Marci Carris

Marci Carris, a native of Jackson, Michigan, has a BBA (’78) and an MBA (’83) from what is now the U-M Stephen M. Ross School of Business. She is senior vice president of customer care with Sprint. Prior to Sprint, Marci was vice president of customer finance service and assistant treasurer at Nextel. Before joining Nextel, Marci was with Ameritech in various positions and Peterson & Company, a litigation support consulting firm. Marci was a member of the Ross School’s Alumni Board of Governors from 2001 to 2007 and represented the Ross School on the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. Marci also is a recipient of the Ross School’s Charles H. Ihling Memorial Service Award. Marci and her fiancé, David Kribs, reside in Denver, Colorado, and are supporters of Michigan Medicine and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Describe your interest in the Rogel Cancer Center. What drew you to being on the National Advisory Board?

I’m interested in the research at the cancer center, for early detection, treatment, and cures. I am also eager to assist the Rogel Cancer Center in achieving its mission and goals. From a personal perspective, my father died of colon cancer, and breast cancer has touched a lot of people I know. I hope to see many, if not all, cancers cured or prevented someday.

What are your hopes for what the Rogel Cancer Center can accomplish in the next decade?

The easy answer to my hope for the Rogel Cancer Canter is to find cures for cancers or to improve the options to better manage cancers that can’t be cured. I also want see even greater awareness outside of the University of the great work being done at the center to ensure it has the funding and assistance needed to fully meet its mission.

Another key issue is access. Equal access to health care is important, and I hope it’s an issue we can help to tackle. I hope we can make a difference to ensure money/income does not stop someone from getting the best cancer treatment.

Would you like to comment about any aspect of the Rogel Cancer Center that makes you particularly happy to partner with the faculty and leadership?

When I listen to the researchers talk about their research, I am in awe. It is interesting to hear how the researchers are looking at a cancer from different angles or with researchers from different disciplines to approach the disease with a different perspective as they work to find a cure. The collaboration I see at the center is second to none. The way the research is done has changed, and the researchers have tools that can run tests faster and more accurately, but in the end it is the quest of the researchers to never settle in their search to better understand cancer and find a cure for it. I am also excited to see the focus on the patient and the work the Rogel Cancer Center is doing to not just treat the disease but the help the patient through every aspect of their treatment and recovery.