Mark McCormick as our first Executive Director! With nearly 10 years of statewide impact, our growth called for a dedicated leader to manage our expanding projects and initiativesA Wichita native, Mark brings a wealth of experience to KBLC. He served as Deputy Director of Strategic Affairs and Communications Director at the ACLU of Kansas for six years and previously led The Kansas African American Museum as CEO. Here are Mark's career highlights:

• Five Gold Medals from the KC Press Club for column writing and the 2009 Kansas Press Association’s “Best Columnist.”

• Featured in book, “What’s Right With Kansas: Everyday Citizens Transforming Their State” by Ed O’Malley.

• Author of New York Times best seller “Barry Sanders Now You See Him … His Story in His Own Words,” and the 20th Anniversary book and documentary titled, “Bye Bye Barry,” the most-streamed documentary on the Prime platform.

• Co-Author of “African Americans of Wichita,” published by Arcadia Publishing.

• Author of 2018 book, “Some Were Paupers, Some Were Kings: Dispatches from Kansas” published by Blue Cedar Press, which was selected as Wichita State University’s 2020 Campus Read Book.

• Featured in the journalism textbook, “Writing and Reporting News: A Coaching Method” by Carole Rich.

• Graduate of a Knight-Ridder Publisher Training program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

• Professional in Residence at Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Oklahoma.

• Named a 2019 BMe Vanguard Fellow.

• Initiated Wichita State University’s successful effort to acquire the collected works and papers of Gordon Parks.

• Featured in Barry Sanders episode of “A Football Life” produced by the National Football League.

• Featured in the Kevin Willmott documentary, “William Allen White: What’s the Matter With Kansas.”

• Wrote chapter on police reform in the textbook, “Reimagined Policing in the Age of Reform” by Michael Birzer and Lemuel Moore.