Alumni Spotlight|Marcia Ash

By Jazmyn Burton

Marcia Ash’s journey through Emory University has been a full-circle moment in more ways than one. Growing up just around the corner from campus, her academic path began with a high school research assistantship on an Emory study examining the effects of a compassion-based meditation program. That early exposure sparked a deep curiosity about the mind-body connection and laid the groundwork for a career committed to the intersection of compassion, public health, and behavioral science. 

After completing her bachelor’s degree at Washington University in St. Louis, Marcia returned to Emory to work at the Emory-Tibet Partnership, currently known as the Emory Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics, a unique collaboration with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. That experience—and the recognition of how interdependence underpins both personal and public wellbeing—led her to pursue an MPH at Rollins School of Public Health, and eventually, a PhD at the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies. 

“I was deeply inspired by the Center’s mission to advance research and programs that promote compassion and recognize our fundamental interdependence—a perspective that ultimately led me to public health, a field that similarly acknowledges the interconnected nature of our health, behavior, community, and environment,” said Ash. 

As a PhD student, Marcia joined the THRIVE Lab under associate professor, Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD, focusing on community-based interventions that address trauma and mental health. Her dissertation tackled disparities in perinatal mental health, particularly among Black women, combining national datasets with lived-experience interviews to push for more culturally responsive trauma screening and maternal mental health services. Her work also addressed the mental wellbeing of health providers, aiming to shift systems toward sustainability and care. 

Beyond the lab, Marcia found community within her cohort, lovingly dubbed “The Fab 5.” From navigating the pandemic together to DoorDashing birthday desserts and meditating before comprehensive exams, Ash said this group offered support and made her academic journey easier.

One of her proudest moments was her dissertation defense. “It was the ultimate zoom-out,” she says. “It clarified my story, my purpose—and reminded me that this work was never mine alone.” 

Now, Marcia continues to explore the intersection of behavioral science and systems change as a Senior Researcher at Slack’s Workforce Lab, where she studies the future of work and human thriving. Her time at Laney equipped her not only with rigorous research training but also the communication skills need to bring her insights to diverse audiences. 

Her advice to incoming graduate students is rooted in sustainability: set boundaries early, treat your PhD like a job, and protect your joy.

“Boundaries aren’t a sign that you don’t care—they’re what make it possible to sustain your passion in the long run.”