About Our Staff

Mark Rasdorf, MA, NCC

Senior Associate Director, Student Engagement
Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center
(252) 737-4451
rasdorfm@ecu.edu
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Mark Rasdorf is the Senior Associate Director in Student Engagement at East Carolina University and Director of the Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center. His primary responsibilities include oversight of programming and long-range planning for the Center. Mark oversaw the grand opening activities for the center’s new home in January 2019, including a Ribbon Cutting and Open House attended by more than 400 people and a Grand Opening PRIDE Dinner and Celebration attended by more than 300 people. In its new home in the Main Campus Student Center, the Peel LGBTQ Center is the largest center of its kind in the UNC system.

In addition to his work with the Peel LGBTQ Center, he has served as a Cluster Facilitator (2015) and as Program Coordinator (2016) in the LeaderShape Institute. He led the return of a campus production of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” in 2015 and co-directed the 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 productions as part of ECU’s Pledge Purple campaign. In 2016, he collaborated with the Victim Advocate and the University Writing Center to create “To Girls Everywhere,” an event exploring the impact of sexual assault and sexual violence on college campuses based on the victim letter in the 2015 assault at Stanford University.

In 2017, his work on campus was recognized with the East Carolina Creed Award for Diversity; the 2017 Diversity and Inclusion Award; and the Division of Student Affairs Inclusion Award. Mark was honored with the 2019 Public Service Award from the Coalition for Sexuality and Gender Identities in the ACPA College Student Educators International. In 2020, he was named a member of ECU’s Servire Society in recognition of his community service and he was received a Treasured Pirate Award.

In 2021, he was appointed to the newly formed Pitt County Human Relations Commission and he serves on the boards for the Greenville Museum of Art and the Center for Family Violence Prevention.

Mark earned his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy from Appalachian State University in May 2013. While at Appalachian, he served as the graduate assistant for the LGBT Center for two years and his work was honored with Appalachian’s prestigious Gregory S. Blimling Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Student Development. In 2012, Mark received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Association for LGBT Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC), a division of the American Counseling Association (ACA). A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Mark earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Virginia Commonwealth University and worked for over 20 years in marketing, communications, and general management for the performing arts including eight years at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., six years at UApresents, the University of Arizona’s performing arts series, and four years as General Manager for Broadway in Tucson/A Nederlander Presentation. He is a founding board member of PFLAG Greenville NC, a local chapter of the United States’ largest organization for parents, families, friends, and allies united with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer.