Mark Walcott
School of Information Technology alum Mark Walcott was honored as a 2017 inductee into the College of Applied Science and Technology (CAST) Academy of Achievement. The Academy of Achievement brings together CAST alumni who are leaders in their fields and who, through their work, serve as an inspiration to others to pursue similar career paths. Academy inductees represent the different departments and schools within CAST.
Walcott is a three-time graduate of Illinois State University. His 2002 bachelor’s degree is in network and telecommunications, and his 2007 master’s degree is in project management. He completed his doctoral studies in 2014 in the College of Education.
Walcott began working in Intercollegiate Athletics where his innovation and technical expertise led to the development of academic software resulting in over 200 hours in recovered labor and savings of approximately $10,000 in annual costs. These accomplishments honed his ability to leverage emergent technologies into actionable results and led to his career in University Advancement. Throughout his career, Walcott has continued to create software, systems, and processes that have facilitated digital polling, virtual alumni cards, and systems that engage alumni to benefit development, alumni relations, and non-profit operations. Currently, Walcott is director of Advancement Information Systems & Reporting for the University of Houston System, leading teams focused on predictive modeling, data architecture, and training and development.
Walcott, remembered by colleagues at Illinois State for his sense of humor and eagerness to engage in spirited debates on such lofty topics as who is faster, Superman or The Flash, remains engaged with Illinois State University. He volunteers as a long distance mentor in the IT Professional Mentorship Program. The mentorship program connects current IT students with successful IT professionals who volunteer their time and experience to provide guidance in areas of academic pursuits and professional development. He and his wife Cavell Walcott ’02 also participate in alumni activities in Normal and Texas.
