Mark Rowan Ed.S. was born and raised in Jersey City. He is a graduate of Dickinson High School, Saint Peter's University, New Jersey City University and Rutgers University. He recently retired from the Jersey City School District after 44 years where he served as a teacher, Coordinator of the Juvenile Diversion Program, DistrictCoordinator of Alternative Education, Substance Abuse Coordinator and Student Assistance Coordinator. He also served on the District's Emergency Response Team. Mark presently serves as an aide to Jersey City 
Councilman Chris L. Gadsden.

An Eagle Scout, he has also served as president of the Alternative Education Association of N.J., was a member of the Jersey City Alliance Against Drugs & Alcohol, chairman of the Jersey City Council President's Panel on Vandalism, member of the Mayor's Task Force for the Handicapped & Disabled, served two terms as president of the Jersey City Kiwanis Club and is a Supervisory Board member of the Liberty Savings Federal Credit Union.

In addition, he has taken courses with the FEMA Emergency Management Institute, has been a member of the Jersey City Community Emergency Response Team since 2010 and is a Disaster Response Crisis Counselor Team Leader.