In 1980 Dianne Clarke, PhD began her journey with Operation PAR, a substance use treatment organization, as a Behavior Technician, working midnight shifts in the residential Therapeutic Community. Over the years, she has earned numerous accolades, including being one of the first Certified Addiction Professionals in 1988 and the first Certified Telehealth Practitioner in 2021, as recognized by the Florida Certification Board. Her extensive experience spans all substance use treatment modalities for both adults and adolescents.

In 2002, Dr. Clarke was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Operation PAR, a role she held until 2016 when she became the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. Her academic achievements include a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, with a dissertation focused on the Predictors of Occupational Commitment of Addiction Counselors.

Dr. Clarke has also made significant contributions outside of Operation PAR. She has been actively involved with the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA) as a trainer and committee member, and has served on the executive boards of both the Florida Juvenile Justice Association and the Florida Behavioral Health Association. At the local level she has been co-chair of the Pinellas Opioid Task Force, a board member of the local Substance Abuse Advisory Council and a member of the Pinellas County Public Safety Committee.

In her retirement, Dr. Clarke continues to shape the field as an adjunct professor at St. Petersburg College and as an appointee to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment National Advisory Council by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.