I am delighted to announce the appointment of Mark C. Hampton, Ph.D., as our Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). As I shared with you during our Spring Town Meeting, this is a new position at RPI and Mark will play a vital role as we reimagine how we operate and support the RPI community. He will join RPI on Monday, August 18.

As CAO, Mark will oversee and optimize RPI’s administrative and operational functions. He will lead a change management effort across these areas to ensure alignment with the strategic priorities of RPI Forward. In this role, he will be instrumental in modernizing and driving organizational effectiveness and productivity. With oversight of the Administration, HR, and Enterprise Computing portfolios, Mark will be responsible for our largest assets and contractual obligations, providing high-level oversight of RPI’s master planning efforts and ensuring that administrative operations seamlessly support RPI’s enterprise of learning, inquiry, and thought.

Mark joins us from Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he served as an executive education advisor. He brings a wealth of experience in higher education administration, strategic operations, and digital transformation. At AWS, he led a team focused on shaping the company’s strategy for digital transformation in higher education, working closely with executives from more than 100 institutions worldwide. His leadership contributed to the modernization of numerous universities and education technology companies and helped generate millions in revenue.

He also has a deep background in institutional leadership, having served as executive vice president and chief business officer at Brooklyn Law School, where he successfully guided the school through the financial and operational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier in his career, Mark held senior positions at Washington College and the New York Institute of Technology, consistently demonstrating his ability to lead cross-functional teams in addressing financial challenges, diversifying revenue streams, and advancing academic missions through strategic, data-driven decision-making.

As a seasoned educator and strategic planner, Mark has led institutional planning initiatives at the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Utah. Beyond his professional roles, he serves on boards including the Kent Cultural Alliance and advocates for LGBTQ+ youth. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah.

Please join me in welcoming Mark to RPI. As we work together to put RPI Forward in action, I am confident that his leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence will drive meaningful progress and lasting impact across our community.