Before coming to the School of Communication Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Mark Prather taught communication courses at Texas Tech University, the University of Kentucky, Midway University, Transylvania University, Knoxville College, and Roane State Community College. He is a full-time epidemiologist at the Knox County Health Department and teaches introduction to public speaking courses in the evenings. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, owning pets, working out, fishing, cooking, and reading.