Marcus Maximus Martin

Marcus M. Martin is a second-year Ph. D. student in the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. Drawing on tenets of Critical Race Theory and concepts from Network theories, his research examines access to racial learning and literacy in U.S. postsecondary education, with particular attention to how institutional policies and practices shape the experiences of racially and ethnically minoritized students, faculty, and staff. Through rigorous empirical research, he seeks to inform equity-minded policies and practices that advance racial harmony in higher education. Marcus brings over a decade of combined professional experience in postsecondary admissions, government relations, and research. As a civically engaged scholar, he has published opinion editorials, provided public comment on legislation affecting diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, organized community advocacy efforts, presented research at the Association for the Study of Higher Education and the American Educational Research Association, and contributed more than 400 hours to community-based research and volunteer initiatives. His scholarship appears in The Journal of Higher Education and includes contributions to a national report and a book chapter examining race, policy, and institutional change in higher education. Marcus serves as a Research Associate at the USC Race and Equity Center and a Research Assistant at the Pullias Center for Higher Education, under the mentorship of his primary advisor, Dr. Royel M. Johnson, and secondary advisor, Dr. Darnell Cole.

Select Awards & Recognitions

2016    Criminal Justice Departmental Honors

2016    Ogden City Police Department Exceptional Volunteer Award & Challenge Coin

2016    Excellence in Community Engagement

2015    Weber State Man of the Year Nominee

2006    Hope of America Award

Select Fellowships & Scholarships

2022    Richards J&M Scholarship

2016    Criminal Justice Department Scholarship

2016    J.W. Marriott Scholarship

2012    Admissions Ambassador Scholarship Program

• Johnson, R.M., Nuñez, R.A., Kwon, J., & Duran, G.P. (2024). Under siege: Campus racial climates in Texas amid anti-DEI legislation. Los Angeles, CA: University of Southern California, USC Race and Equity Center.
• Duran, G. P. (2024, January 4). Opinion: DEI is the Utah way. Salt Lake Tribune. https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2024/01/04/opinion-utah-should-increase/
• Duran, G.P. & Grote, D., (2023, November). Oppression perpetrated by the most rejective institutions. Scholarly paper presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education annual meeting.
• Duran, G. P. (2022, April 29). Access to college for Latinx students begins with access to information. Salt Lake Tribune. https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2022/04/29/gary-p-duran-access