Dorothy Clerk

Dorothy Clerk joined the Aurora Institute in September 2024. She is a junior at Santa Clara University, double majoring in Biology and Neuroscience. Originally from Redlands, California, she is deeply passionate about education, particularly how competency-based education can empower K-12 students across the United States to succeed in personalized learning environments.

On campus, Dorothy plays an active role as the Merchandise Specialist for Alpha Delta Pi, helping manage and promote the sorority’s brand while developing her organizational and creative skills. Outside of her academic and extracurricular commitments, she volunteers at Peterson Middle School, where her passion for education began to flourish. Working closely with middle school students, she gained firsthand experience in teaching and saw the positive impact of individualized learning approaches.

Her growing interest in competency-based education has led her to explore its potential to enhance nationwide student equity and academic achievement. Through her work at the Aurora Institute, Dorothy hopes to further contribute to the conversation around competency-based learning and advocate for innovative educational practices that benefit all students.