Blog Post: Ask the Alum: Mark Vinson

Name: Mark Vinson 

Job Title/Employer: City Architect/Community Design Director, Tempe, Arizona 

Years of Graduation: 1977/1991

Degrees/Majors: (1977) B. Arch./(1991) M.S. 

What is your favorite part of your current job?  

The variety of work that I am able to do within a supportive organization, and the fact that I am surrounded by diverse and talented colleagues.

What career path did you follow from your ASU degree to your present job? 

After graduating with the Bachelor of Architecture degree, I worked for private practice architectural firms for several years, before pursuing an opportunity within the City of Tempe's Long Range Planning Division.  Over the years, that position has evolved and grown, as have I.  Later on, I returned to ASU while still working full time and obtained a Masters of Science degree in Building Design.

Describe one skill learned at ASU that you use daily in your job. 

Relating to people from different backgrounds and perspectives. 

Were any ASU-affiliated persons helpful to you in advancing your career? 

I won't mention any names specifically, but general support from former classmates and other alumni has been very beneficial. 

What advice would you give to current students or job-seekers about finding work in your field? 

Although prospects are not currently abundant in either public or private practice for architecture or planning, I always recommend that someone pursue their passion and they will find a viable path—or it will find them.