Mark Kennedy — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Founding Director, Wahba Initiative for Strategic Competition at NYU Development Research Institute (since 2025)
Served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota (2001-2007)
Served as President of the University of Colorado system (2019-2021) and the University of North Dakota (2016-2019)
Held senior executive roles at Federated Department Stores (which became Macy's) and the Pillsbury Company, assisting with Häagen-Dazs' global expansion
Profiled as one of 'America's top CFOs' by Institutional Investor Magazine in May 1992
Earned an M.B.A. with distinction from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business (1983)

Biography

Mark Kennedy is a scholar-practitioner, university president, former U.S. Congressman, and global strategy leader. He currently serves as the Founding Director of the Wahba Initiative for Strategic Competition at NYU Development Research Institute and as a Senior Fellow at CNA Corporation.