, her friends, her classmates, Immaculata, and the IHMs, not to mention her life-long love of all things French! I will miss her.”
Funeral Arrangements:
Visitation: Wednesday, August 17: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Campbell, Ennis, Klotzbach Funeral Home
610 Main Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460
Visitation: Thursday, August 18
St. Ann’s Church5
02 Main Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460
9:00 – 10:45 am
Funeral Mass: 11:00 am