Marissa Lea Gaston

As a strategist, Marissa (she/her) marries inherent creativity with communications experience at nonprofits small and large that’s included working as a one-person comms shop and belonging to a team remotely collaborating across seven distinct issue areas and offices.

Marissa earned a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Middle Tennessee State University, with concentrations in journalism, African American studies, and creative writing. Prior to joining Big Duck, Marissa led communications at the Georgia Innocence Project and crafted digital media for Southern Poverty Law Center. During that time she was instrumental in driving innovative storytelling approaches, operationalizing antiracism, and workplace organizing for labor and justice.

When she’s not at Big Duck, Marissa can be found exploring the country’s Black-owned bookstores and coffee shops.