Marcia Lynn Sells was appointed in 2021 as the Metropolitan Opera’s first Chief Diversity Officer. During her tenure, she worked across all areas of the Met, including Artistic, Human Resources, Marketing & Communications, Education, and Development, to address systemic issues of inequity and build a comprehensive equity, diversity, and inclusion program. On September 6, 2024, Marcia concluded her transformative role at the Met Opera and is excited to embark on a new chapter.

Marcia has joined Russell Philanthropies as Co-President, where she will contribute to innovative and equitable philanthropic initiatives. Prior to her role at the Met, Marcia held senior leadership positions in higher education, including Associate Dean & Dean of Students at Harvard Law School and Associate Dean in the School of the Arts and Associate Vice President, Program Development & Initiatives at Columbia University. She has also served as Dean of Students at Columbia Law School.

Her diverse career includes significant roles in both the private and public sectors, such as Vice President of Employee and Organizational Development for Reuters America, Vice President of Organizational Development & Human Resources, and Vice President Player Education and Development for the National Basketball Association. Additionally, Marcia served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, focusing on rape and child abuse cases.

Marcia began her career in the arts as a ballerina with Dance Theatre of Harlem and Cincinnati Ballet before pursuing higher education at Barnard College and Columbia Law School.