Mark Robinson ‘78

Mark Robinson has spent the past 40+ years in advertising at some of the industry’s most prestigious agencies. Mark has been featured in Fortune magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Advertising Age. Mark is a past member of the American Advertising Federation’s Multicultural Marketing Leadership Council, a national touring lecturer for the Advertising Educational Foundation, and an ongoing mentor for MAIP (Minority Advertising Internship Program) for the American Association of Advertising Agencies. Mark was chosen by filmmaker Spike Lee to co-found and manage his new agency, Spike/DDB. In 1998, Mark launched Heritage Apparel, an internet-based clothing company that celebrated African American history and heroes. In 2001, he was recognized as the Entrepreneur of the Year for the successful launch of his next company, S/R Communications Alliance; the first 100% minority-owned network of 10 multicultural advertising companies, with combined business of $225 million.

Mark was part of a group of community activists that formed ROUND (Ridgefielders Organized for Understanding and Diversity) and served as its chairman. ROUND organized and hosted dozens of community events over the years, including launching the area’s very first annual Gay Pride Festival. ROUND also inaugurated the town’s first Martin Luther King Day Celebration, which Mark organized and has hosted for the past 27 years. His community and volunteer service spans decades including work with the State of Connecticut Board of Education, the New York City Human Rights 2006 Commission investigation of workforce diversity in advertising agencies, co-founding the Ridgefield Allies organization, taking steps to highlight what each of us can do as individuals to educate, inspire, and motivate our community in the cause of social justice, equity and inclusion

In 2021, Mark released the best-selling memoir, “Place of Privilege”, about his experiences as one of the very first young Black boys to attend and integrate the prestigious and ultra-exclusive Dalton School in New York City in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The success of the first book was followed by the 2023 release of “Black On Madison Avenue”, his second book, about life as a Black professional in one of the most un-diverse white collar professions in America.

As an alumnus, Mark was one of the organizers of the first Amherst Black Alumni Reunions, beginning back in 1980, and has attended every reunion since. He created the Amherst Black Alumni Listserv and administered the listserv in its first few years. Mark organized the Amherst Black Alumni trip to see Jeffrey Wright perform "A Free Man of Color" at the Lincoln Center Theater, as well as a special reception for Jeffrey after the show. He has also been a mentor to multiple Black students at Amherst as part of the Pathways Mentoring program.