Mark Ostersmith | President

Class of 1990, Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration

Why I Serve

UW is part of my family heritage. My father was not only a first-generation college graduate, but also earned a UW Medical School diploma. I grew up as a firsthand witness to the benefits and pride of having a UW education. From an early age, I set my sights on becoming a Husky. The first time I walked onto campus, it became the ultimate vision of what I imagined college to be.

UW is a beacon of scholarship. I still remember attending my first class on my first day. It was Oceanography 101, a lecture course with hundreds of other wide-eyed freshmen. It felt so natural, as though I was stepping through the very door of knowledge itself. I majored in business administration, but every class I took added to me as a person. As a senior, I took a Scandinavian history class that expanded my understanding of my family’s Swedish background. A UW education allows each individual to view life through a wider, global lens.

To be a trustee is to be an ambassador. I love being a Husky in Eastern Washington. It’s a privilege to represent the UW at everything from sponsored events to simply bonding over purple-and-gold at the grocery store. Being part of UWAA is about more than a discount at the bookstore. I feel as though I inherited the experiences of the alumni before me and combine it with my own to support and inspire the next generation of Huskies.

Biography

Mark Ostersmith retired from his role as the President of a Spokane-based Broker/Dealer and is currently self-employed as a Private Investor. He has been the Spokane Region Chapter Lead for UWAA since 2015. Additionally, he is on the Board of Northwest X Talks, a Spokane nonprofit that annually presents TEDxSpokane. Mark previously served in leadership roles on the boards of Spokane’s Saint George’s School, The Lands Council as well as the Spokane Club. He enjoys traveling with his wife and spending time with their two adult sons.