University Outreach: Now Professional and Continuing Education

Mark Wall, a former Auburn psychology graduate and current Office of Professional and Continuing Education employee, serves as a third party liaison between Auburn University and organizations that want to hold summer camp on Auburn’s campus. Initially summer camp coordinator and now program developer, his primary responsibility is heading up the client side of camps.

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The Office of Professional and Continuing Education does more than just camps for clients though.

“We have academic camps that are 100 percent sponsored by the university,” Wall said. “It’s good recruiting for the schools because we always give attendees the Auburn experience.”

Wall’s office has worked with the College of Liberal Arts Department of Music’s Musical Theater group, among others.

“We’ve worked with the College of Architecture, Design and Construction putting on a camp for them that basically shows campers the curriculum and exposes them to the university,” said Wall. “The kids are there for a week so for five intense days, these high school juniors and seniors live life as if they were a student in the program, taught by professors and graduate teaching assistants.”

When asked why his office decided to change their name from the previous “University Outreach” to the “Office of Professional and Continuing Education,” Wall responded that people know they are there, but not what they do.

“I take initiative to actively pursue new opportunities,” said Wall. “The sky is the limit because people need things, but don’t have the people or means to do it.”

The Office of Professional and Continuing Education is here to help. According to Wall, as part of the planning committee, he has an “overall view of what everyone needs.”

Wall hadn’t always planned on working at Auburn University though. He came back to town to work on his master’s and the day before he was about to start the program, Wall received a call from his mentor, Dr. Jack Wall (no relation) from Auburn’s Career Development Services. Dr. Wall told him that his wife had learned of an opening in the Office of Professional and Continuing Education, then University Outreach. M.Wall came in to interview and within two hours, found out that he had gotten the job and would start the following week.

“My boss wants me to get my master’s so I’m going back and getting a degree in public administration,” M. Wall said. “I may be the youngest in my department, but part of the success I’ve had in my job is because I know how to listen to people needs.”