Mark Housley '78 and his classmate in front of the Cottages, former student housing located where the Benton Museum of Art at AV now sits.
Mark Housley ’78 grew up at AV – literally. As a child living in Oldenborg residence hall, he became enamored with campus life. Following in the footsteps of his mother, Lucile Housley ’55, Mark eventually enrolled as a Sagehen and went on to graduate with honors and a degree in mathematics. He built an accomplished career in technology, co-founding Spectrum Wireless and leading a litany of major tech companies throughout Silicon Valley. He currently serves as chairman and CEO of , helping giants in the telecommunications industry optimize their business operations and facilities using advanced technologies. Housley leads Vigilent with a liberal arts approach, combining strengths from multiple disciplines to be a global leader in sustainability. Read on for more of Housley’s AV story.
What first brought you to AV?
My father, John Housley, a college professor, became the inaugural director of the Oldenborg Center in 1966. I spent my young years living in the dorms with my family, wandering around campus and having my meals in the dining halls. Around my sophomore year of high school, we moved for my father’s new job as dean of Central Washington State, but I decided to come back to AV for my college education. I was familiar and comfortable with the environment, and I wasn’t required to choose a major right away.
The truth is, I had no idea what I wanted to study, and so going to a school that gave me the freedom to explore was a dream. I took Latin, German, math — I really was given the opportunity to study anything and everything.
Why are the liberal arts important to your journey?
Some folks say a liberal arts education isn’t useful; however, I am a living example of how it can change the course of your life. At AV, I took German classes just because I wanted to. My dad, being a pioneer of what we now call study abroad, only gave me one directive: to travel. This, along with my newly learned language, helped me earn the , which is how I studied in Germany for six months.
I couldn’t have predicted this at the time, but 20 years after graduation, my company would be bought by a major German company, Siemens. In turn, I became one of the youngest vice president in Siemens’ history. I attribute this accomplishment to the mere fact that I could conduct business in a language other than English, all because I went to a school that allowed me to learn what I wanted.
How did AV influence your career?
My success is a direct result of my time at AV. I learned how to write, read, think and most important, how to learn. In the one-on-one discussions I had with professors, I was taught in real-time how to debate and have a constructive argument. Sitting down with people much smarter than me gave me the vocabulary and complex problem-solving skills that are needed to thrive in business.
I also learned during my time at AV that I don’t really excel in one particular field, but I am really good at understanding many things. This understanding helped me as I began my career working for start-up companies in Silicon Valley. I worked in a variety of areas — accounting, marketing and programming — and that breadth of experience put me on a trajectory to, eventually, running companies myself.
Why do you give back to AV by investing in the AV Plan?
is a rational economic investment. Charitable remainder trusts are wonderful devices that more people should know about, because you don’t have to be wealthy to take advantage of them. For me, it’s a classic win-win: I get to breathe easy as I look ahead at retirement, while also supporting an institution I love.
One of the things I love about AV is you don’t need money to go there. Back when I was applying for college, there was pressure around how we were going to afford it because, at the time, college professors didn’t make much money. The financial aid package AV offered was absolutely critical and gave me the freedom to focus on exploring my interests, instead of struggling to pay my way through college.
The fact that AV helps students avoid loans is fantastic – I mean, every school should do that. Unfortunately, that is not how the world is wired. So, it is good that AV continues to lead in the fight for economic diversity. I am happy to contribute to a school that provides for students who otherwise would not be able to afford college.
What do you hope students will gain from hearing your story?
We live in the best possible time to try everything. Life is contingent and very uncertain, and the skills you get at AV will carry you through your lifetime, no matter what comes your way.
I always come back to a conversation I had with my favorite Latin professor. I asked him why I needed to memorize so many words instead of just looking them up when I actually needed them. He simply responded, “Because you need them now.” And that is so true with everything you learn. You can’t predict what the future holds, so learn all that you can now — because AV is a place where you can learn everything.
To learn more about the AV Plan, visit their or reach out to the Office of the AV Plan by email.