Welcome

"If you want to go fast, go by yourself. If you want to go far, go together." — African Proverb

Welcome! My name is Mark O'Neill and I am most recently a junior lecturer and researcher of communication science at the University Of Amsterdam, the top-rated department in the world for media studies. My research focuses on internal corporate communication, diversity, and queer theory. I am also a media entrepreneur, award-winning content creator, and global leader. I want to help improve communication through strategic research, inclusive solutions, and creative ideas. I am currently looking for new work, so please check out my CV and LinkedIn and get in touch!

I grew up near San Francisco, where my passion for communication, research, and justice flourished. I visited Amsterdam on my eighteenth birthday and fell in love with the city, leading me to study and work there later. My previous research covers topics including identity, bias, culture, reputation, behaviour, ethics, and more—often through an interdisciplinary framework using cultural studies, queer and feminist theory, and mixed methods. Intersectionality and decolonisation are very important to my work as well. Looking ahead, I want to focus on communication consulting and organisational auditing, with an emphasis on inclusivity, interpersonal communication, and new ways of working.

In 2025, I earned my university teaching qualification (BKO) and presented my research on coming out at the Nordic Network of Intercultural Communication in Helsinki.

In 2022, I was nominated for the UvA Lecturer of the Year award.

In 2021, I graduated cum laude from the University of Amsterdam with an MSc Corporate Communication. My thesis investigated how queer employees come out at work and reconcile their identity presentation against professional norms via qualitative interviews with Prof Dr Irina Lock. I also founded the Queer Communication Library, a grassroots repository of queer communication resources for students and researchers.

In 2020, I graduated cum laude with honours from the University of Amsterdam with a BSc Communication Science. I completed the honours programme at the Institute For Interdisciplinary Studies and earned a minor in Business Administration. My thesis measured employee diversity and its presentation on corporate websites via archival content analysis with Dr Anna Berbers. I also served as a Public Information Intern at the United Nations in New York City, where I researched risk, media, and reputation during the COVID-19 pandemic via a public opinion survey. 

In 2020, I became a member of the European Communication Research & Education Association.

In 2019, I presented my research on employee diversity at the 41st International Association For Interdisciplinary Studies Conference in Amsterdam.

In 2017, I was selected as the Holland Merit Scholar for Communication Science at the University of Amsterdam.

In 2017, I graduated with five Associate Of Arts degrees with honours from West Valley College.