Mark L. Pope, 70, of University City, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 29, 2023, at his home. He was born April 23, 1952, to Isom LaVern Pope and Ethyle Ray Pope. He is survived by his loving husband Mario Carlos, his brothers Michael Pope (Gwen) and James Pope; Douglas (Debbie) Pope (deceased); five nieces, nephew, and 14 great nieces and nephews. Pope served as chair of the Department of Counseling and Family Therapy from 2006–16. He was a Curators’ Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Education Sciences and Professional Programs in the College of Education. He spent more than two decades at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, beginning in 1997 and continuing until his retirement in 2018. He was widely considered to be one of the founders of and leading authors in the field of cultural diversity issues in career counseling and career development, especially gay and lesbian career development. He received several accolades in the field of mental health for his leadership, scholarship, and teaching. The role he was most proud of was the one of mentor to his students and colleagues. In 2018, the University of Missouri System presented him with the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award, the highest award that any faculty member may receive. Pope held significant national offices in several professional associations, including as president of the National Career Development Association from 1998–99, the American Counseling Association from 2003–04, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues from 2010–11. He was also a fellow of several major professional societies, including the American Counseling Association, three divisions of the American Psychological Association (Society of Counseling Psychology; Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race; and Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity), and the National Career Development Association. Pope was an Elder of the Saint Francis River Band of Cherokees. He also served as the Director of Psychological Services for the American Indian AIDS Institute and the Native American AIDS Project in San Francisco.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations can be made to the following organizations: Lymphoma Research Foundation (Mantle Cell Lymphoma) or the American Cancer Society in honor of Dr. Mark Pope. This message is on behalf of Mario Carlos.
–Editor's note: Read related articles in the Division 44 Newsletter:
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Mark Pope's President's Column: Who Are We?opens in new window (“I was born a gay Cherokee boy in rural southeast Missouri”) (Division 44 Newsletter, Fall 2011, pp. 1–2.)
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First We Were Sane, Now We Are Legal: The Historic Position of Division 44 in LGBT Civil Rightsopens in new window (Division 44 Newsletter, Fall 2012, pp. 14.)
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AAAS Affiliate Honors Mark Pope as Educator of the Yearopens in new window (Division 44 Newsletter, Fall 2012, p. 34.)
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Mark Pope chaired Search Committee for The Founding Editor of Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identityopens in new window (Division 44 Newsletter, Fall 2012, p. 35.)
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Book review of Casebook for Counseling Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons and Their Familiesopens in new window. Sari H. Dworkin and Mark Pope (Eds.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association, 2012, 368 pp. (Division 44 Newsletter, Summer 2012, p. 6.)