Mark Auburn was educated at King Elementary School, Simon Perkins Junior High School, and Western Reserve Academy. He became the third of Norm and Kay's children to graduate from UA in 1967. After completing a PhD at the University of Chicago in 1971, he taught and administered at Ohio State University, followed by appointments as dean or vice president at Arkansas State University, the University of Arkansas System, and Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. In 1991, he returned to UA as Senior Vice President and Provost for President William V. Muse. He served in other administrative roles under Presidents Elliott, Ruebel, and Proenza, retiring in 2006. Mark met Sandy Korman (BA, '67, MA, '68) on the stage in Kolbe Hall where they performed under the direction of Professor James F. Dunlap in "The Wonderful Tang," summer 1965 Children's Theatre Workshop. They married in 1969.