Dr. Butland is a successful researcher, author, professor, and serves as the Director of the Iowa EdTech Collaborative where he promotes the education technology sector’s growth and success in Iowa. Previously, Mark served as campus dean for Kirkwood Community College, Iowa City, and has held faculty and administrative positions at 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. Mark has worked extensively with the Higher Education Research and Development Institute (HERDI), most recently serving on the advisory board for HERDI-South and serves on the Advisory Council for the EdSAFE AI Alliance.

Mark earned his Ed.D. in Community College Leadership from the Roueche Graduate Center at National American University. His academic research has focused on instructional communication, competency-based education, and regional accreditation policy work, and he has authored several communication studies textbooks. Mark relishes vigorous hikes, moderate yoga, and light food adventuring, and is easily spellbound by storytellers, comedians, infomercials, and post-apocalyptic dystopian zombie movies.