Mark K. Updegrove

Since October 2009, Mark K. Updegrove has served as the fourth director of the LBJ Presidential Library.

During his tenure, the library has undergone an $11 million renovation of its core museum exhibits about President Johnson and his administration. On April 8–10, 2014, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Updegrove hosted a Civil Rights Summit at the library. President Barack Obama, accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama, delivered the summit's keynote address. Former Presidents Carter, Clinton, and George W. Bush along with many heroes from the Civil Rights Movement also participated in the summit.

Updegrove is also an author and historian. He has authored four books: "Second Acts: Presidential Lives and Legacies After the White House;" "Baptism by Fire: Eight Presidents Who Took Office During Times of Crisis;" "Indomitable Will: LBJ in the Presidency;" and, "Destiny of Democracy: The Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library."

Updegrove has also written for American Heritage, The Nation, National Geographic, Parade, Politico, Texas Monthly, The Daily Beast, and TIME.

He is an analyst for ABC News on matters relating to the presidency, including the 2013 presidential inauguration, and a contributor to CBS Sunday Morning.

Before coming to the library, Updegrove spent much of his career in magazine publishing including serving as manager of TIME magazine in Los Angeles; president of TIME Canada, TIME's separate Canadian edition and operation; and U.S. publisher of Newsweek in New York. While at TIME, he conceived TIME and the Presidency, a multimedia program on modern American presidents from FDR to Clinton.