After Mark's sophomore year, with his 4.00 GPA, he was #1-ranked in his class, as he played two sports (Golf and Squash), and was an officer in three clubs – even as he worked two jobs. Given financial strains, he was considering dropping out, and then Bill Cruickshank and Howard Goff, both from the famed post-war Class of 1949, asked to meet with Mark. Unbeknownst to them, Mark was needing help, and they surprised him with the full financial backing of their Class of 1949 and a scholarship. In that moment, a great lifelong friendship began – Bill Cruickshank would become closer to Mark than his own father, plus become his business partner for over a decade. Some of his favorite memories included vacationing with Bill & Dorinda at Squam Lake NH, plus they had so much fun constantly collaborating in alumni affairs. Ultimately, Bill's leadership led the college to rename alumni hall to Cruickshank Alumni Hall.

Earlier in Mark's alumni leadership, he was appointed Vice Chairman of Babson's Annual Fund Executive Committee in 1989, after being actively involved in the Alumni Office during his student days. Building on this role, in 1993, he was appointed to the Major Donors Executive Committee and the President's Society Executive Committee. In that same year, he also founded and Chaired the Cruickshank Volunteer Fund, named to honor his mentors, Bill & Doe Cruickshank. The $50,000 donation paid for the cash expenses of students doing volunteer projects, like Habitat for Humanity. He led numerous community service events, along with Professor Natalie Taylor, who pioneered Babson's social entrepreneurship course offerings.

Notably, in 1994, Mark founded, chaired and funded the "Babson Forum on Socially Responsible Business," which brought over 35 pioneering impact-focused leaders to campus, and was required attendance for the entire freshman class. This pioneering event was (possibly) the first-ever conference on socially responsible business at a major USA college.

From 2008 to 2013 he served as Babson's Entrepreneur-in-Residence, teaching classes on the subjects of entrepreneurship and the Quadruple Bottom Line (People, Profit, Planet and Purpose) to a new generation of business leaders. Since 2008 when he co-founded the annual Energy & Environment Conference, now the Babson Sustainability Forum, he has been instrumental in convening and organizing this event, including Chairing the event nine times. Mark has been the lead benefactor of the Club with well over $50,000 of grants over the years.