Welcome

"We are all just actors trying to control and manage our public image, we act based on how others might see us." — Erving Goffman

My name is Mark O'Neill and I am a lecturer of media and communication at Erasmus University Rotterdam. I teach undergraduate and graduate courses on communication, organisational management, research methods, statistics, and digital content, among others. I also supervise premaster and internship research with my colleages at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication. My own research focuses on corporate communication, diversity, and queer topics. I am formerly a media entrepreneur, award-winning content creator, and global leader. I strive to improve the communication of individuals and organiations through strategic research, inclusive solutions, and creative ideas wherever possible. Please visit my CV or LinkedIn for more informaiton and to get in touch with me!

I grew up near San Francisco in the United States, 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. I love teaching because of the opportunities to connect with students and help support their learning trajectories. My research interests address topics including diversity, bias, organisational culture, change management, sensemaking, CSR, interpersonal communication, and more, often through an interdisciplinary framework using cultural studies, queer and feminist theory, and mixed methods. Intersectionality and decolonisation are also very important in my teaching practice and research.

My Core Values — Strategic Outlook, Global Mindset, Empirical Emphasis, Holistic Vision

In 2026, I became a lecturer of media and communication at Erasmus University Rotterdam and I co-authored a paper on pinkwashing at HEMA.

In 2025, I earned my university teaching qualification and presented at the Nordic Network of Intercultural Communication conference in Helsinki.

In 2022, I was nominated for Lecturer of the Year at the University of Amsterdam and for Teaching & Recognition by the Amsterdam Young Academy. I also served on the board of the UvA Pride affinity network.

In 2021, I completed my MSc in Corporate Communication. My research 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 thematic resources for students, teachers, and researchers.

In 2020, I completed my BSc in Communication Science. My research measured employee diversity and its visibility on corporate websites via archival content analysis with Dr Anna Berbers. I also completed the honours programme at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies and earned a minor in Business Administration. 

In 2020, I served as a Public Information Intern at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, where I researched risk, media, and reputation during the COVID-19 pandemic via a public opinion survey.

In 2019, I joined the European Communication Research & Education Association and presented at the International Association for Interdisciplinary Studies conference in Amsterdam.

In 2017, I completed four concurrent AA degrees with honours from West Valley College. I was also named the Holland Merit Scholar for Communication Science at the University of Amsterdam.