Mark Parker, Ph.D.

Academic Director,
AGORA Initiative

Mark Parker is the ULISSES Project Academic Director. Specifically Mark works with John and other faculty in the ULISSES Project on the development of course work in the areas of econometrics, portfolio and risk management, and optimization. Mark has spent his career evangelizing and integrating concepts of applied math and computer science into traditional academia. Mark began his career working on DOD and NASA JPL (Jet Propulsion Lab) projects as a Senior Systems Analyst and Simulation Engineer, transitioning into teaching computer science and applied math at several universities including the US Air Force Academy. Recruited into administration, Mark began his administrative career at Carroll College as the Associate Dean for Academics, where he implemented several programs aimed at infusing curriculum with computer science and math concepts while building in measurement and improvement systems.

Professionally, Mark is an applied optimization expert, focusing on the intersection of mathematical modeling, simulation and applied optimization. Mark received his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics at the University of Colorado at Denver where he received the Exemplary Research Award from the Colorado Advanced Software Institute for his dissertation, “Tabu Search and Genetic Algorithms for Network Optimization.” Mark currently serves as the Associate Dean for Masters Programs at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.