Denella Clark
President and CEO, Boston Arts Academy FoundationDenella Clark is the President and CEO of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to securing private funding to support Boston Arts Academy, the city’s only public high school for visual and performing arts. A Jamaican immigrant with over 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Denella has a proven track record of driving equity, inclusion, and social change through philanthropy.
Under her leadership, the foundation has launched transformative initiatives including a $35 million comprehensive campaign and signature fundraising events such as BAAF Honors, which celebrate the school’s mission while engaging the community. Denella’s work supports a predominantly Black and Latinx student body, many of whom are first-generation college-bound, empowering them through exceptional arts education.
Denella is a recognized leader and advocate for diversity and inclusion, having served as Chair of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and leading efforts to pass the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act. Her commitment to education and social justice has earned her multiple awards and distinctions as one of Boston’s most influential figures.
With a steadfast vision to transform the educational and philanthropic landscape of Boston, Denella Clark continues to champion the power of arts education to create opportunity, inspire creativity, and foster equity for underserved youth.