{"id":160891,"date":"2025-08-20T08:35:42","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T12:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/?p=160891"},"modified":"2025-08-19T16:16:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T20:16:54","slug":"wright-state-magazine-2025-class-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/2025\/08\/20\/wright-state-magazine-2025-class-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"Wright State Magazine: 2025 class notes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Max Clark <\/b><\/span>\u201904<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Max Clark \u201904<\/p><\/div>\n

Max Clark is a person who believes that everything happens for a reason. He believes in serendipity, in reading the signs to follow the next step in front of you, even if you don\u2019t know exactly where it might lead.<\/p>\n

In fact, this life philosophy is what the 49-year-old Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine<\/a> 2004 grad credits for getting him to where he is today: chief physician of Disney Cruise Line.<\/p>\n

It seems like his path to Disney was destined all along, even if the route to get there was circuitous at times.<\/p>\n

Ohio background, wanderlust spirit<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Clark spent his high school years in Beavercreek, he was born in California at Travis Air Force Base (his dad is an Air Force physician), and grew up in Ogden, Utah; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and Biloxi, Mississippi. \u201cThat was all before I started third grade,\u201d he said. \u201cMy parents loved to travel overseas, too, and they planted a travel bug in me as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

He originally chose Miami University for undergrad, expected to study economics. \u201cGrowing up, I preferred social studies\u2014history and geography\u2014and did not expect to pursue medicine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

One memorable class at Miami clued him in to his potential future in medicine: A human physiology professor noticed his talent and encouraged him to pursue medicine. \u201cIn the back of my mind, I always thought medicine was interesting, of course, because, after all, I grew up around it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

While he has always been a natural student, it was at Miami where he first felt that existential \u201cwhere do I belong\u201d feeling. \u201cIt was a really good school, but socially it wasn\u2019t the right fit for me,\u201d he recalled. \u201cIt\u2019s frat-heavy, and I\u2019m the antithesis of a frat guy. I just wasn\u2019t finding my place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Returning to Beavercreek, he decided to continue his collegiate education at Wright State, which was a familiar stomping ground (his dad is associate professor emeritus of medicine).<\/p>\n

Going back to his \u201chometown\u201d college suited him. For one thing, as a self-described night owl, he enjoyed the flexibility of the university’s night classes. And with a built-in social network of high school friends already attending Wright State, it felt more at home for him.<\/p>\n

Still, he carried around that niggling feeling of wondering where he belonged.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was still figuring out who I was and where my place was in the world,\u201d he said. As his med school peers started choosing their specialties, the only thing he knew for certain was that he wasn\u2019t ready to start a practice. \u201cI didn\u2019t know where I fit in with medicine,\u201d he said. \u201cFrankly, I was starting to panic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, he found a perfect solution that allowed him to practice general medicine and gave him an opportunity to explore the world: He enlisted in the Navy.<\/p>\n

A 20-year odyssey leads him home<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Clark\u2019s first stop in the Navy was San Diego, which had a \u201cmeant to be\u201d factor. \u201cIt felt like it turned out the way it was supposed to be,\u201d he said. \u201cI met some amazing people and made lifelong friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Navy certainly allowed him to fulfill his wanderlust dreams. In addition to San Diego, he has been stationed in Key West, Hawaii, Japan, Bethesda, Maryland, and Oceanside, California.<\/p>\n

Clark would go on to have a 20-year Naval career, adding a master\u2019s degree in health systems and administration at Georgetown and a master\u2019s degree in public health as part of his residency in preventive health through the Uniformed Services University.<\/p>\n

He considers the height of his 20-year Naval career to be the time he spent with health policy in the Naval Headquarters. \u201cI got to work with very impressive leaders,\u201d said Clark, who was tasked with drafting the Navy\u2019s transgender policy under President Obama.<\/p>\n

On paper, it seems like he had done it all. Yet all this time, there was one more experience that had eluded him: He wanted to work for Disney.<\/p>\n

Next stop: Disney<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were Disney freaks,\u201d Clark recounts, speaking of himself and his high school friend Steve Hankins (also a Wright State grad, 1999 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in accountancy). \u201cWe were obsessed with working in their college program, and didn\u2019t care if we sold T-shirts, we just wanted to work there.\u201d<\/p>\n

While his Disney dreams were put on hold as his medical and military career took off, the desire to work at Disney was still in the back of his mind. He even worked part time for two years as an occupational medicine physician at Disneyland while stationed in California.<\/p>\n

Then, last year, everything seemed to align at once. Just as he was retiring from a 20-year Naval career, Disney Cruise Lines was expanding and they were looking to bring a medical director in-house.<\/p>\n

