Mark Little serves as the executive director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and is also permanent director of NCGrowth, an affiliated research center. In these combined roles, he manages institute operations, supports high-growth entrepreneurs, helps communities grow and retain business, facilitates strategic regional economic development and researches solutions to pressing energy-, environment-, and climate-related problems. Mark has a broad international background in environmental and earth science, policy analysis and renewable energy development, including serving as an AAAS congressional science fellow to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. Mark received a doctorate in geology and geophysics from Rice University and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in earth and planetary science.