Marissa Salazar, PhD, Associate, is a psychologist focused on organizational strategies that integrate equity, effectiveness, and well-being across the social sector. She partners with nonprofit and philanthropic leaders to build equitable cultures and systems that extend impact across their ecosystems. Trained as a mixed-methods and critical social justice researcher, Marissa collaborates closely with stakeholders to translate rigorous qualitative and quantitative data into actionable strategies that advance organizational learning and systems change.
At Community Science, Marissa has partnered with national and global philanthropic leaders, including the MacArthur Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, the YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP), and the Hilton Foundation. She led two national research initiatives with Y-USA that combined qualitative and quantitative data to produce evidence-based tools and a national theory of change advancing racial equity across the Y network, and helped build the sustainability case for deeper DEI investments across Ys nationwide. She also led research that informed the Institute for Nonprofit Practice’s Well-Being Initiative, which develops and disseminates interventions to address burnout, turnover, and workforce shortages across the social sector.
Prior to joining Community Science, Marissa served as Principal Investigator of the White Allyship Research Project (WARP) Lab, where she led mixed-methods research examining how individual and institutional factors shape White allyship development among college students. Building on this work, she designed and facilitated allyship workshops for students, faculty, staff, and practitioners, and developed an allyship resource packet that has been distributed across universities nationwide.
Outside of work, Marissa enjoys spending time with her partner and two dogs, playing video games, and learning to DJ.
Education
Ph.D., Psychology – Personality & Social Contexts, University of Michigan
M.S., Psychology, University of Michigan
B.S., Psychology/Neuroscience, Texas A&M University
Areas of Interest
Organizational Effectiveness
Evaluation, Learning, and Continuous Strategy Improvement
Leadership Development
Nonprofit Capacity Building
Equity, Well-being, & Sustainability Strategies
Change Management
Sense of Community
Notable Publications and Presentations
Salazar, M. M. & Grissom, R. M. (2025). Racial Equity. In Issues of Equity(pp. 91-96). Routledge. [Invited and Peer Reviewed]
Kirby, P., Salazar, M. M., Trout, A. (2024). Thriving Together: Cultivating. Well-being & Sustainability in the Social Sector. Institute for Nonprofit Practice. https://www.nonprofitpractice.org/wp-content/uploads/Thriving-Together-Cultivating-Well-being-and-Sustainability-in-the-Social-Sector.pdf
Cattaneo, L. B., Salazar, M. M., Ramseur II, K., Calton, J.M., & Shor, R. (2023). Uncomfortable Emotion in a Justice-Oriented Service-Learning Course: Anger Predicts Civic Engagement. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 29(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.3998/mjcsl.2741
Salazar, M. M., & Trout, A. (2023) Sustainability case for increasing diversity: A membership-based organization approach to advancing equity through leadership development research [Poster presentation]. American Evaluation Association, Indianapolis, IN.
Case, K. (Host). (2022, February 10). ARP across the curriculum with Marissa Salazar (No. 8) [Audio podcast episode]. In Enough Y’all with Kim Case: The real talk podcast for social justice academics. https://enough-yall-with-kim-case.simplecast.com/episodes/arp-across-the-curriculum-with-marissa-salazar-D_aYvRmF
Salazar, M. M., Ramseur II, K, & Cattaneo, L. (2021). The Role of Emotions in Critical Community-Based Learning: How Anger and Hope Connect to Change. In Thomas, E. (Chair) Pedagogies of Critical Hope: Towards Equity and Healing in the Face of Injustice [Symposium]. 2021 SCRA Biennial Conference on Community Research and Action, Virtual Conference.
Salazar, M. M. (2020). Beyond Tolerance: Strengthening Your White Allyship [Live interactive session]. POD (Professional and Organizational Developmental) Network in Higher Education’s 2020 Conference: Looking Inward, Thinking Forward, Seattle, Washington United States. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhah7m1IJ3M&feature=emb_title
Mora, A., Salazar, M. M., Rodriguez-Newhall, A., Areguin, M., & Gutierrez, L. (2019). Actions speak louder than words: How mixed-methods action research promotes student-oriented policy. In F. Alers-Rojas (Chair) ¡Aquí estamos y contamos! Recruitment and retention of Latinxs [Symposium]. International Convention of Psychologic Science (ICPS), Paris, France.