Clark Pew has learned over the course of his life that persistence pays off. The BYU Marriott School of Business executive MPA (EMPA) alumnus worked hard to achieve his academic goals and now lives in India working for the Department of State.
Pew graduated from BYU in 2002 with a degree in international politics. After graduating Pew spent six years as a project manager for a software company, working his final six months in the United Kingdom. From there he returned to Utah to work for Cisco, and a few years later he accepted a position as the public affairs manager in the University Relations office at BYU.
Getting a master's degree was always on Pew’s mind, and working at BYU provided him with the perfect opportunity to do so. Originally wanting to study in the MBA program, he decided to go with the EMPA program after learning about how the content could be applied to his job at the time.
The caliber of students in the EMPA program impressed Pew. “From what I could tell, all of my classmates were already accomplished professionals,” he says. Although they had already done so much, they were back in school wanting to learn more.
Pew found some of the classes in the program challenging. On top of that, Pew tackled the program while concurrently working a full-time job, serving in the Church, and taking care of his family. Making his way through the program, Pew learned that persistence pays off.
Though the classes were sometimes tough, Pew enjoyed the content. “I’d come home after class so pumped because of how fascinating the material was,” he says. His enthusiasm for the content was motivated in part by his professors. “I appreciated the faculty,” Pew says. “The professors cared about me and wanted me to succeed. Their passion for public service inspired me to learn more.”
His classmates also inspired Pew to continue to learn. “I appreciated the camaraderie amongst my peers and the work that we accomplished together in our groups,” he says. “I got to know them and see their strengths. Their talents and abilities impressed me.” Those friendships helped Pew and his classmates to push through and finish the program.
Pew graduated from the EMPA program in 2017 and now works for the Department of State. In November 2022, he and his family moved to Chennai, India, where Pew reviews and approves nonimmigrant visas. The process to become a diplomat is rigorous and challenging, filled with tests and interviews. “I'm proud to be a United States diplomat,” Pew says. “This is something that that I’ve worked hard for.”
Pew’s journey serves as a reminder that slow and steady progress can yield great results. “It comes back to persistence,” he says. “Keep an end destination in mind and try to work toward it, even when you feel like you’re not immediately heading toward that goal.”
For Pew, reaching his goal to become a US diplomat has required not only his own determination but also the unwavering support of his family. “My MPA and the move to India has been particularly challenging for my wife and four children,” Pew says.
After two years, Pew and his family will move to another country on the same assignment. Pew and his wife, Amanda, both served missions in Brazil, and that’s where they expect to be assigned after their time in India is up. Pew recognizes that these opportunities and all of his success hinges on his partnership with his wife. “I couldn’t have done any of this without her,” he says.
