Clark is a professor in the Department of Applied Economics at Oregon State University. He attended the College of Southern Idaho, Oregon State University at Eastern Oregon University, and University of Idaho. Clark began his career with Oregon State University in January 1989 as an Area Extension Farm Management Agent in the Mid-Columbia region of Oregon. Between the years of 1999 and 2009 he held two administrative appointments as Superintendent and Staff Chair at research and Extension centers in Hood River and Aurora. In 2010 he accepted the directorship of the Northwest Agribusiness Executive Seminar and change of appointment to his current responsibilities of research, teaching, and extension activities.