John Mark Grant
John Mark Grant is a Class of 2024 student majoring in the Canfield Business Honors Program (Canfield BHP) and Finance, with two minors Management Information Systems and French. John Mark grew up in Tyler, Texas, a small town in East Texas, before coming to UT. Reflecting back as the current Undergraduate Business Council (UBC) President, John Mark believes UBC has been a pivotal part of his college experience.
The Undergraduate Business Council (UBC) at the McCombs School of Business unifies students and faculty to strengthen the UT community, leads initiatives for positive change, and represents student interests for an engaging campus life experience. John Mark began his journey in UBC when he was elected into the organization by the McCombs student body. He saw UBC as a place for tangible action, and he could “use this space to make sure [my peers’] voices are heard.”
Since joining the organization, John Mark has taken on a variety of leadership roles, beginning as the Faculty Relations Committee Chair in his sophomore year. In this role, he spearheaded initiatives like Faculty Relations Week, where students and faculty got to make meaningful connections outside the classroom. John Mark felt especially proud of how his peers wrote letters to express appreciation for their professors through the event.
In his junior year, John Mark served as the Community Service Chair to ensure McCombs students could serve where possible. However, the pinnacle of his UBC experience was his senior year, where John Mark led the organization as President. The role was a learning process as John Mark navigated through various uncertainties and turbulent times. Through it all, he remained committed to amplifying student voices and opinions through avenues such as engaging with faculty heads and deans. Ultimately, John Mark learned a lot about himself as he steered tough situations, all while becoming a better leader who listens and “turns people’s voices into action.”
Reflecting upon his tenure as President, John Mark is extremely proud of UBC’s significant accomplishments, everything from hosting the CEO of Citadel to taking students to visit company offices in New York. He also found fulfillment in the tight-knit personal connections in UBC, both with old friends and new members who joined the organization. These friendships spill over into his academic and professional life, allowing John Mark to feel a greater sense of belonging in Canfield BHP and the greater McCombs community. Additionally, John Mark takes pride in seeing the growth of new leaders within UBC, which is most evident in how they give back to the community.
To celebrate John Mark’s contribution to UBC, McCombs, and UT at large, he was recently recognized with the President of the Year award. This honor came from the Senate of College Councils, a student legislative body comprising of all campus college councils.
As someone who has contributed significantly to the McCombs community, John Mark shares invaluable advice on how to make an impact. He emphasizes the importance of making your voice heard, acknowledging that it is easy to get lost in the minutiae of college life and feel burnout. John Mark encourages individuals to empower themselves and rise up with their peers, recognizing the collective power in effectuating lasting change. Moreover, he stresses the significance of building a support system amongst peers and not hesitating to reach out to staff and faculty, as they genuinely want the best for students. Ultimately, John Mark underscores that everything starts with you — speaking up courageously is what sparks advocacy.
When asked to describe the Undergraduate Business Council in three words, John Mark took a moment to ponder, before finally settling on “empowering, communal, and gratifying.”