Marcus Donaldson

Marcus Donaldson is a third-year Sociology Ph.D. student in the School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University and a doctoral research assistant at the BRIDGS Initiative. His research examines youth development and community-based initiatives in professional sport, with a focus on the National Basketball Association (NBA), Black community empowerment, and the measurement of social impact, including Social Return on Investment (SROI).

Marcus has expertise in qualitative research methods, research design, internet-mediated research, and the sociological analysis of race and racism in the United States. His professional background includes experience in public education, community organizing, and climate justice work at the government level. He has taught in public middle school settings and collaborated on initiatives aimed at advancing equity and inclusion in education and local governance.

Marcus brings a cross-cultural perspective to his work as a dual citizen with experience collaborating across multi-ethnic and international contexts. He has led inclusive, community-centered initiatives in education and local government and has served on student-led police reform boards.

His master’s research examined relationships between police departments and Black communities, with particular attention to the effects of witnessing police violence through social media on Black users. His work has been published in AZ Central and International Migration Review.

Marcus is a member of the American Sociological Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.