In her book, The Bricks before Brown (University of Georgia Press, 2022), Dr. Martinez-Cola identifies over 100 cases filed before the famed Brown v. Board of Education and specifically examines the contributions of Chinese Americans, Native Americans, and Mexican Americans to the struggle for education equality.  She will be sharing the stories of three history-making families who took a stand against inequality. 

Marisela Martinez-Cola, J.D., Ph.D. is a proud Chicana, daughter of an immigrant, and first-generation scholar.  She was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan.  She attended The University of Michigan where she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and African American studies.  She went on to earn her law degree at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.  

While Dr. Martinez-Cola loved the study of law, the practice of law was unfulfilling.  After only a year in law, she switched career paths and served as director of multicultural affairs at a variety of institutions around the country, including Davenport University, George Washington University, and University of Georgia.  After nearly 10 years in student affairs, she wanted to transition to academic affairs.  She went on to earn her Ph.D. in sociology at Emory University.  Following her graduation, she accepted a position with Utah State University and worked there for three years before coming to Morehouse College. 

Dr. Martinez-Cola has been published in the Journal of Law and Society, Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, Teaching Sociology, and Latino Studies.