\u201c2024 was a banner year for me,\u201d he said. \u201cI retired after a 20-year career, moved across country to Disney HQ in Orlando, and had a child,\u201d he said of son Samson with wife Jennifer.<\/p>\n

His job at Disney entails leading the shipboard medical teams and providing clinical oversight of patient care. \u201cEvery day is a new challenge; the people, the conditions, and external factors are always changing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

There have already been moments of drama on the high seas. Clark was on board the Disney Treasure when it was summoned 230 miles off the coast of Bermuda to assist a sinking catamaran in November 2024. \u201cIt was exciting to see the crew respond and to see how well trained they are to respond to emergencies, so the best thing I could do was get out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking with Clark, it\u2019s clear that he takes the Disney magic seriously\u2014and that he\u2019s found his true calling. \u201cI may be biased, but I do think Disney Cruises does the best job of creating the \u2018Disney Bubble\u2019 and providing that Disney magic, even during a medical experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kevin Schmidt \u201911<\/p><\/div>\n

Kevin Schmidt <\/b><\/span>\u201911<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Artificial intelligence algorithms that fly F-16 fighter jets and autonomous systems delivering critical medical supplies in combat zones are among the cutting-edge technologies being developed by a Wright State University graduate whose journey began in Hamilton Hall.<\/p>\n

Kevin Schmidt, Ph.D., now a senior neuroscientist on the Air Force Research Laboratory\u2019s Autonomy Capability Team 3 based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, credits his success to the foundation built during his time at Wright State.<\/p>\n

While pursuing his\u00a0behavioral neuroscience degree\u00a0at Wright State, Schmidt found more than just academic achievement \u2014 he discovered a supportive community and crucial mentorship that would shape his future.<\/p>\n

He worked particularly closely with behavioral neuroscience professors Dragana Claflin, Ph.D., his honors thesis advisor, and Patricia Schiml, Ph.D., and Michael Hennessy, Ph.D. Schmidt also has fond memories of psychology professors Herbert Colle, Ph.D., and Martin Gooden, Ph.D.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a blessing to have people like that in your life. They were good to me,\u201d Schmidt said. \u201cNow, I mentor others and enjoy it. I certainly appreciate those who did it for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hands-on research experiences at Wright State proved invaluable for Schmidt\u2019s development. He recalled collaborating with Hennessy and Schiml on a study examining factors that reduce stress in sheltered dogs, one of his first formal research experiences.<\/p>\n

Today, though stationed in New Haven, Connecticut, Schmidt maintains strong ties to the Dayton region through his work with AFRL and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, keeping him connected to his alma mater.<\/p>\n

His work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human performance. As part of the\u00a0Autonomy Capability Team 3 (ACT 3), considered the Air Force Research Lab\u2019s premier artificial intelligence research team, Schmidt helps develop technologies that will define the future of both the Air Force and Space Force.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are tools that are needed and lives can be saved right now,\u201d he said. \u201cThe big thrust now is how these AI tools can assist medical decision making and logistics. But there is also a longer-term aspect of these tools that we are envisioning for the next generation of AI. There is certainly a great deal to delve into right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through Autonomous Air Combat Operations, ACT3 develops algorithms that control F-16 aircraft autonomously. ACT3 also oversees a space program that integrates measures of human performance. Another critical project involves autonomous aerial refueling, delivering fuel at the right time and location.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe same algorithms that are used for aerial refueling can be used for medical resupply. So, it comes down to developing algorithms that scale across mission areas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

When Schmidt gets a break from the lab, he is an avid rock and mountain climber, an interest first kindled during his time at Wright State.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in Cincinnati doing it here and there, and then Wright State has a rock-climbing wall. I really got into it there,\u201d Schmidt said. \u201cI started visiting Red River Gorge in Kentucky, and it was a natural evolution into mountain and glacier-style climbing. My interest has just continued to grow through the years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>As Schmidt continues to push boundaries in his professional work, he remains deeply connected to the institution that helped launch his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI go the extra mile for Wright State because I am thankful for the people there and my experience,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is where my career started.\u201d<\/p>\n

Class notes<\/b><\/h3>\n

Share your success with fellow alumni. Submit your class notes and updates at\u00a0wrightstatealumni.com\/classnotes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article was originally published in the 2025 issue of the Wright State Magazine. Read more stories at wright.edu\/magazine<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Meet two outstanding alumni who are featured in the 2025 issue of the Wright State University Magazine. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":160905,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[722,733,4309,4294,725,4827,2016,2039,715,2063,746],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-160891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-alumni","category-alumni-association","category-bsom-alumni","category-home-news-sidebar","category-magazine","category-medicine","category-military-veterans","category-news","category-psychology","category-science-mathematics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160891"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160891\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":160909,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160891\/revisions\/160909"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}