Mailing Address: 
P. O. Box 820
Portsmouth, VA 23705
Term Expires: December 31, 2024

FAMILY 

Dr. Mark Micaiah Whitaker is the third of four children born to Bishop James M. and Otelia McIntyre Whitaker of Portsmouth, VA, and the grandson of the late Deacon Junious and Carrie Whitaker of the Lambert’s Point Community of Norfolk, VA, via Scotland Neck, NC and the late Deacon Joseph and Etta McIntyre of the Mount Hermon Community of Portsmouth, VA.  He is married to Dr. Ingrid Whitaker, who serves as a Tenured Associate Professor of Sociology at Old Dominion University.  They are the proud parents of four children – James (2019 Master’s Degree graduate of Georgetown University; 2017 graduate of North Carolina A&T State University – Full Basketball Scholarship), Naomi (2020 graduate of East Carolina University – Track Scholarship, Dean’s List), Nathaniel (Freshman – Morehouse College – Track Scholarship) and Rachel (10^th Grade – I. C. Norcom High School, Honor Roll, Track, National Junior Honor Society).    

EDUCATION

Manor High School – 1983 
Graduated 4^th in Class; 1^st Team All-State Basketball Team, President, Student Government  

Bachelor of Science
Virginia Tech - B.S. Management Science – 1987 
Full Athletic Scholarship – Basketball; Who’s Who; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

President, Black Student Alliance

Master of Business Administration
The Pennsylvania State University – 1989
First-Place Executive Panel Presentation Team; Vice President – Black Graduate Student Association

Doctor of Jurisprudence (Law Degree) 
The Ohio State University - 1993
Law School Honor Council; President, Black Law Students Association

SERVICE

In 1992, Dr. Whitaker was licensed as a minister and ordained in June 1995.  Dr. Whitaker serves as the Assistant Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Portsmouth, VA, where his father, Bishop James M. Whitaker, has served as the Pastor since June of 1964 and his mother, Otelia McIntyre Whitaker, is the Minister of Music.  For 25 years, Dr. Whitaker taught on the collegiate level at Virginia Tech in the R. B. Pamplin School of Business from 1993-1999 and at Hampton University from 1999 – 2018, where he earned Tenure and the rank of Associate Professor of Management in the School of Business.  In May 2002, Dr. Whitaker was elected to the Portsmouth Public School Board as the youngest person ever elected at that time and served until December 2014.  As a School Board Member, Dr. Whitaker chaired the Minority Contracting Committee and the Corporate Sponsorship Committee.  Moreover, Dr. Whitaker was instrumental in the School Board implementing a Minority and Women Business Enterprises Program, Middle School Athletics Program, and Pay Equity Study, and advocating for a culture of fairness and respect for all. 

On Tuesday, November 4, 2014, Dr. Mark and Dr. Ingrid Whitaker made history by becoming the first married couple elected to Portsmouth City Council and Portsmouth School Board, respectively.  They speak TRUTH TO POWER advocating for Social and Economic justice. 

Dr. Mark Micaiah Whitaker believes that, through Christ, we can do all things, and no weapon formed against us shall prosper. To God be the GLORY!