Professor of Music and Performing Arts Management; Associate Dean for Academic Innovation
Music and Performing Arts Management
The Hartt Schoolmathomas@hartford.edu 860.768.4166 F 2nd Floor Administration Suite
Education
JD, Georgia State University College of Law
MFA, Full Sail University
MA, University of Georgia
BA, Georgia State University
AA, University of Florida
Marcus Thomas is an educator and entertainment attorney who is also trained as a screenwriter and publicist. He serves as Associate Dean for Academic Innovation at The Hartt School. Prior to assuming the role of Associate Dean, he was the Chair of Music and Performing Arts Management.
He previously served as Associate Director of The Los Angeles Film School’s Entertainment Business program, where he was an instructor and faculty training developer for five and a half years. Thomas also served five years as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Georgia State University’s Music Management program.
Formerly, Thomas headed business affairs for Alfred Publishing where he negotiated digital distribution, print, and sync license agreements including the entire Warner Bros. Publications catalog. Thomas also served as a publishing administrator for Dallas Austin Recording Projects and previously worked as an attorney for LaFace Records where he prepared and negotiated agreements for the label’s roster that included Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast, and P!nk.
In addition to his academic and executive roles, Thomas still works as a creative semi-professional. He produces and engineers for independent recording artists. He was an assistant recording engineer at Doppler Studios and an on-air personality for Country 95.5FM WNGC. Thomas mixed sound for NBC Sports’ Take a Seat: Egypt and Take a Seat Alberta. He has song placements in indie films Dead Tone (2007), The Open Door (2008), and Jesus’ Secretary (2009).
Thomas is a member of the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy, serving on the Education Committee. He serves on the Connecticut Office of the Arts READI Council. He is also a member of the Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors. He previously served as Vice President for the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association. He was formerly a Governor for the Recording Academy’s Atlanta chapter.
Thomas holds a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University, a Master of Fine Arts from Full Sail University, and a Master of Mass Communication from the University of Georgia. Thomas is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.