Master of Public Administration (MPA)

After graduating from Cornell University with a BS in print media, Marisa pursued a career in communications. Early in her career, she worked for top Atlanta ad agencies including The Joey Reiman Agency and Tausche Martin Lonsdorf, as well as Minneapolis-based The Lacek Group, managing print production for clients including Church’s Chicken, Days Inns of America, and Delta Airlines. While working full-time in for-profit advertising and marketing agencies, Marisa obtained her certificate in graphic design from The Creative Circus in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon graduating from The Circus, she moved into nonprofit work, starting as a graphic designer and rising to the position of Design Director for the marketing department at Fernbank Museum of Natural History. She now serves as the Associate Director for Marketing and Communications for Swift School, an independent school for children with language-based learning differences in Roswell, Georgia. Marisa has extensive experience in graphic design, art direction, print production management, project and personnel management, communications planning, writing, editing, and photography. She is participating in the MPA program with the career goal of transitioning from communications management for nonprofits to general/executive management for nonprofits.