Dr. James Marshall’s life-long work lies at the intersection of people and the organizations in which they work—and optimizing the synergy that fertile convergence holds. His scholarship, teaching, and consulting combine our understanding of human performance and organization development to assess strengths, devise strategy, and improve even the most vexing of challenges. Engagements have found him evaluating virtual reality-delivered training for active shooter containment, to devising strategy that improved the community-focused impacts realized by the national network of over 150 public television stations.

Marshall currently serves as Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University (SDSU), in the #1 ranked California State University (CSU) College of Education. During his post as Director, SDSU’s Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) became the largest doctoral program across the 23-campus CSU while, at the same time, achieving increased racial and gender diversity. At the same time, SDSU’s Educational Administration programs premiered at number 26 nationwide on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 list of the nation’s top graduate education programs. Prior to his current appointment, he held tenure-line positions in both Educational Technology and Learning Design and Technology. In further support of California’s educator preparation, he has been appointed to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s Board of Institutional Reviewers, for which he has been designated a Team Lead for accreditation review.

With over 200 publications to his credit, Dr. Marshall’s scholarship encompasses a diverse range of works that include empirical research, program evaluation efforts, and policy development. His program evaluation endeavors are particularly significant and include over 250 individual studies of funded projects and program

investments totaling over $120 million dollars. This work has been funded by diverse agencies that include the National Science Foundation, the Institute for Library and Museum Services, the Public Broadcasting Service, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as well as the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Transportation Security Administration. His work with state and local education agencies, school systems, and regional offices of education encompasses 40 of the 50 United States.

Internationally, Dr. Marshall has influenced human and organization performance through his service on the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction (IBSTPI) Board of Directors. Here, his needs assessment-focused research assisted the organization in better understanding its audiences and needs, as it reformulated its long-term strategy and support of learning leaders worldwide.

In his private practice, he serves as a thought partner to leaders seeking to hasten the collective impact of their organization’s investments. From assessing strengths and needs, to conceptualizing strategy and program initiatives, and then measuring return on investment, Dr. Marshall’s unique approach relies on a proven mix of assessment and evaluation, appreciative inquiry, and empathic understanding that predictably yields quantifiable results. Clients particularly note his ability to use data—with novelty and persuasion—to drive change.

His book,Right from the Start: The Essential Guide to Implementing School Initiatives,summarizes lessons learned through evaluation of hundreds of programs in both the public and private sectors. It was realeased in May, 2023.