Marlena Brown is a Senior Director Analyst in Gartner Research and Advisory focusing on Student Success & Academic technologies. Ms. Brown concentrates on education, primarily higher education, and K-12 (elementary/secondary) sectors, supporting Gartner clients globally. Ms. Brown's primary research focuses on support student academic technologies (LMS), administrative systems in support of the 360 student experience (CRM) and how higher education CIO's can convey the business value of IT to foster digital transformation.

Her technical experience includes data warehouse design and responsibility for academic and administrative technologies. Her strategic background includes building data-driven cultures that utilizes analytics to drive actionable and measurable strategies around initiatives like recruitment, retention, and on-time completion.

Her unique combination of direct technical experience and education leadership allow her to bridge the gap between IT and higher education functional strategic initiatives. She has worked with 100+ institutions around the world in crafting actionable plans aimed at achieving strategic opportunities both with IT and across institutions.