Marchelle F. Franklin has more than 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors. She is currently the Director of the City of Phoenix Human Services Department.  

As Human Services Director for the 5th largest city in the nation with 1.7 million residents, Marchelle manages a $160 million budget and leads more than 400 employees. She has held multiple positions with the City of Phoenix, including Chief of Staff to Mayor Phil Gordon, Deputy Government Relations Director for Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and Community Affairs Director for the Phoenix Police Department. Before joining the City of Phoenix in 2002, Marchelle spent nearly 15 years in the private sector working in senior and executive human resources management positions.  She attributes her experience working in shareholder driven environments and for the City of Phoenix in shaping her into a champion of social equity and an innovative businesswoman who is reshaping culture and achieving goals across the city.  

Marchelle earned an MBA in Finance from Grand Canyon University, and a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. In addition, she completed the Executive Development Program in Human Resources Consulting and Strategy Development at the University of Southern California.  

She serves on the Board of Directors for the Fiesta Bowl and Black Chamber of Arizona and is a member of the International City/County Management Association, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, Charter 100 Arizona, Valley Leadership Class XXV and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.