Mark A. Vasquez ME’88

Running for: President

Campaign Statement

As alumni, we bring a unique perspective and responsibility to the table in the context of our alma mater’s success. Through the work of the Cooper Union Alumni Association, we are able to express that perspective and fulfill that responsibility in a very direct fashion.

Identity and engagement are the two key areas through which I believe this can best be achieved.

During my multiple terms on the Alumni Council — several of which were prior to the change in tuition model — I have seen a strong investment of time and effort by alumni volunteers. I have also seen many elected participants struggle with how best to navigate their role…and even with how to understand their role. I am eager to see the elected body of the CUAA evolve to become a more goal-oriented, engaged and informed body with a clear identity within the Cooper community.

Engagement of the broader alumni body, in addition to the elected volunteers, is an undertaking the CUAA is uniquely positioned to help support, if not lead. My recent work with the Events Committee has shown that a structured, consistent and collaborative approach to event development can increase alumni participation. Creating new and additional opportunities for graduates from across the globe to gather, especially during a period in which we have not been able to gather in person, continues to create a spirit of community amongst our fellow classmates.

My professional focus at IEEE includes establishing key strategic relationships with both internal and external partners in the spaces of technology, humanities and the social sciences, while also establishing and reestablishing key engagements with staff and volunteers within IEEE. In addition, as a Certified Association Executive, I have a wide range of knowledge essential to managing an association in today’s challenging environment, including working on matters of strategy, governance, finance, event development, communications, media, membership, and more with several Boards as part of a large volunteer organization. I mention this because I believe that my background brings a key competency to the CUAA.

As such, I am committed to defining a clear identity for the CUAA and all of its contributors, and to (re)engaging with all relevant parties in support of that identity. I hope you will allow me the opportunity to continue serving the CUAA and The Cooper Union in this way by electing me as the next president of the CUAA.

Biography

Mark A. Vasquez, ME ’88, is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with over 25 years of experience in association management at IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. He currently serves as Sr. Program Manager, IEEE TechEthics (techethics.ieee.org), a program that drives conversation, discussion and debate about the ethical and societal impacts of technology. In this capacity, he works to develop relationships with others in the technology ethics community, produces events, convenes thought leaders, and more. He previously held strategic planning positions within the meetings and events team, as well as led the team responsible for publication of conference content.

Mark’s professional life has intersected with his Cooper Union roots via a new series of public forums organized in collaboration with the Public Programs team and the School of Engineering. You can read more about that at https://cooper.edu/engineering/news/engineering-conscience.

While at Cooper, Mark was presented with the award for Outstanding Service to the School, due to serving on the Senior Council, establishing the school’s first association for Hispanic students (Amigos), being a freshman orientation counselor multiple times, serving on the Athletic Committee, and more. He continued to serve the school after graduation by being elected to the CUAA Alumni Council for multiple terms. Among other things, he has chaired the CUAA Events Committee, chaired the Gano Dunn Award Committee, served on the Constitution and Public Service Award Committees, been a Class Rep, and served on the Art Auction & Casino Night Committee.

Mark is also active with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), serving on their Diversity & Inclusion Committee and Power of A Summit Awards Committee, and being a reviewer for several of their conferences.

In his spare time (spare time???), Mark enjoys listening to and discussing music, playing basketball, reading graphic novels and watching his daughter’s continued development into an ever more amazing human being.