Marcus H. Burgess, is a native of Cades, South Carolina. He is a 1996 graduate of Claflin University where he earned a bachelors in science in elementary education and a 2000 graduate of The Citadel, earning a master's in science in education administration and supervision.  He is currently a doctoral student at Vanderbilt University in the Peabody School of Education.

Burgess is currently the associate vice president for major and planned gifts, prior to his return, he served several institutions in a leadership capacity.  Most recently at York Technical College in Rockhill, SC as the executive director for campaigns and strategic initiatives, Florida Memorial University, Miami Gardens, FL, as the vice president for university advancement and Voorhees College as the vice president for institutional advancement.  At both Florida Memorial and Voorhees College he led the Office of Alumni Affairs/Annual Fund, Corporate, Foundation and Community Affairs, Public Relations, Advancement Services, and Governmental Relations. 

He is the former director of alumni affairs and annual fund at Claflin University, where he achieved an alumni giving percentage of over 45 percent pushing them towards a goal of 50 percent, and a former K-12 public school administrator. He has served CASE III on both the board and several conference committees.