Bison Trailblazers | Will Marcus Sanders
by Anna De Cheke Qualls
Growing up on the west side of Detroit, less than ten miles from downtown, Will Marcus Sanders was known as the smart kid who challenged authority. But one summer changed everything. While retaking a class in eighth grade, he received the words no child should ever hear: “Your father passed away.”
That moment became a turning point in Sanders’ life. “My dad always told me, ‘I don’t want you to be me. I want you to be better than me.’ Ever since that day, I’ve strived to be one percent better than I was the previous day," says Sanders.
This determination has carried Sanders through military service, teaching abroad, and graduate studies at two of the nation’s most prestigious HBCUs. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning at Jackson State University, alongside a graduate certificate in College and University Faculty Preparation at Howard University.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Kentucky State University, Sanders took an oath to serve in the Kentucky National Guard. He also taught English in Beijing, China for over a year through English First (EF) then Houhai English where he ended up managing marketing and communications.
“Living in China during this time was amazing. It allowed me to be immersed in another culture. As I reflect on this time it’s definitely an experience that I encourage everyone to take if you have the bandwidth, it can be any country you want to explore,” offers Sanders.
After COVID-19 forced a return to the States, Sanders completed a Master of Science in Communication at Walden University while serving full-time in the military in various roles - his last as a squad leader and supply warehouse non-commissioned officer (NCO). Sanders eventually retired for medical reasons.
“The military taught be to be a selfless servant. My various roles provided me with time management and communications skills, and leadership,” says Sanders. “Those are essential in graduate school. Being able to think ahead and navigate hard situations has been one of my most advantageous skills.”
For Sanders, HBCUs are more than institutions—they are cultural anchors. “The culture, love, and conversations around the success of Black people where we are the majority and not the minority is something that can’t be replicated,” he explains.
Jackson State and Howard were deliberate choices. “I wanted to learn from educators who would push me past my limits and challenge me to reframe my thinking toward a holistic approach to modern-day issues,” says Sanders, whose doctoral research focuses on poverty, homelessness, and inequities in housing.
Sanders points to a troubling statistic by the American Planning Association (APA): Black or African Americans make up only 5–11% of urban planners. “This becomes an issue when we look at planning for cities, especially Black cities,” he says. Sanders' goal is to change that imbalance, and ensure urban planning reflects the needs of marginalized communities.
Long-term, Sanders envisions working in policy or launching a nonprofit dedicated to housing advocacy. “The impact I’m looking at is fixing issues like homelessness and injustices in housing,” he says.
For all of this success, Sanders credits a long list of mentors—professors, advisors, and community leaders. “For each level of transformation, I’ve had influential Black men and women pour into me with knowledge and guidance,” he says.
Networking has also been vital. “You never know who knows what. Attending Howard gave me a perspective on Organizational Theory that I would have never considered for my dissertation if I hadn’t enrolled there,” says Sanders.
Given his extensive lived experience, Sanders’ message to fellow graduate students is simple yet profound: “Enjoy the journey. The goal is not to get to the end but to learn from the countless experiences that will develop you on the way.”
From Detroit to doctoral studies, from military service to housing advocacy, Sanders’ story is one of resilience, service, and vision. And as he prepares to publish his theoretical perspectives and step into policy work, Sanders carries his father’s words with him—always striving to be better, one percent at a time.