Marland Buckner is President and CEO of the Shockoe Institute, a Richmond, Virginia-based 501(c)3 dedicated to uncovering the history of Shockoe, one of the nation’s oldest communities and an epicenter of the American domestic slave trade. Buckner’s nearly 30-year career has been informed by a commitment to understanding the historic roots and public policy dimensions of opportunity in America.

After completing his doctoral examinations in American Studies at the College of William & Mary, Buckner worked in Washington D.C. as an analyst at several think tanks prior to serving as Legislative Assistant to Senator Charles Schumer and Chief of Staff to Congressman Harold Ford Jr.

From 2001 to 2008, Buckner served as Director of Federal Government Affairs for Microsoft where he led the company’s human capital public policy efforts.

In 2008, Buckner formed MB² Solutions, a consultancy that for 15 years provided counsel to firms, foundations, and high net worth individuals focused on expanding opportunity to individuals and communities globally.

Buckner serves on the boards of mission driven lenders Bridging Virginia and the Reinvestment Fund, dedicating his volunteer efforts toward addressing socio-economic challenges, many of which find their origins, and are rooted, in the history of Shockoe.