Marcia Cross

• M.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• B.A., Clark Atlanta University

• business communications
• public relations
• nonprofits

Marcia Jones Cross teaches Business Communication and Professional Development in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business (RCB). A seasoned communications professional and manager, she has worked at several colleges and universities across the country as a faculty member, senior-level communication executive, and chief of staff. Prior to teaching at the RCB, Cross served as a public relations writer and editor at GSU's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.

Cross began her communications career with the University of Pittsburgh’s News and Publications office. She has also worked as a writer in the public relations’ offices of Dartmouth College and the University of Chicago; assistant professor of journalism at Florida A&M University; special assistant to the president for operations at Clark Atlanta University ; assistant to the president/director of public affairs at Chicago State University; director of public relations and marketing for Meharry Medical College; and vice president for college relations at Morris Brown College.

Her communication and professional experience are in the areas of media relations, reputation and brand management, executive coaching, crises communications, speech writing, marketing, coalition building, cultural awareness, social media, organizational development, and project management.
Her public relations achievements include local, regional and national media placements in the Chronicle of Higher Education, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Times as well as broadcast spots on NPR’s All Things Considered, The Today Show and 20/20, to name a few.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cross earned a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Clark Atlanta University and a master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also earned a Certified Nonprofit Professional credential from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.

She and her husband, Barry, are the proud parents of two adult college-educated children.