Marlene earned her MFA at East Carolina University and her BFA at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

She is currently an independent studio artist working in Columbia, NC and teaches at College of the Albemarle in Edenton, NC. She has taught workshops and given lectures at colleges, universities and art centers including Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Penland School of Crafts, and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.

Her work is in various collections throughout the US and most recently the Museum of Arts and Design in New York and The Racine Museum of Art in Racine Wisconsin.

Marlene is a member of the board of directors for the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

Pulblications:

Jewelry Design challenge, Lark

Found Object Art 2, Schiffer

500 Enameled Objects, Lark

500 Pendants and Lockets, Lark

Mixed Media Collage Jewelry, Lark

Jewellery From Recycled Materials, Black, London

Fabulous Jewelry from Found Objects, Lark,

The Fine Art of the Tin Can, Revised Edition, Lark