Mark Jamer

Mark Virgil Jamer is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He is also a scholar of the Department of Science and Technology, an academic fellow of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, a social entrepreneur, and an advocate for rural community development.

Utilizing his knowledge of entrepreneurship to propel his advocacy, Mark co-founded Rise Rural Philippines, a youth-led social enterprise that aims to uplift the lives of Filipinos in rural communities with the use of innovative solutions, where he currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer. As a social entrepreneur, he has led the organization to gain recognition and funding in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, China, Switzerland, and the United States. He is also a public speaker, having won two international public speaking competitions in Thailand in 2022. As a student, he has demonstrated strong leadership qualities and academic excellence, as proven by his academic recognition and experience in holding leadership positions in his student organization and college student council. In 2022, he was nominated for the UPLB Natatanging Iskolar Award, a recognition given to the most outstanding students in leadership, public service, and promotion of culture and the arts at the university.

Coming from a rural community in Eastern Samar, Mark is passionate about studying social entrepreneurship and its crucial role in driving rural economic development. He is motivated to study business, innovation, and social change in the United States as a Global UGRAD Scholar to find innovative solutions to pressing social challenges.

In his free time, Mark enjoys nature walks, good coffee, playing the violin, listening to podcasts, and watching college vlogs.