Mark T. Kim is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), the principal regulator of the $4 trillion municipal securities market.

Before becoming CEO, Mark was the Chief Operating Officer from 2017-2020 and served on the MSRB Board of Directors from 2015-2017. Prior to the MSRB, Mark was Chief Financial Officer for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water).

Previously, Mark served as Assistant Comptroller for Public Finance and then Deputy Comptroller for Economic Development for the City of New York. Prior to his public service, Mark was an investment banker at several financial services firms including UBS and Goldman Sachs.

Mark holds a Ph.D. in public policy from Harvard University, a law degree from Cornell Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University.

I am proud to serve as a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and support its mission of advancing the field of public administration, and I am honored with the opportunity to be highlighted during AAPI Heritage Month.

Who or what inspired you to enter into public service?

I give credit to my parents, who have inspired me to pursue a career in public service. As first-generation AAPI immigrants, my parents came to this country with little more than their belief in the ‘American dream’ and desire to provide a better life for their children.

My parents instilled in me a profound appreciation for the importance of giving back through public service to a country that has given us so much as a family.

What advice would you give to those interested in pursuing public policy or public administration as a career?

It is never too early or too late to pursue a career in public policy or administration! My own career path is a good example. I began in the private sector, transitioned to the public sector, and currently work in the nonprofit sector.

I also want to debunk the myth that a career in public policy or administration precludes or limits career opportunities in other sectors. I have found that my own public sector experience has actually opened up new and exciting career opportunities in the private and nonprofit sectors that I would never have imagined.

What is your favorite cuisine?

I was born and raised in Chicago, so one of my favorite cuisines is Deep Dish Pizza! I sympathize for those to whom eating pizza means folding over a greasy “slice” on your paper plate instead of using a proper fork and knife. I also love Chicago-style hot dogs with all the fixings!