Michael Clark

University of Michigan, Ross School of Business

“Adventurer at heart, infusing curiosity and drive into every personal and professional pursuit I undertake.”

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a thrill seeker who flies planes, scuba dives, skydives, and has traveled to 47 states and 18 countries (so far!)

Undergraduate School and Major:

West Point – US Military Academy, B.S. Chemical Engineering

Clemson University, M.S. Industrial Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: MITRE, Systems and Software Engineer

Michigan Ross is best known for experiential learning programming like MAP, Living Business Leadership Experience, and the Leadership Crisis Challenge. What experiential program interests you the most? I am by far the most excited about MAP, one of the key reasons that I chose Ross. I come from a non-traditional business background. Having been in the Army for several years followed by a short stint as an engineer, I’m excited to gain real-world experience solving complex business problems alongside a team of classmates. This real-world learning environment is a great way to kickstart my summer internship, and I’m confident that it will be one of the most rewarding experiences during my time at Ross.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Michigan Ross’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The alumni network. During my first visit to Ross for Military Preview Weekend, I met most of the student veterans, along with several alumni who came back to Ann Arbor to meet the prospective students. I immediately experienced a strong sense of connection and support from both the current students and alumni. Throughout the admissions process, current students and alumni were incredibly accessible, being just a text or email away, always willing to answer questions, review my essays, and help me prepare to interview at Ross. This culture of commitment and collaboration has continued, now that I am a current student, especially during recruitment. I’ve been able to lean on both current students and Ross alumni for guidance, candid feedback, and general support.

Additionally, as an avid sports fan, Michigan stood out for its unique mix of world-class academic programming and elite college sports teams, adding another layer to an already vibrant community. GO BLUE!

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Michigan Ross? Traveling!!

Ross has a plethora of travel opportunities available to students. This ranges from academic programs such as MAP, Global Immersion courses, or Study Abroad, or through student-led travel experiences like M-Trek and club-hosted trips to places like Colombia, Japan, and various ski resorts. Michigan Ross offers an incredible range of opportunities to travel globally. These experiences allow us to combine leisure, cultural immersion, and professional development in meaningful ways alongside our classmates. As an avid solo traveler, I’m especially excited about continuing to travel with my Ross classmates, where these shared journeys are a fantastic way to build relationships, see the world through different lenses, and develop as a business leader.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2027? Why? My unique quality is my ability to bridge worlds that rarely intersect: military discipline, engineering precision, and social impact entrepreneurship. As an Army officer, I learned to lead diverse teams through complex challenges while keeping morale and mission aligned. As an engineer, I developed the analytical mindset to solve problems systematically and efficiently. Those experiences taught me how to connect people with different perspectives toward a common goal. At Ross, I plan to bring that same inclusive and solutions-driven approach to every team and classroom discussion, helping bridge perspectives across veterans, engineers, and aspiring investors while working toward a shared vision of impact.

When you think of the University of Michigan, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? The first word that comes to mind is community. Michigan isn’t just a large school, it’s a global network with a shared sense of pride and connection. Over the summer, I ran into someone wearing a Michigan shirt in a small Italian town and stopped to say hello. What started as a quick comment turned into a 30-minute conversation about life, leadership, and my career goals. We exchanged information, and he’s now part of my personal network. That interaction captures what Michigan means to me: no matter where you are in the world, you’re never far from a member of the Wolverine family.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment so far was being named Officer of the Year in my Army unit. The award recognized not just operational success, but leadership that made a difference in people’s lives. Leading soldiers in complex missions taught me how to earn trust, make decisions under pressure, and take responsibility for others’ well-being. That experience defined my leadership philosophy: success is measured not just by results, but by how much you elevate those around you. It’s a principle I carry into every role, whether leading troops, managing engineers, or collaborating with my classmates at Ross.

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