In Focus: Mark McCorkle

Mark McCorkle

Name: Mark McCorkle

Job title: Support Officer

Department: Learning Support Centre

How long have you been at Mohawk: Since August 2024

Tell us what you do at the College?

I am the program lead for the Peer Assisted Study Sessions (P.A.S.S.) program in the Learning Support Centre. In this program, we hire high-achieving student leaders to run study sessions to support select, challenging courses at the college. Our P.A.S.S. leaders use collaborative learning techniques to support students in their most challenging first and second semester courses. Through this program we teach students not only what to learn, but how to learn; students who attend P.A.S.S. in their first and second semesters see increased grades and lower drop/fail/withdrawal rates in both their current and future courses.

It is also an excellent learning experience for our student leaders who run the sessions as they develop key skills including leadership, public speaking, and time management while they complete their studies.

I supervise our P.A.S.S. leaders, ensuring they have the resources they need so that we can provide a high level of support for students who attend our sessions. I spend a considerable amount of time in some very colourful scheduling spreadsheets and just as much time in considerably less-colourful data spreadsheets.

P.A.S.S. is a very data-driven program so an important part of my work is collecting and analyzing data to ensure the program is well-utilized, tailored to student needs, and is having a positive and measurable impact on students’ academic performance.  

What is the one thing that makes you want to come to work each day?

The students! As a former professor, I have always loved engaging with students and supporting them through their varied journeys in post-secondary education. Though I am no longer teaching, I still want to have the opportunity to do that work and interact with students regularly. I am thankful that in my current role I get to meet and support a wide range of people in their education and careers. As college employees we all care deeply about education and I love being in a role that is so closely connected to learning and that puts me on the frontlines of student success.

What is something your colleagues may not know about you?

In 2014, I completed a program to become a certified personal trainer. When I first went off to university, I began going to the gym regularly and became fascinated with the human body and exercise science. It was odd for a music student like me to begin hanging around the bodybuilding and powerlifting world but I found a home there quickly and began spending many hours in the gym. Although I no longer spend the same amount of time at the gym as I did when I was in my early 20s, I still enjoy lifting weights and keeping up with current developments in exercise science research.

What is your favourite thing to do outside of work?

Nerd stuff, mostly. And by that I mean I spend most of my time playing board games, video games, and watching fantasy and sci fi movies and TV shows. I am particularly partial to the Star Wars and, especially, the Lord of the Rings universes; earlier this year I got my first tattoo which features Aragorn’s sword, Andúril.

In the video game world, I have long been into competitive FPS games and closely follow the Call of Duty League and the Halo Championship Series. I also have weekly gaming groups for many games, including Dungeons & Dragons and the Lord of the Rings Living Card Game. Recently, I have also been playing other tabletop games including Gloomhaven, Gaslands, and Star Wars: Shatterpoint.