Marion Philadelphia has a background in public relations, journalism, marketing, and the themed entertainment industry. Originally from Germany, she has edited and translated works of non-fiction, contributed to Cal Tech's Einstein Papers Project, and is a published novelist. A business communication and educational leadership expert, she specializes in pedagogy, curriculum, instructional design, and faculty professional development. She is a recipient of the USC Mellon Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring and the Evan C. Thompson Faculty Mentoring and Leadership Award.