Mark Richards

Mark is the Associate Director for Operations, Innovation, and Programs, where alongside our Associate Dean he directs the general operations, innovation, and strategy of our Office, and alongside our Directors helps ensure the successful execution and operational excellence of our Engaged Learning programs spanning undergraduate research, civic and global learning, internships, major fellowships and awards, and leadership and character formation. He directs the Baylor Engage Fellows and Provost’s Scholars programs and leads the innovation and improvement of them, and he also co-teaches with Dr. Andy Hogue our flagship PPS course, Philanthropy and the Public Good, which he originally took as a student of Dr. Hogue’s.

Mark graduated from Baylor with his bachelor’s in Finance as a Business Fellow, and he returned to Waco after living in Chicago for a half-decade, where he most recently directed the operations of a small financial planning firm and prior to that worked in management consulting. Mark has a broad background in operations, systems frameworks and design, philanthropy, design thinking, and social innovation, and is delighted to now be using his operations and strategy skillsets in service of students and their pursuit of the common good.

Originally from Southern California, Mark is enjoying getting reacquainted with Texas and Waco, and though he misses having four seasons, he doesn’t mind putting Chicago winters behind him. In his free time, Mark enjoys reading, writing, walking (slowly), listening to music, singing, and fiddling on the piano, among his many other hobbies and interests. Mark has been celibate for several years now and finds deep intimacy and companionship in his tapestry of rich, beautiful friendships.