Prof. Marilyn Douglas-Jones is a seasoned multilingual scholar and advocate with over 35 years’ experience in higher education and strategic leadership.

A former full-time college professor of English and foreign languages, she served as Professor at Houston Community College, Adjunct Professor at Texas Southern University, and Assistant Professor at Prairie View A&M University.

Throughout her long-distinguished career that span multilingual diversity consultancy, faculty advisor, building networks across geographies, event planning, fund raising for charitable organizations, evaluating scholarships for students, engaging, motivating, and inspiring students to learn has been a distinctive characteristic.

A trusted leader and consensus builder among community development stakeholders, particularly in the Caribbean- American arena, Marilyn is a leadership development and wellness facilitation lifestyle coach with a passion to educate and empower individuals to reach their full potential as engaged world citizens through cultural encounters and team building.

Founder and CEO of the Caribbean Impact Foundation (CIF), she is a catalyst for change who is committed to amplifying marginalized voices, increasing their participation in decision making processes, and creating innovative solutions to social problems. Under her leadership, the CIF is providing vital support to numerous families as they face a series of complex, multifaceted challenges including COVID-19 recovery, climate shocks, food- and energy-fueled inflation, and rising debt levels.

Additionally, she is a Certified Business Consultant, and a Licensed Financial Services Professional who helps families save, grow, and protect income with banking, insurance and investment strategies for college, retirement, and estate/legacy planning (not exclusively).

As UNCM Head of Caribbean-Engagement, Marilyn brings to this role a deep knowledge of the Caribbean experience and will provide strategic leadership and foster lasting relationships with the Caribbean Community.

An avid traveler, Marilyn is also a senior executive of Texas Caribbean Chamber of Commerce Trade & Industry, and Director of Foreign Missions at Pendleton Chapel Baptist Seminary in Hempstead, Texas. She holds a BA in French and Spanish from Queens University, and an MA in English Education from Prairie View A&M University.