Marcia Dawkins, PhD

Current Role

Dr. Marcia Alesan Dawkins is a Senior Research Scientist at CCL, where she leads research initiatives on storytelling, succession, corporate reputation, and organizational communication. She partners with senior leaders, faculty, marketing, portfolio, and sales teams to craft high-stakes keynotes, trend-informed messaging, and transformative client experiences.

Experience

Marcia is a leading expert in communication and cultural strategy. She has published research on how persona, conflict, and contrast connect when shaped into stories about leadership.

Two of her books, Clearly Invisible and Eminem: The Real Slim Shady, were nominated for the Grawemeyer Award and an NAACP Image Book Award. Her research has also been recognized by the Social Science Research Council, the National Communication Association, and the Eastern Communication Association. Her thought leadership has been featured in media outlets such as BBC World, NPR, AOL Originals, ABC News, HuffPo Live, Chief Talent Officer, and in 50+ keynotes, including UNESCO, University of Chicago, The Mayo Clinic Grand Rounds, East China Normal University, The North American Learning and Executive Summit, and The Wonderful Company.

Before joining us, Marcia was a professor of Communication, corporate educator, and columnist.

Educational Background

Marcia has a PhD and MA in Communication from the University of Southern California, an MA in Humanities and Social Thought from New York University, and a BA in Communication from Villanova University.

Professional Affiliations and Certifications

Marcia is a member of the National Communication Association and the International Communication Association.