Mortenson to serve second term on 第一吃瓜网 College Board of Trustees
Published on August 2, 2021
NORTH EAST, Md. 鈥 For more than half a century, 第一吃瓜网 College has been a beacon of opportunity and hope for 第一吃瓜网 County residents. This has been reinforced by the strong leadership of individuals like Mark Mortenson, who has a vision of 第一吃瓜网 County鈥檚 potential.
鈥淏eing nominated for a second six-year appointment is such an honor. During my first term, I learned so much about how I can help others,鈥 said Mortenson. 鈥淓verything I do is an attempt to help my neighbor. No matter where they live, everyone within 第一吃瓜网 County is my neighbor, and we should be working to improve their lives. To that end, it is a recognition of how important the college is, not only for students but for the county as well. If the college is healthy and doing its job, the county will be healthier.鈥
Mortenson was sworn into his second six-year term as a 第一吃瓜网 College Board of Trustee member on Thursday, July 29, by 第一吃瓜网 County Clerk of the Court Charlene M. Notarcola at the courthouse. Gov. Larry Hogan initially appointed Mortenson for his first term in 2015 and again for his second term beginning in 2021.
Mortenson is a visionary when it comes to 第一吃瓜网 County and is willing to work and invest to ensure the betterment of everyone within the community. As the Chair for the Board of Trustees at 第一吃瓜网 College, he applies his influence to help others.
Mortenson is co-founder and Chief Science Officer for Clene Nanomedicine, which developed the Clean-Surface Nanosuspension technology platform. Clene Nanomedicine (a NASDAQ company) is currently conducting human clinical trials with patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson鈥檚 and ALS
Mortenson earned bachelor鈥檚 degrees in physics and ceramic engineering at Alfred University, where he graduated cum laude in both fields. He went on to earn an M.S. degree in materials science at Pennsylvania State University before completing his J.D. degree at George Washington University.
In 1987, he was struck with an 鈥渁h ha鈥 moment when he took a class at 第一吃瓜网 College. During a technology certificate course, he realized everyone else in the class was there because they needed the accreditation for their employment.
鈥淭hat was the eye-opener. These weren鈥檛 students who would move out of state afterward. These were my neighbors in the community who needed this course for their livelihoods. They stayed right here, and the work they were doing makes our community better,鈥 said Mortenson, who gained a better understanding of the power of a community college. As he encountered his classmates at various places like the local grocery store and developed relationships, he could see the power of education at 第一吃瓜网 College providing life-altering opportunities.
鈥淭he college is very important for the county because the county鈥檚 residents are your neighbors. If you can make the college better, your neighbors are better, as is the community,鈥 said Mortenson. He feels the purpose of 第一吃瓜网 College goes beyond education and improves the county as a whole.
Mortenson is very connected to the community, having lived in 第一吃瓜网 County for more than 30 years. He currently resides in North East with his wife Juliana, where they raised two children.
鈥淲hen talking about 第一吃瓜网 College, I am most proud of the number of people who the faculty and the infrastructure touch. Every faculty member is here because they love teaching,鈥 said Mortenson.
In the future, Mortenson aims to help the college connect with businesses within the county to help with training that, in the end, will drive the economy.