Cecilia Marshall is the Executive Director of the Thurgood Marshall Foundation, where she leads the family’s efforts to preserve, protect, and promote the legacy of her grandfather, Justice Thurgood Marshall. She stepped into this role after decades of leadership in national nonprofits and philanthropy, bringing her experience in fundraising, strategic partnerships, college access and success, and program innovation to steward the Foundation’s mission at a pivotal time.
Her career has centered on expanding opportunity and social mobility, particularly at the intersection of education and equity. She has held senior positions at Ed Advancement, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and APIA Scholars, where she launched initiatives to improve college access, student success, and long-term impact for underrepresented communities. Earlier in her career, she led global recruitment efforts at the Savannah College of Art and Design and began in corporate advertising in New York City.
Cecilia served on the Board of Directors of the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), the premier legal organization fighting for racial justice which was founded by her grandfather.