Dr. Marcus C. Shepard is a tenured professor who studies communication, identity and diversity as they are heard within soul music and discussed by multiracial communities. A graduate of USC's Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism with a doctorate in Communication, he also graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Communication. An expert in interpersonal communication, public speaking, rhetoric, and intercultural communication, he has published two books, "Midnight Musings: Interpersonal Communication & Social Media" (2018), as well as "Midnight Musings: Explorations in Public Speaking (2019).

Dr. Shepard is currently working on his third book project focusing on the themes of friendship, dating, and relationships.