Rick Marshall is a 1990 alumnus of the Truman State Physics program, where he also minored in mathematics, annoying chemistry majors, and staying up too late in the Observatory and Physics Lab. He was heavily involved in undergraduate research, which led to a publication and presentations at multiple conferences. He was also very active in the Society of Physics Students and was its president his final two years. He and other SPS officers established Truman’s ΣΠΣ chapter in 1990.
After school, Rick entered the Information Technology field, where he first worked in the consulting, insurance, and healthcare industries for 10 years. He next tried his hand at a dot.com startup, but like so many, it crashed and burned. This experience led to him meeting his wife Laurie and moving to Northwest Arkansas where he joined the Kellogg Company in 2004. After a few years, Rick changed careers from IT to Data Science, and in 2014, he joined ConAgra Brands as the Director of Demand Forecast Statistical Modeling, where he currently leads a team of Data Scientists that use statistical models to predict what consumers will buy and what ConAgra will sell.
Rick still enjoys Astronomy and outreach and is the current President of Sugar Creek Astronomical Society in Northwest Arkansas. He enjoys hosting live online broadcasts with video astronomy, giving lectures and workshops on Astronomy and related topics to Astronomy Clubs, Ham Radio clubs, and the public. Rick is also interested in the scientific investigation of paranormal claims and led a paranormal investigation group for almost 10 years.
Rick lives in Springdale Arkansas with his wife Laurie, his son Griffin, his daughter Delaney, and his granddaughter Rylie.