Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Mark Pullam.
Hi Dr. Pullam, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am a native of Fort Worth, TX. I grew up on the North Side (elementary) and in Forest Hills, TX (middle and high school). I am a proud graduate of O.D. Wyatt High School. My father, Rev. Lloyd A. Pullam, was a 1975 graduate of Southwestern Theological Seminary with a Master’s degree in Religious Education or MRE. My mother worked for the Tarrant County Criminal Court system, where she retired as a Court Coordinator for almost 30 years. I am the oldest of three. I have a younger brother and sister, they are six grades behind me, so I was more like a parental figure, rather than an older brother.
My father was a Pastor since 1977, so almost my entire life. He was a military veteran and a disciplinarian. Family was extremely important, and your responsibility as a man and the man of the house was a primary theme throughout my childhood and life. My father instilled family, respect, honor, and hard work as a part of the maturation process for my siblings and me. His final pastoral assignment was at the St. Emmanuel Baptist Church in Denton, TX. He served there for 25 years. He and my mother passed in 2019 and 2020, respectively. They are still the greatest influences in my life. I am because of who they were and the things they taught me being married for all of my life.
My college experience started at the University of North Texas in Fall 1990. I failed miserably for a variety of reasons, primarily because it was too close to home. I transferred to Lindenwood College (now University) in Spring 1992 and played football and basketball. I majored in Criminal Justice and graduated in December 1994. I earned my master’s degree from the University of Phoenix in December 2006 (MBA Management). I earned an EdS (Education Specialist) degree from Walden University in 2013 and earned my EdD (doctorate in Education) from Baylor University (Waco, TX) in 2022. Earning my doctorate degree was a lifelong culmination of living up to my academic potential; I reached my goal of completing it by my 50th birthday.
I am also a musician and own a company called Intense Music & Multimedia, LLC. I have a band that plays every Friday night in downtown Dallas at Kevin Kelly’s Kitchen + Cocktail restaurant. We have been there a little over two years; every Friday night from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
I am currently a professor at Tarrant County College District South Campus and Colorado Technical University. I work full-time for Baylor University in the School of Education. I love the field and industry of Education, and it is my desire to pour back into the community of learning to those who are seeking a role model or figure that they can aspire to be.
I have been married for 22 years and have two sons. My oldest son is a sophomore at LSU in Baton Rouge and my youngest son is a junior in HS. I love being a father and the responsibility of helping them mature into the men they are going to be. I am a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. I was initiated in Spring 1996 in the Theta Alpha Chapter in Dallas, TX.
I have done just about everything you can think of professionally and corporately. I have worked as a Probation Officer in Dallas County. I worked in Dallas ISD for 4 years. I worked in Sales at ATT. I was a Director of Admissions for Job Corps. I have been a college president at ITT Technical Institute and National American University. I have worked at the University of North Texas in the Career Center and as a Business instructor in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, just to name a few.
I have had to be a chameleon as a black man in Higher Education and Corporate America to survive and advance my family. It has been difficult, but there is so much more for me to do now and in the future.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have been met with challenges all of my life. My father chose to be a Pastor, so even though he was well educated, we struggled financially and lived in places that challenged a young man’s resolve to stay on the right path.
Corporately I ran into so many issues as a bright and young black male. I was always overlooked or thought to be a threat to those who didn’t want to see me succeed.
Even today, because of the Governor’s stance on DEI, I struggle, even with a doctorate degree, to get a full-time job in higher education at state institutions in Texas.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I love music, but I know it is more difficult to sustain a lifestyle without being a global artist.
I earned my doctorate degree for the longevity and sustainability in Education with a terminal degree. I have a passion for teaching and being that role model that students can look up to and ask me how I got to the level where I am.
How do you think about luck?
No luck. God has been my strength. There are so many factors that fight against my success. I have had VPs tell me that they would not consider me for VP roles. I have had employers look me in the eye and tell me they would never promote me. I have had employers to not support my academic endeavors. I have had no luck. I am still fighting for success in corporate America and in Higher Education. God is my strength.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.intensemusic.net
- Instagram: intensemusicbanddfw
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markpullam
