2025 Scholarship Drive

Student-driven. Student-focused. The annual Scholarship Drive raises more than $600,000 for tuition assistance.

Saint Ignatius High School

Alumni in Action: Mark McNamee '00

Check out our Alumni in Action Spotlight: Mark McNamee '00

Name: Mark McNamee ‘00
Hometown: Rocky River, Ohio
Profession: Co-Founder/Owner of Ukraine Business News (UBN) Network
Favorite Teacher: Fr. Larry Ober S.J.
Student Activities: Freshman Football & Student Government Treasurer

Biggest Lesson Learned as a Student:
Men for Others and the Ignatian values have encouraged me to do something bigger than myself and contribute to a humanitarian cause. 

Professional Career: As a student, Mark’s favorite class was Modern European History taught by Fr. Larry Ober S.J., where he learned about his Ukrainian heritage and built a passion to learn more. Mark found the topics fascinating and approached Fr. Ober after class, saying, “Why don't people talk about it more”. Fr. Ober replied, “This is why I teach it”. 

Fr. Ober’s class inspired him to study History & Theology at The University of Notre Dame. Post undergrad, Mark took time to travel to Brazil, Prague, and Russia, eventually leading him to continue his education at Johns Hopkins University with a Masters in International Relations & Russian Eurasian Studies. Mark has taught classes in counterterrorism for the FBI & CIA, and has written articles for the Harvard Business Review regarding Brexit. This was a definitive period that changed his life and put him on an international career trajectory. 

Mark moved to Ukraine in October of 2023 and founded the Ukraine Business News Network (UBN), a company with the goal of aiding foreign investors operating in the country, supporting Ukrainian economic revival, and ultimately contributing to the nation’s reconstruction. 

Mark has always felt connected with the Saint Ignatius Community, especially by his uncle, Chris Smith ‘74, who has been supportive of Mark pursuing his passion. 

If you are interested in learning more about Mark’s work, check out his podcast, History in the Making on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To learn more about UBN, go to https://ubn.network/

Advice to Current Students:
“Try something new and uncomfortable. This is how you can find your passion.” For Mark, he never saw himself in his current career, but quotes George Bernard Shaw, “Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself.”