Mark Tirpak, MSCRP, is a recent graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture - Community and Regional Planning program (UTSOA-CRP).

As a CRP student, Mark researched the CRP program's use of academic service-learning (or course-intergrated community-based project work) in planning instruction.

He also launched CRP Student Forum to offer students a platform to present and share learning on topics of their choice - including internship and research experiences and views of programmatic policy and practice.

More recently, Mark developed CRPSHARE to demonstrate how university-level planning programs can use exisiting free online platforms to increase the sustainability and equity of university-level planning instruction.

Mark has worked professionally as a community development and youth development specialist and has broad experience assisting non-profit organizations with development work. His interests include sustainable development, democratic education, youth as partners in planning, American Indian issues, and public space issues.