Marcia Chatelain

Marcia Chatelain is the Presidential Penn Compact Professor of Africana Studies and Undergraduate Chair at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. She previously served at Georgetown University for twelve years, earning teaching and service awards including the 2022 Georgetown Black Alumni Council Distinguished Leader Award. Her research focuses on African American history, civil rights, and black capitalism. Chatelain is a recipient of the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in History for her book Franchise, which explores the intersection of fast-food industry growth with Black communities. She is also noted for her #FergusonSyllabus initiative, recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education as a Top Influencer in 2016.

• Education:
• Bachelor's in Journalism and Religious Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia
• A.M. and Ph.D. in American Civilization from Brown University

Her work bridges academia and public engagement, including fellowships from New America, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. Awards also include the 2000 Harry S Truman Scholarship and the James Beard Award for Writing.