Mortenson to serve second term on Cecil College Board of Trustees
Published on August 2, 2021
From left to right are: Cecil College President Dr. Mary Way Bolt, Cecil College Trustee Mark Mortenson, and Cecil County Clerk of the Court Charlene M. Notarcola.
NORTH EAST, Md. – For more than half a century, Cecil College has been a beacon of opportunity and hope for Cecil County residents. This has been reinforced by the strong leadership of individuals like Mark Mortenson, who has a vision of Cecil County’s potential.
“Being 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,” said Mortenson. “Everything I do is an attempt to help my neighbor. No matter where they live, everyone within Cecil 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.”
Mortenson was sworn into his second six-year term as a Cecil College Board of Trustee member on Thursday, July 29, by Cecil 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 Cecil 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 Cecil 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’s and ALS
Mortenson earned bachelor’s 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 “ah ha” moment when he took a class at Cecil College. During a technology certificate course, he realized everyone else in the class was there because they needed the accreditation for their employment.
“That was the eye-opener. These weren’t 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,” 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 Cecil College providing life-altering opportunities.
“The college is very important for the county because the county’s residents are your neighbors. If you can make the college better, your neighbors are better, as is the community,” said Mortenson. He feels the purpose of Cecil College goes beyond education and improves the county as a whole.
Mortenson is very connected to the community, having lived in Cecil County for more than 30 years. He currently resides in North East with his wife Juliana, where they raised two children.
“When talking about Cecil 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,” 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.