Mark Potter, President & CEO - Maryland Science Center
Mar 14, 2023
This week's episode of Where To Next, it's all about science! Mark Potter, CEO & President of the Maryland Science Center joins me to talk all about the center's rich history, programs and exhibits, outreach, adult events, and more! Mark also touched on how the center had to pivot during Covid and his personal pick for the coolest thing about the Maryland Science Center!
Since October 2017, Mark J. Potter has served as President and CEO of the Maryland Science Center, the region’s leading provider of informal science education.
The Maryland Science Center delivers programs to more than 500,000 people every year at its Inner Harbor location and in schools and community centers in every jurisdiction in Maryland.
Before assuming his current position, Potter spent six years as the Maryland Science Center’s Vice President of Development. In this role, he created and led the most recent $7.5 million capital campaign “Revitalization for Today - Securing the Future!” and launched a strategic development plan that resulted in a 30% increase in donors. Also under Potter’s initiative, the number of volunteers at the Maryland Science Center increased six-fold.
Born and raised in Baltimore, Potter received a B.S in History in 1984 from Towson University and a Master’s degree in Education Administration from Towson University.
Potter was a teacher and administrator at his high school alma mater, Archbishop Curley High School, for 17 years. While there, he assembled a comprehensive development department focusing on alumni services, marketing, and fundraising.
In 2001, Potter left his position of Vice President of Advancement at Curley to become the Development Director, and later Executive Director of the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Historic Trust (the Baltimore Basilica), the first Roman Catholic cathedral built in the United States. Potter oversaw the effort to raise $34 million for the restoration of the historic church, created a Basilica museum and gift shop, and directed the 200th anniversary national celebration of the reopening of the restored church. Following the re-opening of the Basilica, he oversaw the church’s tourism and marketing program that welcomed 100,000 visitors annually.
In addition to his professional experiences, Potter has served in a volunteer capacity to many local non-profits including service on many local elementary and secondary school boards. He is a board member of Baltimore’s Waterfront Partnership, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals - Maryland Chapter, a former President of the Towson University Alumni Association, and an Eagle Scout.